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The Dutch Jeddah-office. Information gathering activities by the Dutch colonial state

Vak
2009-2010

Since the second half of the 19th century the Dutch government had a growing interest in the activities of the Indonesian pilgrims during their journey to Mecca. The Dutch government even established an office in Jeddah in 1872, to “watch the pilgrims more closely”. From the activities of this office in Jeddah an archive is left (8 m1). This archive may be a good example of information gathering activities by the colonial state.
By analyzing this archive, we aim to discover how the colonial state attempted to get administrative grip on the society in the Indies. In what kind of information was the Jeddah office on behalf of the colonial state interested? What role did the civil servants play? How did they gather information? What kind of information on the activities of the pilgrims was regarded as essential for the colonial state? How was the transfer of information to the authorities organized?
By analyzing the records, archives, information gathering activities and instructions of this Jeddah office, we will attempt to discover what goes on behind the scenes during the creation of information and archives. The student independently goes in search of the institutional background of archives creation in the 19th and 20th century archives.

Language of instruction

English and Dutch requested for literature and archival research (all archival sources will be in Dutch).

Admission requirements

Reading of 19th and 20th century Dutch handwriting is required. Most lecturers will be given in the National Archives in The Hague.

Time Table

Semester I, see timetables.

Method of Instruction

Lecture, study of academic research and study of archival documents.

Attendance is compulsory (see the rules and regulations of the Department of History, art. 2).

Course objectives

The first aim of this research seminar is to gain insight into the role, significance and purposes of information gathering, archives creation and knowledge systems of the colonial state. The second aim is to discover how the process of information-management was organized in the late 19th and beginning of the 20th century colonial society an how archives were created. The third aim is to get accustomed to an institutional approach of archives.

Required reading

  • C. Scott, Seeing like a state. How certain schemes to improve the human condition have failed (London an new Haven 1998)

  • Benda, Harry J.: “Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje and the Foundations of Dutch Islamic Policy in Indonesia,” The Journal of Modern History. Vol. 30, No. 4, Dec., 1958. Pp 338-347.

  • Noer, Delia: The Modernist Muslim Movement in Indonesia, 1900-1942. London: Oxford University Press, 1973.

  • Thomas Richards, The imperial archive. Knowledge and the fantasy of empire (London – New York 1993) (partly)

  • C.A. Bayly, Empire & Information. Intelligence gathering and social communication in India, 1780-1870 (Cambridge 1996) (partly)

Examination

Paper and presentation.

Information

With the tutor: Prof.dr. K.J.P.F.M. Jeurgens

Enrolment

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