The concept of "divide and rule" is often associated with British colonial governance, particularly under leaders like Lord Cromer in Egypt and in various parts of India. This strategy involved fostering divisions among local populations based on ethnicity, religion, or social class to weaken unified opposition against colonial authority. By creating distrust or rivalry among different groups, colonial powers maintained control more easily. The effectiveness of this tactic exemplified the complexities of colonial rule and the enduring effects it had on the post-colonial political landscape in many countries.