key term - Civilizing Mission

Definition

The civilizing mission, also known as the colonial mission or the white man's burden, was the justification used by European colonial powers to legitimize their imperial expansion and subjugation of indigenous peoples. It was the belief that European nations had a moral obligation to bring their perceived superior culture, religion, and way of life to the 'uncivilized' parts of the world.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The civilizing mission was used to justify the colonization of Africa, Asia, and the Americas by European powers such as Britain, France, and the Netherlands.
2. Proponents of the civilizing mission believed that European cultures were inherently superior to the indigenous cultures of the colonized regions.
3. The implementation of the civilizing mission often involved the suppression of local languages, religions, and cultural practices in favor of European ones.
4. Anthropology, as a discipline, was closely tied to the civilizing mission, with some anthropologists serving as advisors to colonial administrations.
5. The civilizing mission was criticized for its ethnocentric and paternalistic attitudes, and for the harm it caused to indigenous populations through cultural assimilation and exploitation.

Review Questions

• Explain how the civilizing mission was used to justify European colonial expansion.
  • The civilizing mission was a key justification used by European colonial powers to legitimize their imperial expansion and subjugation of indigenous peoples. Proponents of the civilizing mission believed that European cultures were inherently superior and that it was the moral duty of European nations to bring their perceived superior culture, religion, and way of life to the 'uncivilized' parts of the world. This ideology was used to rationalize the colonization of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, as well as the suppression of local languages, religions, and cultural practices in favor of European ones.
• Describe the relationship between the civilizing mission and the field of anthropology.
  • Anthropology, as a discipline, was closely tied to the civilizing mission. Some anthropologists served as advisors to colonial administrations, providing information and insights that were used to implement the civilizing mission. Anthropologists often studied the cultures and societies of colonized peoples, but their research was often influenced by the ethnocentric and paternalistic attitudes of the civilizing mission. This led to the development of anthropological theories and practices that were used to justify the suppression and assimilation of indigenous cultures, rather than to promote their understanding and preservation.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of the civilizing mission on colonized societies and the field of anthropology.
  • The civilizing mission had a profound and lasting impact on colonized societies, often leading to the suppression and assimilation of indigenous cultures, languages, and practices. This cultural erasure had devastating effects on the identity, social structures, and well-being of colonized peoples. The close relationship between the civilizing mission and the field of anthropology also had long-lasting consequences, as anthropological theories and practices were often used to justify and perpetuate the colonial agenda. This has led to ongoing debates and critiques within the field of anthropology about its historical complicity in the oppression of indigenous peoples, and the need to decolonize and reorient the discipline to promote a more ethical and inclusive understanding of human diversity.

Related terms

Colonialism:

The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Imperialism:

The policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.

Cultural Assimilation: The process by which a person or a group's language and/or culture come to resemble those of another group.