French Colonial Policy and its Impact on Shaping Cultural and Social Identity in Tunisia (1881- 1956)

Abstract

This research aims to study French colonial policy and its impact on shaping the cultural and social identity of Tunisia during the French colonization of Tunisia from 1881 to 1956. It seeks to analyze the colonial cultural policy pursued by the French protectorate authorities in Tunisia, examining its objectives and methods, to demonstrate its effect on the formation of the cultural and social identity of Tunisian society. The study highlights the role of national cultural institutions in confronting this influence and analyzes the contributions of the Tunisian cultural elite in defending national identity. The researcher adopted a historical narrative approach, tracing historical events and facts chronologically to present and analyze them within their historical context. This approach aims to arrive at a minimum level of historical truth, revealing the impact of this colonial influence on Tunisian identity and the reactions that produced a group of national thinkers who attempted to confront this oppressive colonial influence. The study relied on a number of relevant sources and references, such as the travelogue of al-Hashaishi, the writings of Charles Féraud, and the works of al-Tha'alibi, which addressed the subject matter and were contemporaneous with the events discussed.