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An Empire Divided: Religion, Republicanism, and the Making of French Colonialism, 1880-1914
Between 1880 and 1914, tens of thousands of men and women left France for distant religious missions, driven by the desire to spread the word of Jesus Christ, combat Satan, and convert the world's pagans to Catholicism. But they were not the only ones with eyes fixed on foreign shores. Just as the Catholic missionary movement reached its apex, the young, staunchly secular Third Republic launched the most aggressive campaign of colonial expansion in French history. Missionaries and republicans abroad knew they had much to gain from working together, but their starkly different motivations regularly led them to view one another with resentment, distrust, and even fear.
In An Empire Divided , J.P. Daughton tells the story of how troubled relations between Catholic missionaries and a host of republican critics shaped colonial policies, Catholic perspectives, and domestic French politics in the tumultuous decades before the First World War. With case studies on Indochina, Polynesia, and Madagascar, An Empire Divided --the first book to examine the role of religious missionaries in shaping French colonialism--challenges the long-held view that French colonizing and "civilizing" goals were shaped by a distinctly secular republican ideology built on Enlightenment ideals. By exploring the experiences of Catholic missionaries, one of the largest groups of French men and women working abroad, Daughton argues that colonial policies were regularly wrought in the fires of religious discord--discord that indigenous communities exploited in responding to colonial rule.
After decades of conflict, Catholics and republicans in the empire ultimately buried many of their disagreements by embracing a notion of French civilization that awkwardly melded both Catholic and republican ideals. But their entente came at a price, with both sides compromising long-held and much-cherished traditions for the benefit of establishing and maintaining authority. Focusing on the much-neglected intersection of politics, religion, and imperialism, Daughton offers a new understanding of both the nature of French culture and politics at the fin de siecle, as well as the power of the colonial experience to reshape European's most profound beliefs.
In An Empire Divided , J.P. Daughton tells the story of how troubled relations between Catholic missionaries and a host of republican critics shaped colonial policies, Catholic perspectives, and domestic French politics in the tumultuous decades before the First World War. With case studies on Indochina, Polynesia, and Madagascar, An Empire Divided --the first book to examine the role of religious missionaries in shaping French colonialism--challenges the long-held view that French colonizing and "civilizing" goals were shaped by a distinctly secular republican ideology built on Enlightenment ideals. By exploring the experiences of Catholic missionaries, one of the largest groups of French men and women working abroad, Daughton argues that colonial policies were regularly wrought in the fires of religious discord--discord that indigenous communities exploited in responding to colonial rule.
After decades of conflict, Catholics and republicans in the empire ultimately buried many of their disagreements by embracing a notion of French civilization that awkwardly melded both Catholic and republican ideals. But their entente came at a price, with both sides compromising long-held and much-cherished traditions for the benefit of establishing and maintaining authority. Focusing on the much-neglected intersection of politics, religion, and imperialism, Daughton offers a new understanding of both the nature of French culture and politics at the fin de siecle, as well as the power of the colonial experience to reshape European's most profound beliefs.
- GenresHistoryNonfictionFrance
344 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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August 30, 2017I was assigned to read only chapter two of this book, pages 57-84. (This review is mostly for my own record keeping.)
The chapter I read detailed detailed the struggles between French colonial goals vs. Catholic missionary goals in Indochina (mostly modern day Vietnam). Also heavily discussed was Père Jean-Baptiste Guerlach's mission work in that area as well as Charles-David de Meyréna's self proclaimed kingship over the Sedangs. The chapter was very detailed, and I learned a lot about French attitudes about colonialism.
The chapter I read detailed detailed the struggles between French colonial goals vs. Catholic missionary goals in Indochina (mostly modern day Vietnam). Also heavily discussed was Père Jean-Baptiste Guerlach's mission work in that area as well as Charles-David de Meyréna's self proclaimed kingship over the Sedangs. The chapter was very detailed, and I learned a lot about French attitudes about colonialism.
September 5, 2012
Too many areas of history are forgotten or just ignored as the events are too ‘minor’ or just not enough in the spotlight. The colonization of the Far East by France is one of those subjects. Too few even realize how much presence the French had in that area of the world. J.P. Daughton brings that subject back into the academic circles with his book, An Empire Divided: Religion, Republicanism, and the Making of French Colonialism, 1880-1914.
The book covers the presence of the French in the Far East beginning with the missionaries that pushed forward and made the initial contacts and relationships. As the French did in the New World, they allowed the Catholic Church to take a big part in exploring, mapping, and creating relationships with the natives of the area before colonization began. Daughton discusses the religious strive, the misunderstandings, and the problems that accompanied the entire process.
Keep in mind that this is an academic book and is not written for an afternoon read next to the lake. It is a serious look at the French presence in the East at the turn of the twentieth century. For a visual learner, this book is broken out into many chapters and subheading which also makes it easier to research. Sadly, I saw very little else to help the visual learner. There were a few images, but not many. There are little in the way of maps, charts, graphs, or pictures.
Mr. Daughton does a great job in exploring the French influence and does so in an objective manner. He does not walk into the topic with a preconceived notion that he spends the pages on trying to convince the readers to believe. He discusses the religious role in the colonization of Indochina, Tahiti, Madagascar, and more. He then shows the intricate involvement of the French government and the dicey relationships they had with the various native governments and people.
If you are doing any research on the Far East at the end of the nineteenth century and the first of the twentieth century, this is a book you really have to look into.
Note: This book was provided as part of a college course.
The book covers the presence of the French in the Far East beginning with the missionaries that pushed forward and made the initial contacts and relationships. As the French did in the New World, they allowed the Catholic Church to take a big part in exploring, mapping, and creating relationships with the natives of the area before colonization began. Daughton discusses the religious strive, the misunderstandings, and the problems that accompanied the entire process.
Keep in mind that this is an academic book and is not written for an afternoon read next to the lake. It is a serious look at the French presence in the East at the turn of the twentieth century. For a visual learner, this book is broken out into many chapters and subheading which also makes it easier to research. Sadly, I saw very little else to help the visual learner. There were a few images, but not many. There are little in the way of maps, charts, graphs, or pictures.
Mr. Daughton does a great job in exploring the French influence and does so in an objective manner. He does not walk into the topic with a preconceived notion that he spends the pages on trying to convince the readers to believe. He discusses the religious role in the colonization of Indochina, Tahiti, Madagascar, and more. He then shows the intricate involvement of the French government and the dicey relationships they had with the various native governments and people.
If you are doing any research on the Far East at the end of the nineteenth century and the first of the twentieth century, this is a book you really have to look into.
Note: This book was provided as part of a college course.
November 17, 2014
Interesting examination of the evolution of the relationship between catholic missionaries and civil administrators in Madagascar, French Polynesia, and Indochina. The archival evidence suggests that France's mission civilisitrice was not always solely a secular mission and, contrarily, that anti-clericalism wasn't always exempt from export. Larger message is intuitive: no matter the mission in the metropole, on the ground governance had to be flexible to be successful and the relationship between missionaries and administrators was a fluid one.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews