A system of governance where a colonial power utilizes existing local rulers and institutions to administer a territory. For instance, a European power might allow a traditional African chief to retain their authority, provided they enforce the colonial power’s laws and policies.
This approach offered several advantages, including reduced administrative costs and a perceived legitimacy among the local population, which often lessened resistance. Historically, it allowed colonial powers to control vast territories with limited personnel and resources, while simultaneously attempting to maintain a degree of stability and order.
