First, assimilationism entailed replacing centuries-old governing structures. This gave natives the same political rights as mainland French citizens.Īssimilationist policy proved problematic for the French on two fronts. Colonial natives were considered French citizens upon adoption of French culture and customs. Assimilationists thought France had not just the right, but the “benevolent” duty to spread French republicanism and culture around the globe. The publication of Babar the Little Elephant occurred at a time of policy transition, but the work is ultimately a celebration of assimilationism-associationism.īefore World War I, assimilationists believed La Mission Civilisatrice (the civilizing mission) was paramount for French colonialists. Assimilationist colonial policy was giving way to a hybrid assimilationist-associationist policy. A closer look reveals that Babar the Little Elephant was undoubtedly written as an endorsement of French colonialism-a message that probably escapes the average pre-schooler.īrunhoff wrote Babar the Little Elephant at a time when France’s understanding of colonialism was in flux.

Yet there is more to Babar than a little elephant’s antics. Babar is raised in the city to become the king of the forest-one who gets into mischief thanks to his insatiable curiosity. īabar the Little Elephant is beautifully illustrated and charming. Jean de Brunhoff’s 1931 tale continues to reach children worldwide through numerous sequels available in 17 languages, not to mention a television show on CBC/HBO available in 30 languages across 150 countries. In the early 2000s my parents read The Story of Babar the Little Elephant to me, using my mother’s worn copy from the late 1960s. 2021.īabar the elephant is one of the most widely recognized characters in children’s literature. The inside cover of Jean de Brunhoff’s 1931 Histoire de Babar le petit éléphant (The Story of Babar the Little Elephant).

The story of babar the little elephant