Civilizing Mission

The Civilizing Mission was a justification used by European colonial powers in the 19th and early 20th centuries to justify their colonization efforts. It claimed that Europeans were helping "uncivilized" peoples by bringing progress, education, religion, and new political systems. In reality, it often served to legitimize economic exploitation, cultural dominance, and control over colonies. This idea framed colonization as a noble effort to improve lives, but it frequently disregarded local cultures, rights, and autonomy, reflecting a paternalistic attitude that assumed European ways were superior.