New Books in History Florian Wagner, "Colonial Internationalism and the Governmentality of Empire, 1893–1982" (Cambridge UP, 2022)
Feb 9, 2026
Florian Wagner, Assistant Professor of History and author of Colonial Internationalism and the Governmentality of Empire, explores the International Colonial Institute from 1893 to the 1970s. He traces how reformist language and scientific claims professionalized colonial administration. He shows ideological convergence across Europe and how postwar rebranding sustained segregation under the guise of differing civilizations.
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ICI Framed Colonialism As A Progressive Science
- The International Colonial Institute (ICI) coordinated colonial experts across Europe to standardize colonial practices.
- Florian Wagner shows the ICI made colonialism appear progressive and scientific to legitimize empire.
A Dinner Launched The ICI
- The ICI began after a dinner in Amsterdam where colonial delegates decided to institutionalize knowledge exchange.
- That 1893 meeting launched regular transnational coordination of colonial administrators.
Professionalizing Colonial Rule
- The ICI professionalized colonial administration via training schools and shared curricula.
- It promoted administrators who learned local languages and ‘cultural relativism’ to make rule appear respectful and efficient.
