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administrative units, the territories
run by
commandants de cercle
, who
controlled officers at local level. The
plan was to modernize and remake
societies, enabling the people to
benefit from Western science and
education. It was to eradicate the
African institutions the French
found
regressive
and root out
ignorance and superstition.
The French made less use of
indigenous rulers than did the
British, who adopted the status quo,
finding it cheaper and more effective
than installing new administrations,
their experience with the Indian
Civil Service proving it could run an
entire sub-continent most efficiently.
On the whole, the British were more
relaxed than the French, planning in
the long run to integrate public
services, set up democratic
institutions, and encourage locally
owned and operated industry. There
were some memorable troubles, but
on the whole, the British were
slower than the French to use force
to stamp out opposition. In the final
days of the British empire, largely
peaceful transitions were achieved,
with fewer bitter wars. Transition,
however, was not easy in areas that
had been heavily settled by
Europeans, and settlers were not
prepared to see countries like Kenya,
Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and South
Africa go without a struggle.
The French system was
cumbersome, difficult, and
expensive, so expensive that Paris
demanded the colonies be self-
financing. Officials encouraged cash
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