World History: Pattern of Colonial Control

August 25, 2016 August 25, 2016

To establish control of an area, Europeans used different techniques. Over time, four forms of colonial control emerged as follows:

Colony

This was governed internally by the Foreign Power. Example is British Indian territories. The day-to-day management of the colony was done either directly or indirectly.

Direct Control

This was the preferred way of management of the colonies, whereby the Europeans thought that their subjects were naive to handle the business of running a country. Using the policy of paternalism the Europeans governed people in a fatherly way by providing for their needs but not giving them rights. To accomplish this, the Europeans brought in their own bureaucrats and did not train local people in European methods of governing.

Indirect Control

Indirect control relied on existing political rulers. In some areas, the British asked a local ruler to accept British authority (Suzerainty) to rule. The Imperial power appointed agents or officials to advise these rulers on local matters.

Protectorate

This referred to a country or territory with its own internal government but under the control of an outside power. Example is British protectorate over the Niger River delta in Africa.