French imperial ideology stemmed from colonial fiscal interests plus Enlightenment ideas.

Evidence

This overlap between the particular fiscal needs of the colonial state, and the doctrine of the federal government, suggests that selfinterest was one powerful ingredient in determining French ideology in West Africa. Yet other influences were obviously also at work. The belief that trade would contribute to the civilizing process dated back at least as far as the Enlightenment. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 189

Categorization

• XREF: Distinguishing material interest from ideological inheritance in empire — parallels later postcolonial critiques and the user’s interest in the forced spread of French republicanism.