REASONS FOR THE COLLAPSE OF THE FRENCH ASSIMILATION POLICY
In spite of those efforts, the French assimilation system didn’t last longer. The following were among the reasons behind the collapse of the assimilation policy.
Grassroot opposition: French white men in French were against this system. They were afraid of being overpowered by the French black men in the political matters such as general elections. In France, the citizen pressured their government to abandon the assimilation policy.
Expenses: France had a big number of colonies which required a lot of money to employ many French teachers to teach the natives. The French government could not meet all these expenses.
Nature of culture: People’s culture is the experience which is being built gradually in the extended time in particular environment. The French ignored this fact when trying to enculture the natives in a short while. The Africans were proud of their ways of life than the French ways.
Muslim’s opposition: In West African territories, such as in Senegal, the Muslim community was against the assimilation system because it was associated with Christianity. They considered it as a means of reducing Islamic influence in West Africa so they strongly opposed it.
Racial segregation: In residential areas, the French white men segregated and discriminated the Africans (the assimilated and non-assimilated) this discouraged the non-assimilated to venture into French citizenship because it couldn’t bring a difference between non-assimilated natives.
African resistance: Some ethnic groups such as the Tukoror the major ethnic group in Senegal, they resisted against the French despise of their culture. They reached a stage of waging wars against the French. This too reduced the influence of French assimilation policy in West Africa.
African nationalism: The rise African extreme patriotism in Africa in 20thCentury also reduced the influence of the French assimilation policy e.g. Mr. Leopold Senghor of Senegal who opposed French colonialism for a longtime. He became the president of Senegal after independence.
Note: France no longer hoped for the assimilation policy due to the above stumbling blocks (Bottlenecks). They opted for a new policy of administration, the policy of Association.
THE IMPACTS OF THE FRENCH ASSIMILATION SYSTEM
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Exploitation of African resources e.g. Cheap African administrators from the assimilated natives. Also exploitation of natural resources such as raw material due to calm premises.
Facilitation of French colonial economy. This was possible because the colonies were well managed by the assimilated natives.
POLITICAL IMPACT
Uplifting of the Evolues of into the colonial political posts. They were allowed to fully participate in politics e.g. Colonial legislatures.
Undermining the African sovereignty: Under assimilation policy, the non-assimilated local rulers were abandoned by the French in administration. This interfered with the native sovereignty.
It provoked African resistance against e.g. From the Tukoror of West Africa. The native wanted to protect their culture.
Dividing the Africans: Today “at present” AFRICAN UNION “AU” faces a lot of difficulties in bringing uniformity between the former French colonies (francophone state) and former British colonies (Anglophone states). The francophone states pay homage to the French while the Anglophone states pay to common wealth community.
