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“Scientific Imperialism in the pre-1914 Middle East”

Yale University (November 6, 2016)

According to Resident General Hubert Lyautey, the French protectorate in Morocco (1912-1956) was based upon the scientific imperialism. To which we might be tempted to reply: what do you mean “science”? For French colonial elites, scientific imperialism consisted of four main features: (1) rule of well-trained administrators based on the model of the Indian Civil Service; (2) “Ornamentalism”–the bestowing of honors and awards upon colonial administrative elites to win their loyalty; (3) keeping the land taxes low—as in the Indian Permanent Settlement; and (4) major state funded infrastructural investment to benefit agriculture–dams, irrigation works, railroads, port facilities. Alas, the French protectorate over Morocco failed to adopt any of these policies unambiguously.