Egyptian elites actively collaborated in their own colonization

Evidence

Mitchell thus introduces an important new element into the Manichean canon of colonizer and colonized: the actively self-colonizing colonized. In his account we see men of tremendous energy and great commitment attempting to revamp their country during periods when European imperialism seemed the only answer. By identifying their responsibility in this project, Mitchell reveals that the source of colonialism was diffuse, the result of a collaborative effort. — Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Colonialism_…, 83

Categorization

Category: Contrarian or Surprising Claims

• SEED: Potential article angle: how ‘self-colonizing’ elites complicate straightforward victim narratives in colonial historiography, drawing comparisons across African contexts.

Related

• Colonialism’s source is diffuse and often collaborative rather than solely external (similarity 0.86)
• Egyptian elites collaborated in their own colonial ordering before British occupation (similarity 0.84)
• Egyptian nationalists were themselves colonizers of Sudan while being colonized by Europe (similarity 0.83)
• Egyptian nationalist elites reproduced imperial language themselves (similarity 0.82)
• Colonized elites also helped exploit their own people under colonial protection. (similarity 0.82)
• Egyptian colonial writers could adapt European empire logic against colonization of Egypt itself (similarity 0.82)
• Egyptian nationalists desired to recolonize Sudan even after losing it (similarity 0.81)
• Al-Tahtawï viewed European colonialism as a model for Egypt to emulate in Sudan (similarity 0.80)
• An Egyptian intellectual saw Egypt’s own colonization as insurance against sharing Africa’s fate. (similarity 0.80)
• Egyptian mapping of Sudan was shaped through deliberate European mentorship (similarity 0.80)
• Egypt functioned simultaneously as colonialism’s object and as its active subject (similarity 0.79)
• Egyptian elites deliberately treated the French as colonial guides (similarity 0.79)
• Egyptian writers saw adopting European ways as a path to imperial power (similarity 0.79)
• Egyptian officers were simultaneously targets and agents of colonial power (similarity 0.79)
• Egyptian colonial officers simultaneously resented and reproduced colonial hierarchies. (similarity 0.79)