Schmitt_umd_0117E_12182 - DRUM

ABSTRACT
Title of Dissertation: FROM COLONIES TO CLIENT-STATES: THE
ORIGINS OF FRANCE’S POSTCOLONIAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA, 1940-1969
Paul Daniel Schmitt, Doctor of Philosophy, 2011
Dissertation directed by: Professor Jeffrey Herf
Department of History
This dissertation examines the transformation of French mentalities regarding
France’s role in Africa, beginning with World War II and continuing through the end of
Charles de Gaulle’s presidency in 1969. Despite the political independence of France’s
African colonies in 1960, many of them quickly transitioned from colonies into client-
states. Since then, France’s relationships with its former colonies have enabled a variety
of underhanded dealings on the continent. In tracing the roots of this transformation, I
focus on French politicians and colonial administrators, and their gradual ideological shift
away from traditional conceptions of the French colonial mission.
I argue that the events of World War II, which split the empire and placed France
in a greatly disadvantageous international position (first with respect to Nazi Germany
and later vis-à-vis the Allies), led to a formidable shift in how France viewed its colonies
and other Francophone territories in sub-Saharan Africa. French insecurity, precipitated
by its fall as a major world power, required new ways to maintain influence

internationally and in its empire. This mentality, while shaped by the postwar
environment, was not the product of any one political ideology; it was shared by colonial
administrators in both the Vichy and Free French regimes, and by politicians on both the
left and right of the political spectrum after the war. At the same time, French officials
grew increasingly wary of British and American efforts to broaden their respective
standings in Africa. This renewed concern about the “Anglo-Saxon” threat, along with
the increasing need to preserve influence in Africa in a postcolonial age, were powerful
undercurrents in the formation of French policy on the continent leading up to and after
decolonization. The result was increasingly cynical support of despotic regimes friendly
to French interests, in an effort to maintain political influence in Africa after
decolonization.

FROM COLONIES TO CLIENT-STATES: THE ORIGINS OF FRANCE’S
POSTCOLONIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, 1940-1969
by
Paul Daniel Schmitt
Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the
University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
2011
Advisory Committee:
Professor Jeffrey Herf, Chair
Professor Paul Landau
Professor Richard Price
Professor Todd Shepard, Johns Hopkins University
Professor Donald Sutherland
Professor Vladimir Tismaneanu

© Copyright by
Paul Daniel Schmitt
2011

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Dedication
To Stephanie and Emma