Why did colonial subjects mobilize for national independence from the French empire?This question has rarely been posed because the answer appears obvious: in the modern era, nationalism was bound to confrontcolonialism.This book argues against taking nationalist mobilization for granted.Contrary to conventional accounts, it shows that nationalism was not the only or even the primary form of anti-colonialism.Drawing on archival sources, comparative historical analysis, and case studies, Lawrenceexamines the movements for political equality that emergedin the French empire during the first...

Why did colonial subjects mobilize for national independence from the French empire?This question has rarely been posed because the answer appears obvious: in the modern era, nationalism was bound to confrontcolonialism.This book argues against taking nationalist mobilization for granted.Contrary to conventional accounts, it shows that nationalism was not the only or even the primary form of anti-colonialism.Drawing on archival sources, comparative historical analysis, and case studies, Lawrenceexamines the movements for political equality that emergedin the French empire during the first...