The Enlightenment and the Politics of Civilization: Self-Colonization, Catholicism, and Assimilationism in Eighteenth-Century France

Abstract

This chapter’s main goal is to explore the links between the Enlightenment narrative and the idea of a civilizing policy. In particular, it shows the connection between the Enlightenment’s historical narrative and assimilationist imperial policy. This essay also examines some of the reasons why the Enlightenment narrative was invented in France and why it had a special radiance there. To be more precise, it highlights the role of both the French national narrative, and Catholic traditions, in the origins and history of the Enlightenment narrative. It argues that it was precisely this merging of national narrative and religious concepts that suggested a civilizing policy in the French empire.