Colonial co-operation and regional construction: Anglo-French medical and sanitary relations in South East Asia

Abstract

Beyond the traditional imperialist rivalry often discussed, there were also some examples of regional collaboration between western powers and colonies in South East Asia. The sanitary and medical inter-colonial co-operation between French Indo-China and British possessions in South Asia is one of them. And while the current events of the atypical pneumopathy (SARS) and the bird flu have reimposed this question on the international scene, it seems important to relate the premises of a more solid regional organisation like the scientific collaboration which expanded between the 1870’s and 1920’s under French and British patronage. The contribution of the colonisation to regional construction in South East Asia can be evaluated with the description of the foundations (reasons, technical means and actors) and the forms taken by this sanitary and medical inter-colonial collaboration.