mission civilisatricen.
/miːsˈjɒ̃ ˌsɪvɪliːzəˈtriːs/, U.S. /mɪsiˈɔn ˌsɪvɪˌlizəˈtris/ Now chiefly historical.
The perceived calling of (former) imperial powers to introduce civilization into their colonies; spec. with reference to French colonial policy in Africa and Indo-China.
ΚΠ
1927 Mississippi Valley Hist. Rev. 14 236 The duty of more advanced peoples to extend the blessings of civilization into dark corners of the earth, a mission civilisatrice.
1958 Listener 27 Nov. 889/2 [T. E.] Lawrence seems to have been obsessed with that vision to the exclusion not only of the French mission civilisatrice but even of British interests and of Allied interests as a whole.
1976 Daily Times (Lagos) 5 Aug. 21/2 Who has not heard of the ‘mission civilisatrice’ of ‘self-styled humanitarian movements’, destined to carry the light to Africa where, supposedly, there was perpetual darkness.
1995 Time Internat. (Electronic ed.) 3 Apr. Residual evidence of France's self-appointed mission civilisatrice was ever present: Peugeot sedans motored down boulevards named for French Presidents; African women walked home with baguettes tucked under their arms.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1927