The difference between the association and assimilation policies

Although the association and assimilation policies looked alike in practice, there were a few distinctions between the two. While assimilation involved making considerable efforts to develop social services in African colonies, association was largely used to create colonial government structures for easy exploitation of African resources.

Under the association policy, the position of African chiefs (local rulers) was restored although the chiefs were appointed by the French government. They were given duties of collecting taxes, recruiting labour and suppressing rural resistance. Under the assimilation policy, the duties were performed by the appointed federal officials who had no any traditional affiliation. On the other hand, the association policy was practised at a minimum cost. Moreover, the association policy introduced new military laws that required Africans to serve in the French army for a long period, while under the assimilation policy the military laws required Africans to serve the French army for a very short period of time so that they could become French citizens.