Published in 1998, the expansion of Europe overseas required the creation of institutions for governing the conquered peoples, as well as the conquerors, their descendants, and later immigrants. As a group, bureaucrats were essential for the preservation of extensive and long-lasting European colonies. This volume looks in particular at the Americas and sets out the differing responses of Portugal, Spain, Britain and France and the systems they elaborated. A notable theme is the conflict between the demands of the centre, and the local pressures, and the extent to which the bureaucrats often came to identify with these.