HISTORY FORM 3 – COLONIAL ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS | Afrisoft Scholars

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ASSOCIATION POLICY IN FRENCH COLONIES.

Association policy was the second French administrative policy/ system after the failure of the assimilation policy which respected African culture and allowed them to develop independently.

Association policy which replaced assimilation policy was not aiming at turning Africans to resemble French citizens; rather association policy applied by French was aimed at spreading and building of the French superiority in her colonies through different approaches such as; by using institutions and laws of the French to colonized Africans.

Association policy left and allowed Africans to preserve their own customs and also compatible alongside with French interests.

French decided to shift from assimilation to association policy due to the failure of the assimilation policy which undermined African culture and spread French culture and civilization by forcing Africans to resemble with French citizens which was not practicable because it was not easy to change or turn someone who belongs to a certain cultural back ground [Africans] to behave (be) like French men. So this assimilation policy got challenges from both parts and Frenchmen in Paris were not happy to see other people given such rights as the French men.

REASONS WHY THE ASSIMILATION POLICY FAILED HENCE INTRODUCTION OF THE ASSOCIATION POLICY.

Economic expenses. Assimilation policy was very expensive since it needed a lot of finance to turn Africans to resemble with Frenchmen by giving them education, social services etc.
Language problems/ differences. Africans had many languages so it was difficult for Africans to adopt French language hence failure of the assimilation.
Cultural differences. Assimilation policy failed since it introduced different cultures in Africa which were different from African cultures e.g. Language, beliefs, marriage etc.
It was opposed by the French people.
It was opposed by Africans. Africans who were not assimilated, opposed assimilation policy because it ignored African culture and it did not give Africans their expectations like being in top positions.
Fear of the French over Africans. Assimilation policy gave Africans favor and chances in the French administration which led to fear towards the Africans.
Law differences. Assimilation policy introduced laws which were different from African laws; example foreign French civil laws differ from African customary laws.
Assimilation policy was a vision less policy; assimilation policy had no divisions since assimilated Africans [assimiladors’] later on turned against the French.

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ASSOCIATION POLICY AGAINST ASSIMILATION POLICY.

Association policy was another French administrative system which replaced assimilation policy where by the French did not interfere with African culture such as religion and other matters.

Association policy was against the assimilation policy since it did not aim at turning Africans to resemble Frenchmen, however in its practice French officials under association policy tended to implement French ways of life in administration and laws purposely to spread French superiority. Association policy used more authoritarian approach of governing Africans unlike assimilation policy.

In 1914-1945 association policy treated Africans colonies as an integral part of the French since African colonies were given right to elect representatives in the French government, to have free trade, unions, press and political parties. These affected African countries both positively and negatively during fighting and post-independence where by these countries which formerly were French colonies became francophone countries which associated/assimilated into French political systems.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ASSIMILATION POLICY AND ASSOCIATION POLICY
1. Both created economic dependence. African countries especially West African countries which got independent in early 1960s; they still depend and have financial relations with their former colonial master [French] since French is their source of market for their crops.
2. They affected the system of education. The system of education used in former French colonies are still the same as in French up to date; the French speaking people in west Africa except Guinea still have French mentality.
3. African countries which were former French colonies regarded as francophone countries overseas process of French which still have close relationships with the French people in social and economic matters e.g. West African countries.
4. Both weakened African traditions and Islamic religion in West Africa by introducing Christianity i.e. Roman Catholic.
5. Both destroyed African traditional authorities and leaders since assimilated Africans replaced many to the traditional leaders.
6. Both undermined African culture; African culture were regarded as inferior towards French culture which regarded as regarded as superior and civilized for e.g. French language.
  2. Assimilation policy weakened Africans traditions such as Islamic religion in west Africa by introducing Christianity for example Roman Catholic church.
  3. Colony was incorporated into the French republic and regarded as an oversea province of France speaking people in West African still have close relationship with the French people than their fellow African countries.
  4. Assimilation policy integrated /allowed Africans to participate in French political matters in French, Paris. Assimilation policy allowed African to participate in France parliament for example Blaise Diagne was elected as deputy in the French parliament.
    
    Question: compare and contrast between indirect rule applied by British and assimilation policy applied by the French.
    
    Similarities / comparisons between indirect rule and assimilation policy
    1. Both aimed at maintaining their colonial control so as to ensure their effective occupation.
    2. Both were exploitative systems since they aimed at preparing a ground for establishment of colonial economy.
    3. Both destroyed African culture since indirect rule and assimilation policy undermined [ignored] African culture such as language, education and norms.
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    1. Both were oppressive since they based on forcing Africans to implement their laws and policies through cohesive apparatus such as police, army, prison, courts etc.
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    1. Both fractured to meet their demands because Africans did not accept colonialism hence fought against colonialists.
    2. Both were in capitalist system.
    3. Both created classes.
    4. Both faced resistances.
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    contrast/ differences between the British indirect rule and the french assimilation policy
    1. Indirect rule was applied by the British while assimilation policy was applied by the French.
    2. Indirect rule used local chiefs in administration while assimilation did not prefer to use local chiefs.
    3. Indirect rule was cheap economically since it used local chiefs / rulers in administration while assimilation policy was very expensive since it used a lot of resources to transform Africans into Frenchmen.
    4. Assimilation policy was impracticable while association policy was practicable since a person with a certain cultural back ground cannot totally be transformed into a new culture.
    5. Indirect rule avoided resistance while assimilation policy met a lot of challenges from both Africans and the French men hence shift to association.
    6. Indirect rule was easy to manage while assimilation rule was difficult to manage.
    7. Indirect rule needed small man power to manage while assimilation needed large man power to implement their policies.
    8. Indirect rule did not aim at turning Africans while assimilation policy aimed at turning Africans.
    9. Indirect rule considered African tradition while assimilation policy did not consider African culture.
    10. Indirect rule did not face resistance while assimilation policy faced a lot of resistances.
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    COLONIAL MILITARY AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS.
    
    Introduction
    
    Both colonial military and legal institutions were introduced in Africa purposely to enforce Africans to accept to follow different colonial administrative systems such as direct rule, indirect rule, assimilation policy and association policy. Therefore colonialists in order to ensure control of Africans effectively by following their new administrative systems they introduced these colonial military and legal institutions such as police, prisons, army, court etc.
    
    Meaning of colonial military.
    
    Colonial military refers to coercive apparatus such as police, army, prison, and courts introduced by colonialists in order to maintain laws, order and security of colonial states or government. Colonial militaries were introduced by colonialists in order to the colonial state or government to meet their interests. Therefore colonial military which were introduced in African colonies were different depended on nature of the people found in that colony. For example colonies which were militant and conservative against colonialist colonial militaries were also aggressive or harsh to the Africans.
    
    Examples of famous colonial military force which were introduced by the British to maintain colonial control in Central and East Africa including Kenya, Uganda and Malawi in 1902-1904 was known as King African Rifle [KAR]. Soldiers who were recruited to join these military forces such as KAR and the police force were taken from within the colony or outside the colony for example; Nubians were the soldiers recruited [taken] from outside the territory [colony] who were mainly preferable since they were very strictly in terms of treatment compared to the native policemen or soldiers.
    
    FUNCTIONS OF COLONIAL MILITARY FORCES
    1. To maintain colonial interests. Colonial military aimed at safeguarding the interests of the colonialists that is to control and exploit Africans smoothly.
    2. To suppress African resistances. Colonial military aimed at punishing Africans who were militant and opposed colonial government.
    3. To maintain peace and harmony. Colonial military ensured that people within the colony maintain peace and harmony by following laws and orders.
    4. To maintain security of the colony. Colonial military force was established to protect the colony from internal and external invasion from other military forces.
    5. Power to arrest criminals. Colonial military was responsible to arrest people who committed crimes or offenses to the court.
    6. To defend colonial boundaries. Colonial military force such as KAR was responsible to defend colonial boundaries.
    7. To collect information and supervision of colonial activities. Colonial military forces were responsible to collect intelligent information which threatens the public interests and supervising different activities such as tax collection.
    8. To facilitate colonial economy exploitation.
    9. Military forces enforced colonial control in Africa.
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    COLONIAL LEGAL INSTITUTIONS.
    
    Colonial legal institutions refer to the institutions which deal with legal matters within the colony. Colonial legal institutions consisted with legislative council [LEGCO], council of elders, prison and courts.
    
    The colonial legal institutions were dealing with;
    1. Advising the society.
    2. Educating the society about legal matters.
    3. Receive people‘s legal claims.
    4. Give legal aid.
    5. Directing legal procedures to be taken on army cases.
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    The legal institutions were also established for the interests of the colonialists since they were influenced by colonial administration within the colony and metropolitan states. Council of elders was employed in direct British colonie.
    
    CHARACTERISTICS/FEATURES OF COLONIAL LEGAL INSTITUTIONS
    
    1. Colonial legal institution was dominated/monopolized by colonialists.
    
    2. Colonial legal institutions based on interests of the colonialists.
    
    3. Were cohesive in nature i.e. very harsh, oppressive and punish Africans.
    
    4. Were varied from one colony to another for example South Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] legal institution which was introduced in 1898 varied from other areas e.g. settlers colonies laws were very harsh to Africans.
    
    5.Colonial legal institutions were mainly based on the influences of colonial administrators within the colony and in metropolitan states.
    
    THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COLONIAL LEGAL INSTITUTIONS.
    1. To make laws, act and ordinances.
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    Since every colony had its demand of colonial matters, the legal institutions took the responsibility of making laws or ordinances enforcing Africans to undertake various matters and also responsibilities.
    1. To handle claims on various issues. The legal colonial institution handle white claims and canal elders handle African claims
    2. To direct procedures to be taken in a certain case. Colonial legal institutions had to direct the legal procedures to be taken in handling certain cases in collaboration with courts and prisons.
    3. To advise and educate people on various legal matters.
    4. To amend the laws [change or modify] laws, acts and ordinance. The colonial legal institutions had a duty to amend laws, acts and ordinances in order to affect and to felt the colonial administration influenced or as a result of social, political and economical change in the colony.
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    Example of laws/ ordinances amended were native labour ordinances of 1988 in Kenya which forced squatters [labour] to work in 90days in settlers forms and raise the number of days to 180 in the years.
    
    THE IMPACT OF THE COLONIAL MILITARY AND LEGAL SYSTEMS IN AFRICA.
    
    1. The two colonial systems undermined the traditional defense and legal systems that prevailed during the pre-colonial period.
    
    2. The Africans stopped caring for the public property such as government buildings, equipment and vehicles because they regarded them to be properties of colony.
    
    3. All the African who were employed in the Reference forced of the colonial government were considered to be traitors their follow Africans, due to the business and brutality done by colonialists.
    
    Both integrated allowed to participate in French political matters in pan French assimilation and association policy allowed Africans to participate in French parliament for example Blaise Diogine elected as deputy in French parliament.
    
    THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASSIMILATION POLICY AND ASSOCIATION POLICY
    
    1. The subjects in the association policy came under the system of law known as the indigent. In this system subjects could be forced to serve a longer period in the French colonial army than assimilated citizens which ennglish-swahili/courage” target=”_blank”>couraged them to seek French citizenship.
    
    2. With association policy assimilated Africans were regarded as French citizens but the other Africans in the French colonies were regarded as a subject that is second class citizens to which French civil and criminal law did not apply to them.
    
    3. In the association policy the African subjects [second class citizen] retained their cultural practices such as polygamy and religion. But assimilated Africans had to follow French culture and civilization.
    
    4. Assimilation policy aimed mainly at creating French superiority complex towards Africans while association policy based on authorization or controlling Africa.
    
    5. Assimilation policy was impracticable while association policy was practicable since it was easy to control people than charging people to become new citizens.
    
    6. Assimilation policy was very expensive since assimilated Africans were given all right such as education social services etc. as French citizens while association policy was not expensive.
    
    7. Assimilation policy failed due to many challenges from both Africans and French men due to fear of lack of vision etc, while association policy did not fail.
    
    WHAT WERE THE IMPACTS / EFFECTS OF ASSIMILATION POLICY?
    
    The following were the impacts of assimilation policy.
    1. Economic dependence. After the African Independence in early 1960’s; most of African countries which had close relationship with the French financial association depended economically to France since France was their source of markets for their crops.
    2. The assimilation policy undermined African culture. Many assimilated Africans saw French culture as superior and embraced it; for example French became the official language in the country.
    3. French education system used in her former colonies is still the same as in French up to date. The French speaking people in West Africa except Guinea are still have French mentality in many of their social and economic issues.
    4. Assimilation policy destroyed the tradition of Africans. French destroyed African traditions such as authority and leadership they destroyed by introducing their traditions such as speaking so assimilated Africans replaced many of the traditional leaders.
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