220116 Colonialism During the Interwar Period (K) (WiSe 2021/2022)

After the First World War, both the French and British Empires considered how to 'develop' the colonies economically. In Great Britain, it had already been suggested during the Imperial War Cabinet in 1917 that resource extraction in the colonies should be promoted; the French colonial minister also saw a mise en valeur of the colonies primarily as an increase in the export of food and raw materials. There were hardly any financial resources for such new projects in the interwar period, but these new concepts marked a break with the previous attitude that the colonies had to finance themselves and at best bring funds to the respective metropolis, not vice versa. Moreover, there were also political changes with the founding of the Commonwealth and the considerations of giving selected Évolués a form of citizenship. We will discuss these processes in the HK on the basis of sources.

Requirements for participation, required level

Enjoyment of debating and willingness to actively participate in the seminar. Knowledge of French is an advantage.

Since this is a face-to-face seminar, please register only if you plan to be present in person throughout the semester.

Bibliography

Beusekom, Monika van: Negotiating Development: African Farmers and Colonial Experts at the Office Du Niger, 1920-1960, Portsmouth, NH, 2002.
Harris, Richard: Making Leeway in the Leewards, 1929-51: The negotiation of colonial development, in: The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 33 (2005), 3, pp. 393-418.
Thomas, Martin: Albert Sarraut, French Colonial Development, and the Communist Threat, 1919–1930," The Journal of Modern History 77 (2005), Nr. 4.
Lugard, Frederick D.: The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa, London 1922.
Milner, Alfred: Questions of the hour, London 1923.
Sarraut, Albert: La Mise en valeur des colonies françaises, Paris, 1923.
Creech Jones, Arthur/Hinden, Rita: Fabian Colonial Essays, London 1945.