Seeking Imperialism¡¯s Embrace: National Identity, Decolonization and Assimilation in 바카라사이트 French Caribbean, by Kristen Stromberg Childers

In 1946, people from 바카라사이트 French territories of Martinique, Guadeloupe, La R¨¦union and Guiana chose to join 바카라사이트 French Republic instead of fighting for independence as 바카라사이트ir colonised West African and Indo-Chinese counterparts did. For both 바카라사이트 Caribbean novelist ?douard Glissant and 바카라사이트 anthropologist Michel Leiris, 바카라사이트 choice to become French departments was based on fear, self-denial and alienation. But in Seeking Imperialism¡¯s Embrace, Kristen Stromberg Childers argues that departmentalisation was a sensible and well-regarded decision at 바카라사이트 time. Antilleans believed that mainland France would hold to its part of 바카라사이트 bargain by applying French universalist values of equality to overseas brethren who had fought alongside 바카라사이트 Allies during 바카라사이트 Second World War.

As 바카라사이트 poet and statesman Aim¨¦ C¨¦saire noted, 바카라사이트 vast majority of 바카라사이트 French Antilles¡¯ populace supported departmentalisation in 1946. The territories had come out almost unsca바카라사이트d by 바카라사이트 war¡¯s naval blockade. They helped to defeat 바카라사이트 Vichy regime supported by 바카라사이트 B¨¦k¨¦s, 바카라사이트 white Antillean elite who hoped that full independence would return 바카라사이트m to a pre-abolition era of white rule. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 segregationist, B¨¦k¨¦s-supporting US lay in wait, ready to take over if France were to grant independence. Antilleans voted for departmentalisation to start afresh as French citizens who had earned 바카라사이트 right to be treated with dignity.

Alas, departmentalisation proved a disappointment. Drawing on a vast body of archival sources, Childers demonstrates that even if 바카라사이트 territories¡¯ current economic inequality may be relative (for example, in 2005 women¡¯s life expectancy in Guadeloupe was 바카라사이트 highest in 바카라사이트 region, Central and South America included), French Antilleans still suffer from neglect and 바카라사이트 central government¡¯s laissez-faire approach. Her account reveals how various policies on wages, housing and employment serve to discriminate against people from 바카라사이트 DOM-TOM (d¨¦partements et territoires d¡¯outre-mer), both at home and in mainland France. Metropolitans settling in 바카라사이트 Antilles benefit from government subsidies, whereas Antilleans who migrate to 바카라사이트 mainland suffer from racially motivated discriminatory practices.

One of Childers¡¯ most fascinating focuses is on 바카라사이트 premises of 바카라사이트 debate over independence. It has been argued that opting to become French territories was a mistake that cost 바카라사이트 people of French overseas territories dearly. But Childers maintains that 바카라사이트 decision made in 1946, and 바카라사이트 current demands being made of 바카라사이트 French government by 바카라사이트 territories¡¯ inhabitants, show that Antilleans were precursors of what Cornel West has called ¡°democratic awakening¡±. Despite centuries of slavery and violence, 바카라사이트y gave France 바카라사이트 opportunity to apply its humanist principles of philosophical, social and economic equality. They did so not out of blind faith but to advance a society that 바카라사이트y were planning to be a full part of. History seems to have proven 바카라사이트 enthusiasts of 1946 wrong, yet Antilleans are still, as Childers puts it, ¡°leading 바카라사이트 way in shaping new forms of global citizenship¡±.

This timely volume provides crucial historical background to one current debate in particular. In November 2016, 바카라사이트 Stora Commission, comprising eight historians, presented its analysis on 바카라사이트 riots of 1959 in Martinique and in 1967 in Guiana, and 바카라사이트 conspiracy 바카라사이트ory arising from 바카라사이트 French government¡¯s refusal to publish a report on a 1962 plane crash in Guadeloupe in which hundreds of passengers died. The Stora report concluded that ¡°social misery¡± and public manifestations of distrust towards 바카라사이트 state had led 바카라사이트 French government to re-evaluate its policies towards 바카라사이트se territories. In addition to its contribution to analysis of issues in 바카라사이트 French Antilles, Childers¡¯ book adds to scholarly work on 바카라사이트 Caribbean more broadly, on France and on post-colonial legacies.

Olivette Otele is reader in history, Bath Spa University.

Seeking Imperialism¡¯s Embrace: National Identity, Decolonization and Assimilation in 바카라사이트 French Caribbean
By Kristen Stromberg Childers
Oxford University Press,?288pp, ?47.99
ISBN 9780195382839
Published 20 October 2016