Hoewel het postkolonialisme het einde van kolonialiteit suggereert, bewijst de hedendaagse sociale strijd rond etniciteit en cultuur het tegendeel. Racisme en zogenaamde ‘’colour prejudice’’ zijn een directe manifestatie van de koloniale orde die van oudsher het Westerse boven het niet-Westerse plaatst. Door het internaliseren van deze hiërarchische machtsdynamiek, strekt het kolonialisme ver voorbij de fysieke wereld en is de geest nog altijd gekoloniseerd, zelfs ondanks de vermeende onafhankelijkheid.
Het deconstrueren van de koloniale rationaliteit is dan ook noodzakelijk voor het verwezenlijken van ware onafhankelijkheid en bevrijding van de onderdrukkende Westerse kaders die op zijn beurt door de universaliteit van het Westen worden oplegt.
Onderwijs is essentieel voor dit proces van bevrijding, gezien het fundamentele belang van het afleren van kolonialiteit en het aanleren van dekolonialiteit om de geest volledig te dekoloniseren. Om dit bevrijdende potentieel te ontketenen, moet de pedagogische aard verschuiven van universeel naar pluriverseel, waarbij raciale en culturele verschillen worden erkend en omarmd. Een moreel rechtvaardig onderwijssysteem dat de nadruk legt op de deugden van respect en verantwoordelijkheid, is daarbij van essentieel belang om een gelijkwaardige samenleving te creëren, wat bevrijd is van koloniale connotaties.
This document summarizes key concepts from a seminar on whiteness and racialized otherness. It discusses racial fetishism originating from colonial times to refer to non-Western cultures and religions. It explores how fetishism involves projecting alienation and confining colonized groups to a biological existence. It also examines how race is a social construct that stereotypes create binary oppositions between an in-group and out-groups through othering. The document analyzes how power structures are maintained through perpetually reaffirming differences between self and threatening others.
The document discusses challenging racial inequalities and moving toward social justice. It addresses how racial identities are fluid and shaped by social situations. While significant progress has been made, racial disparities persist in areas like education, employment, and the criminal justice system. The election of Barack Obama did not erase these inequalities. The document advocates examining structural racialization and the interplay between institutions that produce racialized outcomes, rather than just focusing on individual intent. Moving forward requires changing how we think and act on issues of race.
This document summarizes a literature review that examines how intersectionality methodology has been applied in studies of Black women's experiences in higher education over the past 30 years. The review analyzes 680 studies and finds that 23 studies engaged Kimberlé Crenshaw's three-dimensional framework of intersectionality, which includes structural, political, and representational dimensions. While these studies seldom used the term "intersectionality," they employed four strategies that the review coins as "intersectionality methodology." The strategies provide a guide for applying intersectionality as a methodological tool in social science research.
The document discusses the history and key aspects of feminism. It defines feminism as a social and political movement advocating for equal rights and opportunities between sexes. The summary covers three key points:
1) Feminism originated in the 19th century and has been divided into four waves focusing on women's suffrage, legal equality, diversity, and using social media to combat issues like sexual harassment.
2) First-wave feminism in the 19th-early 20th centuries focused on promoting equal rights in areas like contracts, marriage, parenting, and property. This led to women gaining the right to vote in countries like New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and US.
3) The
Feminism has significantly influenced sociology in two main ways. First, it has brought to light issues that were previously overlooked, such as women's experiences. Second, it has criticized traditional sociological methods for reinforcing hierarchies between researchers and subjects. In response, feminist researchers have advocated more collaborative methods. However, critics argue that feminist methodology does not eliminate power imbalances and early feminism did not consider the experiences of all women.
This document summarizes key aspects of Black feminist thought and its development. It discusses [1] early voices that advocated for women's rights like Sojourner Truth and Maria Stewart, [2] the intersecting oppressions Black women face around race, class and gender, and [3] how Black feminist intellectuals have worked to develop Black feminist thought through discovering and reinterpreting works by Black women.
The document discusses intersectionality theory and Black feminist thought as developed by Patricia Hill Collins. It explains that intersectionality examines how gender, race, class, and sexuality interact to create social inequalities. Collins argues that Black feminism develops knowledge in ways different from dominant white male perspectives and that Black women's experiences and knowledge should be recognized. The matrix of domination refers to how different forces like class, race and gender intersect to affect people, especially Black women.
This document summarizes key concepts from a seminar on whiteness and racialized otherness. It discusses racial fetishism originating from colonial times to refer to non-Western cultures and religions. It explores how fetishism involves projecting alienation and confining colonized groups to a biological existence. It also examines how race is a social construct that stereotypes create binary oppositions between an in-group and out-groups through othering. The document analyzes how power structures are maintained through perpetually reaffirming differences between self and threatening others.
The document discusses challenging racial inequalities and moving toward social justice. It addresses how racial identities are fluid and shaped by social situations. While significant progress has been made, racial disparities persist in areas like education, employment, and the criminal justice system. The election of Barack Obama did not erase these inequalities. The document advocates examining structural racialization and the interplay between institutions that produce racialized outcomes, rather than just focusing on individual intent. Moving forward requires changing how we think and act on issues of race.
This document summarizes a literature review that examines how intersectionality methodology has been applied in studies of Black women's experiences in higher education over the past 30 years. The review analyzes 680 studies and finds that 23 studies engaged Kimberlé Crenshaw's three-dimensional framework of intersectionality, which includes structural, political, and representational dimensions. While these studies seldom used the term "intersectionality," they employed four strategies that the review coins as "intersectionality methodology." The strategies provide a guide for applying intersectionality as a methodological tool in social science research.
The document discusses the history and key aspects of feminism. It defines feminism as a social and political movement advocating for equal rights and opportunities between sexes. The summary covers three key points:
1) Feminism originated in the 19th century and has been divided into four waves focusing on women's suffrage, legal equality, diversity, and using social media to combat issues like sexual harassment.
2) First-wave feminism in the 19th-early 20th centuries focused on promoting equal rights in areas like contracts, marriage, parenting, and property. This led to women gaining the right to vote in countries like New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and US.
3) The
Feminism has significantly influenced sociology in two main ways. First, it has brought to light issues that were previously overlooked, such as women's experiences. Second, it has criticized traditional sociological methods for reinforcing hierarchies between researchers and subjects. In response, feminist researchers have advocated more collaborative methods. However, critics argue that feminist methodology does not eliminate power imbalances and early feminism did not consider the experiences of all women.
This document summarizes key aspects of Black feminist thought and its development. It discusses [1] early voices that advocated for women's rights like Sojourner Truth and Maria Stewart, [2] the intersecting oppressions Black women face around race, class and gender, and [3] how Black feminist intellectuals have worked to develop Black feminist thought through discovering and reinterpreting works by Black women.
The document discusses intersectionality theory and Black feminist thought as developed by Patricia Hill Collins. It explains that intersectionality examines how gender, race, class, and sexuality interact to create social inequalities. Collins argues that Black feminism develops knowledge in ways different from dominant white male perspectives and that Black women's experiences and knowledge should be recognized. The matrix of domination refers to how different forces like class, race and gender intersect to affect people, especially Black women.
Black feminist thought in the matrix of dominationpaigero
Black feminist thought conceptualizes oppression as operating through interlocking systems of race, class and gender. It emphasizes placing Black women's experiences at the center of analysis to gain insights about prevailing concepts and offer new ways of knowing that can empower subordinate groups. Black feminist thought also recognizes multiple, partial perspectives and subjugated knowledges, and advocates for dialogue and empathy across groups to work towards social transformation.
The document discusses intersectionality and feminism, covering several topics:
1) It introduces the waves of feminism, including first wave, second wave, and third wave feminism.
2) It discusses the works and views of Silvia Federici, the Combahee River Collective, and Audre Lorde regarding the importance of considering gender as well as race, class, sexuality and other identities.
3) Federici, the Collective, and Lorde argue that the major systems of oppression are interlocking and you cannot have a feminist politics without also having an anti-racist politics.
The document provides an overview of several key feminist theorists and concepts in feminist theory. It discusses the work and ideas of theorists including Dorothy Smith, Sandra Harding, Patricia Hill Collins, Carol Gilligan, Joan Brumberg, and Barbara Risman. Some of the main concepts covered include liberal feminism, Marxist feminism, radical feminism, socialist feminism, postmodern feminism, and doing gender. It also discusses Gilligan's work on gender differences in moral development and Risman's concept of "gender vertigo."
This document summarizes a presentation about the article "White Women Listen! Black Feminism and the Boundaries of Sisterhood" by Hazel V. Carby. It discusses how feminist theory has largely been developed from the perspectives and experiences of white women, failing to consider the different backgrounds and forms of oppression faced by black women. Specifically, it notes how concepts around family, patriarchy, and reproduction analyzed in feminist theory do not align with the histories and realities of black women. The presentation calls for white feminists to fundamentally rework feminist frameworks to fully incorporate the perspectives of black women.
This document summarizes and critiques the concept of decolonization being used as a metaphor in Western academic contexts without proper acknowledgement or consideration of Indigenous peoples and struggles. It notes that decolonization is not simply a metaphor and discusses how the concept has been appropriated and domesticated in a way that is dangerous and limiting. It argues that decolonization must be grounded in recognition of Indigenous sovereignty and contributions from Indigenous intellectuals and activists to avoid being a premature attempt at reconciliation that contains settler anxiety.
This document provides an overview of key concepts in feminism and gender theory, including:
- Definitions of feminism and a brief history covering first, second, and third-wave feminism.
- Summaries of the work and ideas of prominent theorists Angela McRobbie and Judith Butler. McRobbie studied youth culture and gender, while Butler argued that gender is a social construct and performance rather than a stable identity.
- An introduction to queer theory and how it builds on Butler's work to question traditional definitions of sex, gender, and sexuality.
Globalization, gender politics and the mediaCarolina Matos
The document summarizes research on gender inequality and media representation in Latin America, with a focus on Brazil. It discusses the history of women's rights movements in Latin America and Brazil's progression towards gender equality. While improvements have been made through new laws and policies, challenges remain. The representation of women in Brazilian media continues to rely on stereotypes, emphasizing physical attractiveness over accomplishments. However, some positive changes have occurred with more women entering politics and the workforce. Overall, the research aims to analyze ongoing issues of gender inequality and assess media's role in perpetuating or challenging stereotypes.
This document discusses the concept of intersectionality, which refers to how social factors like gender, ethnicity, religion, etc. interact and affect inequalities. It provides examples of issues at the intersection of various factors, like certain forms of gender-based violence. It also discusses why intersectionality is sometimes ignored, such as because addressing minority issues could lead to assumptions that problems only affect minorities. Finally, it outlines six dilemmas in studying intersections, such as balancing structural influences with individual agency, and addressing intersecting issues without reducing their complex nature.
The Combahee River Collective was a group of Black feminists in Boston in the 1970s who fought against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression. They viewed the systems of oppression as interlocking and did not identify as mainstream feminists. As Black feminists, they were committed to fighting issues that deepened struggles around race, class and gender worldwide. Membership in the group declined over time and disagreements arose, causing it to shift focus from political activism to literature and eventually disband in 1980.
Feminist theory developed out of the feminist movement to achieve social, political, and economic equality between men and women. There are several branches of feminist theory, including liberal feminism which focuses on achieving equal rights and opportunities, Marxist feminism which views women's oppression as stemming from their roles in the family and economy under capitalism, and radical feminism which argues that patriarchy and male domination are the primary forms of oppression. Feminist theorists have developed new perspectives and methodologies to incorporate women's experiences and challenge the male bias in traditional sociological theories.
Under the western eyes.. Pakistani Literature Abdullah Saleem
This document summarizes and compares the key ideas in two feminist works: Under Western Eyes by Chandra Mohanty, and Sexual Politics by Toril Moi. Mohanty critiques the tendency of Western feminism to view third world women as a homogeneous group and impose Western notions onto them. She argues for dismantling universal views and avoiding generalizations. Moi's book introduces important works in Anglo-American feminist criticism and French feminist theory. It shows how the former focuses on women's experience but takes the white heterosexual middle-class woman as the norm, while the latter textualizes sexuality and questions language and its relationship to power structures.
A presentation I made for my senior seminar at Whitman College. Design ideas are drawn from "Presentation Zen".
Some of the more interactive features are, unfortunately, unable to be experienced on SlideShare.
Representation in culture is an act of power that privileges certain groups over others. Various dichotomies exist, such as between high and mass culture, and between masculine and feminine representations. Patriarchal societies are dominated by men and shape culture in their interests, with women in a subordinate role. Questions of identity must be examined in the context of history, language and power relations. Bodies are represented according to norms that favor certain body types over others based on gender, race, class and other factors. Theoretical perspectives like feminism seek to understand and challenge these power imbalances in representation.
This document provides an overview of queer theory and its application to media representations of gender and sexuality. It discusses how queer theory emerged in the 1990s to challenge heteronormativity and limited representations of LGBT people. It also summarizes key concepts like gender as a social construct and "gender trouble." Examples are given of media texts like Will & Grace and Brokeback Mountain that can be analyzed through this theoretical lens.
This document provides definitions for various key concepts and theories in media studies, including representation, mediation, situated culture, uses and gratifications theory, ideology, cultural imperialism, hegemony, feminism, post-colonialism, Marxism, stereotypes, Propp's theory, false consciousness, gaze theory, bourgeoisie, Todorov's theory, patriarchy, second wave feminism, binary opposition, and liberal pluralism. Each term is defined in 1-2 sentences.
This document introduces feminism as a theoretical framework that analyzes texts and social issues from the perspective of those who are oppressed, with a focus on power relationships and social justice. It discusses that feminism considers issues of gender as well as race, class, ability, sexuality and other identity factors. The document specifically focuses on multiracial feminism and the experiences of women of color. It defines patriarchy as a system that privileges men over women through the participation of both men and women. Finally, it states that this course will use works by women of color to explore issues of power relationships, oppression of women, and women's resistance through a feminist lens.
(This presentation was originally given at the University of Kentucky during an African-American and African Studies lecture conducted by Dr. DaMaris B. Hill on November 18, 2014.)
This document provides an overview of a Gender Studies course, including expectations and assignments. It introduces key topics like feminism, waves of feminism in America and Singapore, and changing gender relations over time. The final exam will consist of three comprehensive essay questions testing knowledge from lectures, readings, films and tutorials. Participation is required on the course Wiki to discuss and analyze assigned materials.
This document discusses various representation theorists and their perspectives on gender, sexuality, race, and subculture. It outlines Judith Butler's argument against common feminist views of women as a group, and Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze in media. It also mentions Stuart Hall's views on hegemony and power in language, as well as Edward Said challenging concepts of East vs West orientation. Theorists on subculture such as Dick Hebdidge and Ken Gelder are outlined.
This document discusses how critical cosmopolitanism and border thinking theories could help address issues of Western dominance in political and social structures. Gloria Anzaldua's poem about living with a mixed racial identity highlights the pressures of assimilation into Western culture. Ramon Grosfoguel and Gerard Delanty explore how critical cosmopolitanism could articulate border thinking by creating more inclusive societies not dominated by a single ethnicity, culture or religion. Cosmopolitanism aims to change fundamental views of "otherness" to be more open and accepting of global diversity. Implementing these theories could help close cultural divides in multicultural societies currently influenced by Western ideologies.
Black feminist thought in the matrix of dominationpaigero
Black feminist thought conceptualizes oppression as operating through interlocking systems of race, class and gender. It emphasizes placing Black women's experiences at the center of analysis to gain insights about prevailing concepts and offer new ways of knowing that can empower subordinate groups. Black feminist thought also recognizes multiple, partial perspectives and subjugated knowledges, and advocates for dialogue and empathy across groups to work towards social transformation.
The document discusses intersectionality and feminism, covering several topics:
1) It introduces the waves of feminism, including first wave, second wave, and third wave feminism.
2) It discusses the works and views of Silvia Federici, the Combahee River Collective, and Audre Lorde regarding the importance of considering gender as well as race, class, sexuality and other identities.
3) Federici, the Collective, and Lorde argue that the major systems of oppression are interlocking and you cannot have a feminist politics without also having an anti-racist politics.
The document provides an overview of several key feminist theorists and concepts in feminist theory. It discusses the work and ideas of theorists including Dorothy Smith, Sandra Harding, Patricia Hill Collins, Carol Gilligan, Joan Brumberg, and Barbara Risman. Some of the main concepts covered include liberal feminism, Marxist feminism, radical feminism, socialist feminism, postmodern feminism, and doing gender. It also discusses Gilligan's work on gender differences in moral development and Risman's concept of "gender vertigo."
This document summarizes a presentation about the article "White Women Listen! Black Feminism and the Boundaries of Sisterhood" by Hazel V. Carby. It discusses how feminist theory has largely been developed from the perspectives and experiences of white women, failing to consider the different backgrounds and forms of oppression faced by black women. Specifically, it notes how concepts around family, patriarchy, and reproduction analyzed in feminist theory do not align with the histories and realities of black women. The presentation calls for white feminists to fundamentally rework feminist frameworks to fully incorporate the perspectives of black women.
This document summarizes and critiques the concept of decolonization being used as a metaphor in Western academic contexts without proper acknowledgement or consideration of Indigenous peoples and struggles. It notes that decolonization is not simply a metaphor and discusses how the concept has been appropriated and domesticated in a way that is dangerous and limiting. It argues that decolonization must be grounded in recognition of Indigenous sovereignty and contributions from Indigenous intellectuals and activists to avoid being a premature attempt at reconciliation that contains settler anxiety.
This document provides an overview of key concepts in feminism and gender theory, including:
- Definitions of feminism and a brief history covering first, second, and third-wave feminism.
- Summaries of the work and ideas of prominent theorists Angela McRobbie and Judith Butler. McRobbie studied youth culture and gender, while Butler argued that gender is a social construct and performance rather than a stable identity.
- An introduction to queer theory and how it builds on Butler's work to question traditional definitions of sex, gender, and sexuality.
Globalization, gender politics and the mediaCarolina Matos
The document summarizes research on gender inequality and media representation in Latin America, with a focus on Brazil. It discusses the history of women's rights movements in Latin America and Brazil's progression towards gender equality. While improvements have been made through new laws and policies, challenges remain. The representation of women in Brazilian media continues to rely on stereotypes, emphasizing physical attractiveness over accomplishments. However, some positive changes have occurred with more women entering politics and the workforce. Overall, the research aims to analyze ongoing issues of gender inequality and assess media's role in perpetuating or challenging stereotypes.
This document discusses the concept of intersectionality, which refers to how social factors like gender, ethnicity, religion, etc. interact and affect inequalities. It provides examples of issues at the intersection of various factors, like certain forms of gender-based violence. It also discusses why intersectionality is sometimes ignored, such as because addressing minority issues could lead to assumptions that problems only affect minorities. Finally, it outlines six dilemmas in studying intersections, such as balancing structural influences with individual agency, and addressing intersecting issues without reducing their complex nature.
The Combahee River Collective was a group of Black feminists in Boston in the 1970s who fought against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression. They viewed the systems of oppression as interlocking and did not identify as mainstream feminists. As Black feminists, they were committed to fighting issues that deepened struggles around race, class and gender worldwide. Membership in the group declined over time and disagreements arose, causing it to shift focus from political activism to literature and eventually disband in 1980.
Feminist theory developed out of the feminist movement to achieve social, political, and economic equality between men and women. There are several branches of feminist theory, including liberal feminism which focuses on achieving equal rights and opportunities, Marxist feminism which views women's oppression as stemming from their roles in the family and economy under capitalism, and radical feminism which argues that patriarchy and male domination are the primary forms of oppression. Feminist theorists have developed new perspectives and methodologies to incorporate women's experiences and challenge the male bias in traditional sociological theories.
Under the western eyes.. Pakistani Literature Abdullah Saleem
This document summarizes and compares the key ideas in two feminist works: Under Western Eyes by Chandra Mohanty, and Sexual Politics by Toril Moi. Mohanty critiques the tendency of Western feminism to view third world women as a homogeneous group and impose Western notions onto them. She argues for dismantling universal views and avoiding generalizations. Moi's book introduces important works in Anglo-American feminist criticism and French feminist theory. It shows how the former focuses on women's experience but takes the white heterosexual middle-class woman as the norm, while the latter textualizes sexuality and questions language and its relationship to power structures.
A presentation I made for my senior seminar at Whitman College. Design ideas are drawn from "Presentation Zen".
Some of the more interactive features are, unfortunately, unable to be experienced on SlideShare.
Representation in culture is an act of power that privileges certain groups over others. Various dichotomies exist, such as between high and mass culture, and between masculine and feminine representations. Patriarchal societies are dominated by men and shape culture in their interests, with women in a subordinate role. Questions of identity must be examined in the context of history, language and power relations. Bodies are represented according to norms that favor certain body types over others based on gender, race, class and other factors. Theoretical perspectives like feminism seek to understand and challenge these power imbalances in representation.
This document provides an overview of queer theory and its application to media representations of gender and sexuality. It discusses how queer theory emerged in the 1990s to challenge heteronormativity and limited representations of LGBT people. It also summarizes key concepts like gender as a social construct and "gender trouble." Examples are given of media texts like Will & Grace and Brokeback Mountain that can be analyzed through this theoretical lens.
This document provides definitions for various key concepts and theories in media studies, including representation, mediation, situated culture, uses and gratifications theory, ideology, cultural imperialism, hegemony, feminism, post-colonialism, Marxism, stereotypes, Propp's theory, false consciousness, gaze theory, bourgeoisie, Todorov's theory, patriarchy, second wave feminism, binary opposition, and liberal pluralism. Each term is defined in 1-2 sentences.
This document introduces feminism as a theoretical framework that analyzes texts and social issues from the perspective of those who are oppressed, with a focus on power relationships and social justice. It discusses that feminism considers issues of gender as well as race, class, ability, sexuality and other identity factors. The document specifically focuses on multiracial feminism and the experiences of women of color. It defines patriarchy as a system that privileges men over women through the participation of both men and women. Finally, it states that this course will use works by women of color to explore issues of power relationships, oppression of women, and women's resistance through a feminist lens.
(This presentation was originally given at the University of Kentucky during an African-American and African Studies lecture conducted by Dr. DaMaris B. Hill on November 18, 2014.)
This document provides an overview of a Gender Studies course, including expectations and assignments. It introduces key topics like feminism, waves of feminism in America and Singapore, and changing gender relations over time. The final exam will consist of three comprehensive essay questions testing knowledge from lectures, readings, films and tutorials. Participation is required on the course Wiki to discuss and analyze assigned materials.
This document discusses various representation theorists and their perspectives on gender, sexuality, race, and subculture. It outlines Judith Butler's argument against common feminist views of women as a group, and Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze in media. It also mentions Stuart Hall's views on hegemony and power in language, as well as Edward Said challenging concepts of East vs West orientation. Theorists on subculture such as Dick Hebdidge and Ken Gelder are outlined.
This document discusses how critical cosmopolitanism and border thinking theories could help address issues of Western dominance in political and social structures. Gloria Anzaldua's poem about living with a mixed racial identity highlights the pressures of assimilation into Western culture. Ramon Grosfoguel and Gerard Delanty explore how critical cosmopolitanism could articulate border thinking by creating more inclusive societies not dominated by a single ethnicity, culture or religion. Cosmopolitanism aims to change fundamental views of "otherness" to be more open and accepting of global diversity. Implementing these theories could help close cultural divides in multicultural societies currently influenced by Western ideologies.
The rise of nationalismIntroduction The rise of nationa.docxkathleen23456789
The rise of nationalism
Introduction
The rise of nationalism poses a threat to globalization and the set of values that the international community has sought to develop in the past. The election of President Donald Trump and Brexit threatened the neoliberal agenda that has promoted free enterprise and globalization. Understanding the rise of nationalism provides an effective instrument for identifying effective intervention measures.
Research Question
· What has caused the resurgence of nationalism?
Research Hypothesis
· If the USA focuses on electing competent leaders, the resurgence of nationalism will be resolved Comment by angela parham: When the word “will” is used it is predicting the future, which we cannot predict. Please rephrase and email me your new hypothesis.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
The literature review aimed at developing a holistic understanding of nationalism and its resurgence in the modern society. As a result, past and present incidences of nationalism were examined in the research process. The findings of the study form the basis for understanding the psychology of the modern nationalist and the factors that cause it to be prevalent among different parts of the society.
Search Description
The search terms comprised of ‘nationalism’, ‘causes of nationalism’, ‘causes of Brexit’ and ‘Trumpism’. The search results produced leads that the researcher used to identify other literature material on the subject. The focused research played an important role in enabling the researcher to identify the literature that could be used in the study. In addition, the internet search involved ‘resurgence of nationalism’ and ‘nationalists’.
(
Cultural factors
)Theoretical Framework
(
Nationalism
) (
Patriotism
) (
Social-economic factors
)
(
Political factors
)
Fig. 1: Theoretical framework for the resurgence of nationalism
The theoretical framework demonstrates the impact that environmental factors have on the inherent patriotism of an individual. Each person has a close relationship with their nation that forms part of their identity. The cultural factors in the society may affect how people perceive others. Part of the opposition towards nationalism can be linked to cultural issues, which affect how the people perceive each other. In addition, social-economic factors may affect the sense of security that a person has about their future (Spencer & Wollman, 2005). Political actors may exploit social-economic and cultural factors to stir interest in nationalism. The resurgence of nationalism can be linked to the cultural and social-economic factors in the American society. Consequently, it is evident that the adoption of nationalism is a response to threats to the identity or survival of an individual. The push for nationalism is a reactive response to the fear and anxiety caused by the potential loss of the identity of a person (BBC, 2018).
Review of the literat.
168 SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY IN THE CONTEMPORARY ERA Figure AnastaciaShadelb
This document summarizes Patricia Hill Collins's work on Black feminist thought. It discusses how Black women have faced common challenges like racial segregation and discrimination, but have also had diverse experiences and responses to those challenges. While shared experiences have led to some common perspectives among Black women as a group, individual experiences and interpretations have varied as well. The document examines how Black feminist thought has emerged from both the collective standpoint of Black women's intersecting oppressions as a group, as well as the diverse responses to those oppressions.
Confirming PagesUnder Western Eyes CHANDRA TA LPADE MO.docxmargaretr5
This document summarizes and critiques how Western feminist texts have portrayed "third world women" as a singular, monolithic subject. It identifies three analytic presumptions common in Western feminist discourse: 1) treating "women" as a coherent group with identical interests, regardless of other identities; 2) providing "proof" of cross-cultural validity without critique; 3) implying a model of power that positions some as oppressors and others as oppressed. As a result, third world women are portrayed as uniformly poor, uneducated, tradition-bound victims. The document calls for more nuanced analyses that consider how gender interacts with other social factors.
Gender & Identity on Postcolonial Studies - Wiwin Malinda.pdfMalindaWin
The document discusses gender and identity in postcolonial studies. It examines how postcolonial and gender theories emerged from political struggles and intellectual traditions. These theories seek to challenge hierarchical binaries like center/margin and male/female. Judith Butler's work on gender performativity is discussed, arguing that gender is an ongoing process of boundary marking rather than a fixed identity. The document also analyzes how postcolonial gender theorists have critiqued concepts like epistemic violence and the positioning of Western knowledge as the norm. Their work aims to deconstruct margins and understand relationships between Self and Other.
Nationalism is a complex concept with no agreed-upon definition. It is generally associated with the French Revolution but some scholars argue it emerged earlier. Nationalism can be viewed as an abstract group identity or as a natural distinction between groups. It has been argued to have both constructive and destructive effects. While nationalism may promote isolation, some scholars believe it can also facilitate global integration as local identities are strengthened alongside growing international connections. The relationship between colonizers and colonized was sometimes positive with cultural exchange and economic development, contradicting arguments that colonialism inherently caused underdevelopment.
Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving Anthropological Refle.docxaryan532920
Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism
and Its Others
Author(s): Lila Abu-Lughod
Source: American Anthropologist, Vol. 104, No. 3 (Sep., 2002), pp. 783-790
Published by: Wiley on behalf of the American Anthropological Association
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3567256
Accessed: 26-03-2018 22:52 UTC
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H ,
LILA ABU-LUGHOD
Ethics Forum: September 11 and Ethnographic Responsibility
Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving ?
Anthropological Reflections on Cultural
Relativism and Its Others
ABSTRACT This article explores the ethics of the current "War on Terrorism," asking whether anthropology, the discipline devoted
to understanding and dealing with cultural difference, can provide us with critical purchase on the justifications made for American
intervention in Afghanistan in terms of liberating, or saving, Afghan women. I look first at the dangers of reifying culture, apparent in
the tendencies to plaster neat cultural icons like the Muslim woman over messy historical and political dynamics. Then, calling attention
to the resonances of contemporary discourses on equality, freedom, and rights with earlier colonial and missionary rhetoric on Muslim
women, I argue that we need to develop, instead, a serious appreciation of differences among women in the world-as products of
different histories, expressions of different circumstances, and manifestations of differently structured desires. Further, I argue that
rather than seeking to "save" others (with the superiority it implies and the violences it would entail) we might better think in terms of
(1) working with them in situations that we recognize as always subject to historical transformation and (2) considering our own larger
responsibilities to address the forms of global injustice that are powerful shapers of the worlds in which they find themselves. I develop
many of these arguments about the limits of "cultural relativism" through a consideration of the burqa an ...
This document discusses ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. It defines ethnocentrism as judging other cultures based solely on one's own cultural values and standards. Cultural relativism is presented as an alternative approach where cultures are understood and judged based on their own cultural contexts and values rather than those of another culture. The document argues that a culturally relativist approach is needed in today's multicultural world to foster respect, tolerance, and cultural sensitivity between groups.
Post Colonial Literature: Can the sub-altern speak? Santhiya Ramadas
This document discusses key concepts in postcolonial feminism. It begins by defining postcolonial feminism as a subset of feminism that seeks to study the effects of colonialism on non-Western women. It then examines Western views of non-Western women and criticisms of those views from a postcolonial feminist perspective. Specifically, it analyzes the politics of the veil and Western notions of "saving" women. The document also briefly discusses hybridity, Frantz Fanon's work, and critiques of postcolonial feminism.
This document summarizes Spencer Ruelos' anthropology capstone paper which examines theories of transnationalism within queer anthropology regarding the globalization of queer identities. It begins by contextualizing the terms "transnationalism" and "globalization" and then summarizes Dennis Altman's theory that Western gay and lesbian subcultures have spread globally through processes like consumerism and mass media. However, the document argues that Altman's theory fails to account for local contexts and reproduces problematic binaries. It discusses theories of "glocalization" and "hybridization" which argue that queer identities globally are negotiated hybrids of both local and global influences, not simply imports of Western identities.
Edward Said, Lecture 1Sociology of Religion Lecture, April 2.docxtoltonkendal
Edward Said, Lecture 1
Sociology of Religion Lecture, April 20
Edward Said
§ 1935-2003
§ Born in Jerusalem in Palestine (when it was a British
Mandate), he was a lifelong advocate for Palestinian
autonomy and the Palestinian people.
§ He was a professor of literature at Columbia and is
considered one of the founders of postcolonial theory.
§ His most famous book, published in 1978, was Orientalism.
Orientalism
§ Written in 1978
§ One of the most important books of the twentieth century.
§ Orientalism was historically considered alongside
anthropology and sociology/political science:
anthropology studied “the peoples without history”;
sociology and political science studies the West and its
settler colonies (the US/Canada/Mexico, etc.); and
Orientalism studied peoples with a literary history,
basically the “civilizations” of Asia
Orientalism
§ Yet one of the challenges of Orientalism was the
way that it froze history: European scholars would
emphasize their capacity with various Asian
languages (usually specializing in a region like
South Asia, East Asia, or the Middle East) and then
believe that learning the classical texts was all they
needed.
§ This is a process called “essentializing”
§ Think about what it would mean if someone felt
they could talk about the current French elections
by having carefully studied many of the texts in 9th
century France. Yet this still happens about Islam!
The phrase
“Orientalist”
§ People use this phrase a lot less often now, and
are more likely to talk about “Near Eastern
Language and Civilizations” (though note that
near east still refers to Europe. Near to whom?
That’s why you more often now say East Asia
instead of the Far East)
§ And in many ways, Said’s book helped to totally
reorient the field.
What does
Said mean by
Orientalism
§ “Orientalism is a style of thought based upon an
ontological and epistemological distinction made
between “the Orient” [East] and (most of the time) “the
Occident” [West] (2).
§ Ontological: Question of being. What kind of thing is
something?
§ Epistemological: Question of knowing. How do we know
something?
§ Said is interested in how we know the Orient and how that
kind of knowing changes what the Orient is.
Meaning of Orientalism
§ “Taking the late eighteenth century as a very roughly
defined starting point Orientalism can be discussed
and analyzed as the corporate institution for dealing
with the Orient-dealing with it by making statements
about it, authorizing views of it, describing it, by
teaching it, settling it, ruling over it: in short,
Orientalism as a Western style for dominating,
restructuring, and having authority over the Orient” (3).
Antonio Gramsci
§ Italian politician, Marxist theorist
§ Most famous for his Prison
Notebooks, which he wrote while
being imprisoned by Mussolini
§ Famous for being one of the major
influences on later Marxism,
bringing culture more into fo.
Soc 320 explain why it is important/tutorialoutletBinksz
FOR MORE CLASSES VISIT
tutorialoutletdotcom
Black feminism remains important because U.S. Black women constitute an oppressed group. As a
collectivity, U.S. Black women participate in a dialectical relationship linking African-American women’s
oppression and activism.
Edward Said was a Palestinian-American literary theorist who is known for his influential book Orientalism. In Orientalism, Said analyzes how Western scholarship helped contribute to inaccurate cultural representations of the Eastern world as exotic and inferior. He argues that Orientalism constructed an ideological view of the East that perpetuated Eurocentric prejudices. Said's work was influential in the development of postcolonial theory and his analysis of Orientalism has remained an important text within this field of study.
This document provides an introduction to a special issue on skin bleaching and global white supremacy. It summarizes that skin bleaching is a widespread global phenomenon, disproportionately practiced by communities of color to approximate the white ideal and gain social status. While skin bleaching has complex motivations, most scholars acknowledge that colonialism, enslavement, and contemporary white supremacy have promoted skin bleaching. The document outlines the history of global white supremacy, examining how Christianity and European nationalism constructed whiteness as symbolizing goodness, purity, and superiority over blackness. This dualistic worldview influenced perceptions of color and helped establish white nationalism, which identifies white racial characteristics as superior.
Meaningful Education in a Disturbed World: Transforming Utopia into Realityinventionjournals
Thomas More‟s utopia could be interpreted as „nowhere‟ or‟ somewhere good.‟ It has been thought of as, “dreams or stories which reflect an ideal world with no pretence to reality,” as „speculative myth‟ that is positioned as a counterpart to the myth of the Golden Age which can be easily seen in various cultures,” or as, “an ideal commonwealth in a work of fiction created with the aim of assessing, criticizing and satirizing existing society.” Whatever it may be, it presents modern day educators with a dilemma that strikes deep into the concept of a just and equitable „one world‟ understanding, where education is available to all without prejudice or contextual constraints. Considering this ideal, how can the educational revolution impact the lives of children, displaced by war, or living in the misery of Ebola/AIDS like epidemics, poverty and famine, religious or racial strife or in the crime ridden settlements in all countries (whether they be the ghettos, colonies or slums)? This paper makes the case for the creation of competent educational task forces comprising of paid and volunteer workers under the aegis of the United Nations through whom children would get the benefit of academic continuity that would enable them to restart and continue their education ASAP in a more settled environment. The aftermath of tragedies whether it be violence/war, natural calamities or epidemics or any debilitating event upsets the academic homeostasis and only a planned, consistent, supported program can deal with the resultant chaos and lacunae. This paper studies existing structures that deal with these tragedies and suggests methods to improve delivery such that educational justice becomes a reality rather than remaining a utopian dream
Essay on good education is the only path to success / cheap assignment .... Importance of Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays .... Essay on Education for All in English | Importance of Education in Life .... A essay on why education is important - thesispapers.web.fc2.com. The Importance of Education - Essay - Studienett.no. What Is an Education Essay. College Essay Examples - 13+ in PDF | Examples. Education Is a Key to Success Essay Example | StudyHippo.com. Impressive Essay On Education ~ Thatsnotus. Essay on Education for all - ExamPlanning. Academic Essay Structure Tips [Writing Guide] | Pro Essay Help. Essay on Importance of Education - YouTube. Essay On Education – Ilustrasi. The Importance of Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written .... The importance of education essay - The importance of education- Essay ....
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Decolonising Brown History: The Power of Pluriversal Pedagogies
1. RUNNING HEAD: BROWN HISTORY
Decolonising Brown History
The Power of Pluriversal Pedagogies
by
Arundathi de Saram
Erasmus University College
466243
Dr. Julien Kloeg
June 7, 2021
2. BROWN HISTORY 2
Abstract
While post-colonialism suggests the end of coloniality, the contemporary social
struggle concerning race and culture proves otherwise. Racism and colour prejudice are a direct
manifestation of the colonial order which places the West over non-West. By internalising this
hierarchical power dynamic, colonialism is continued beyond the physical realm thereby
effectively colonising the mind. Accordingly, deconstructing colonial rationality is necessary
to attain liberation from the oppressive Western framework which dictates Western
universality. Education is instrumental to this process of liberation as unlearning coloniality
and learning decoloniality is fundamental to decolonise the mind. To unleash this liberating
potential, the pedagogical nature must shift from universal to pluriversal thereby
acknowledging and embracing racial and cultural differences. A morally just education system
emphasising the virtues of respect and responsibility are of essence to create an equal society
liberated from colonial connotations.
3. BROWN HISTORY 3
Table of Content
Introduction 4
Defining Colonialism 8
European Exploration 11
Exploitation and Violence 13
The Rationality of Colonial Violence 16
II: Independence and Post-Colonialism 17
Towards Independence 18
The Problem of Post-Colonialism 20
Perpetual Colour Prejudice 21
III: Decolonisation & Education 23
The Colonised Mind 23
The Pedagogy of Decolonisation 26
Conclusion 29
Bibliography 31
4. BROWN HISTORY 4
Introduction
The colour of my skin speaks no truth of me, yet it paints a picture of how you perceive
me. And while my roots bear no meaning, it hints at a long history of colonial oppression. As
such, South Asia has endured a long colonial past of which the effects are still present today
(Ivison, 2010, p. 36). Haunted by racism, discrimination, inequality and injustice, the coloured
colonised have lived in submission to the West for centuries (Loomba, 1998, p. 22). Fostered
in the violent history of oppression and subordination, the colonial past of so-called ‘’Brown
History’’ is in adherence to the Western narrative. Charged by Eurocentrism, colonisation has
imposed the universality of Western ideology, materialising a hierarchical power dimension of
West over non-West (Walsh, 2015, p. 13). Internalising the asymmetry of colonialism allows
for the West to sustain its dominance, thereby giving rise to the inescapable framework of
Western hegemony (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 212). The conception of the West as the
ultimate ideal is a continuation of oppression thereby colonising the mind (Ndlovu-Gatsheni,
2019, p. 207).
For too long, South Asia has been considered to be part of the so-called ‘’Third World’’.
This derogatory terminology not only defines a nation’s economic status, it also allows for the
conception of inferiority through an evident pecking order placing the West at the top, the
‘’First World’’ (McClintock, 1992, p. 97). To do away with negative connotations, nowadays
the Third World is more commonly referred to as ‘’developing’’ or ‘’underdeveloped’’, thereby
still emphasising its work in progress nature in relation to the civilised and developed world of
the wealthy West. The invoked ‘’West is best’’ mentality portrays the remnants of colonialism
as a sense of inferiority still lingering in the non-Western rationale even after the proclamation
of political independence (McClintock, 1992, p. 86). Thus, liberation from the West requires a
more thorough approach. As such, decoloniality is aimed at deconstructing the oppressive
5. BROWN HISTORY 5
colonial rationality by which both body and mind are freed from colonial connotations
(Mignolo, 2007, p. 452).
The repercussions of the colonial past have become present by the persisted dominance
of white Western civilisation (McClintock, 1992, p. 94). In other words, the Western hegemony
is real and seems ever dominant (Walter, 2007, p. 451). As a result, the corresponding Western
ideals are imposed, internalised and applied as universal (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 208).
However, considering racial and cultural diversity, the white Western way simply cannot be
attained beyond the white Western world. Without an adequate and representable standard for
people of colour, the hierarchical power dynamic of West over non-West is maintained and
upheld (Connell, 2012, p. 681).
In this thesis I propose education as a tool to overcome this sense of subordination
which is deeply rooted in the colonial narrative of South Asia. As such, education houses the
decolonial potential of undoing coloniality, thereby overturning the colonial hierarchy of
oppression (Southwell & Depaepe, 2019, p. 1). Acknowledging and attributing the liberating
potential of education the following research question arises: Under what conditions can
education serve as a means towards liberation in South Asia, specifically focussing on
decolonising the mind.
For this I will treat my thesis as a conceptual analysis. Drawing upon the colonial
history of South Asia and its independence in relation to post-colonialism and decoloniality.
The theoretical framework of this thesis consists of three main parts. In the first section I will
define colonialism and highlight the respective opposing historical narratives of the West and
non-West. In the following section the focus will lay on the struggle for independence and the
false promise of post-colonial freedom. Lastly, I explore the relationship of continued
colonialism and Western hegemony and propose education as a means to decolonise the mind
thereby answering the aforementioned research question.
6. BROWN HISTORY 6
The social and academic relevance of this thesis is most profound in the Western
domination of the non-Western. As such, most literature concerning Brown History follows
the Western conception of liberation. The prevailing Western hegemony creates a framework
which dictates terms for the conception of universal ideology in both theory and practice
(Johnson, 2007, p. 30). From a Western perspective, one is locked up within this subjectivity
and can only escape through transcendence in the form of critical thinking. However, the non-
Western subject is instead locked out of the Western hegemony and will never be able to fully
realise the Western ideal. Perceiving this phenomena, even to the slightest, most minimal
extent, is sufficient to allow Western domination to prevail in a so-called post-colonial era
(McClintock, 1992, p. 86). The latter characterises the nature of our world’s contemporary
social struggle of racism and discrimination.
I: The West and The Rest
While a sphere knows no top nor down and has no sides, our world is divided and
segregated in ways that would in fact suggest such clear lines and sides. These marks of
segregation go against the laws of nature and, in a moral sense, the laws of justice and
humanity. While we speak so highly of equality, its universal application is yet to be perceived.
To count for this negligence, I look to a greater part of the world; the Africans, the Asians, the
Latin Americans and other so called ‘’minorities’’ who do not fit the norm (Loomba, 1998, p.
36). A norm that presents itself as fair for all while in reality it favours only a few: the West
(Walter, 2007, p. 451). This unfairness is ever so real in the mundaneness of mankind. The
Western norm is an inescapable given, dictating the terms and conditions of our daily lives.
Evident in the high regard to Western standards, it is practice and passion to adhere to this even
outside the Western realm. An example of this is the emphasis on the importance of the English
language and its vast international attribution. The ability to speak English hints at a certain
level of education and is often associated with a higher degree of personal development
7. BROWN HISTORY 7
(Nandy, 1983, p. 19). What is important to note here, is that these assumptions are relative and
restricted to the Western perspective. Despite its subjectivity, the inadequate and incomplete
Western ideology is presumed to be a critical principle to all (Johnson, 2007, p. 30).
Somehow and somewhere along the narrative of human history, the white man has
come to rule the world, its people and their mind, spirit and soul (Loomba, 1998, p. 22). This
process has created the notion of the ‘’Other’’ à la de Beauvoir (2009, p. 30; Loomba, 1998, p.
36). As proposed by Simone de Beauvoir, the Other has a deep philosophical connotation for
it gives rise to the possibility of oppression and subordination; the Other is always in relation
to the Subject, however it is not vice versa as this relationship is not reciprocated (2009, p. 27).
In other words, the Subject is obvious and therefore ever-dominant, whereas the Other
necessitates justification and emanibility of its sole existence (de Beauvoir, 2009, p. 26). We
perceive a hierarchical power dynamic in which Beauvoir explores male dominance as the
Subject and woman as the oppressed Other (2009, p. 31). This underlying notion of gender
discrimination and subordination can be stretched to a broader discussion of power play, which
in turn can be attributed to grasp the specifics of racial implications as a consequence of the
relationship between the dominant Subject and the inherently subordinate Other (Loomba,
1998, p. 33). As such, this Other has come to represent all non-white Westerners such as ‘’the
blacks’’, ‘’the yellows’’, ‘’the browns’’ and ‘’the reds’’. Simply reduced to the colour of their
skin, these ‘’coloureds’’ are seen as a minority as opposed to the white Subject within the
dominant Western framework (Darwin; 2009, p. 113).
To come to an understanding of moral Western superiority, we must look into the
West’s profound conquest of the physical world. Colonialism has played - and still plays - a
kernel role in the pervasive “West is Best” mentality. Given its potential and significance, one
must go beyond the common Western perspective to obtain a complete picture of yesterday’s
history and today’s present (Loomba, 1998, p. 33).
8. BROWN HISTORY 8
Before delving into the details of the Other, it is of essence to define colonialism and
lay the groundwork of its widely accepted Western narrative. Therefore I will begin by
clarifying the notions of colonialism and colonisation as referred to within the scope of this
thesis.
Defining Colonialism
Whilst the act of colonisation as a means for territorial expansion dates back to ancient
times, contemporary interpretation of colonialism sparks novel notions of overseas discovery
and exploration (Loomba, 1998, p. 20). As such it is most often associated with the century-
long history of European conquest and the conquering of new land (Young, 2001, p. 16).
However, it should be noted that this seemingly new land was in fact far from new, for it had
been walked on and inhabited by a wide range of primal tribes and sophisticated societies long
before the arrival of the Western explorers (Loomba, 1998, p. 19). Yet, with respect to
colonialism, textbook history suggests and highlights the necessity of formal discovery for true
acknowledgement and legitimisation of these territories. Understood as such, colonialism is
embedded in a bias which is heavily lopsided in favour of the coloniser (Loomba, 1998, p. 28).
Accordingly, it is the white Westerner who has unravelled the unknown regions, thereby
disregarding any sense of admission to its indigenous population (Loomba, 1998, p. 20). In
turn, this mentality justifies annexation and total authority of the coloniser. This aspect in
particular hints at the underlying subjectivity of colonial discourse that is so deeply rooted
within the imperative power dynamic of colonisation (Young, 2001, p. 18; Johnson, 2007, p.
36). As such, a hierarchy is established which neglects the position of the natives, subjugating
them to the rule of the Western newcomers (Young, 2001, p. 15). In other words; the colonial
narrative and its social implications are determined by the degree of affinity towards the roles
of either coloniser or colonised, which in turn bears the connotation of the oppressor and the
9. BROWN HISTORY 9
oppressed. The problem then arises as the contradictory nature of these opposing viewpoints is
most commonly disregarded and ignored in full, falsely presenting the perspective of the white
Western coloniser as the one and only objective truth (McClintock, 1992, p. 97).
Considering the long and complex history of colonialism, it is hard to adhere to one
definition (Loomba, 1998, p. 24). The different epochs through which colonialism has travelled
as well as the different backgrounds and nationalities of the travelers contribute to the
multiplicity of different forms, variations, and interpretations of colonialism (Loomba, 1998,
p. 20). While this diversity impedes the possibility of suscepting colonialism to a general
analysis, post-colonial theorists have distinguished two types of colonies: settlement and
exploitation colonies (Young, 2001, p. 17).
To understand this distinction it is necessary to start by further investigating the terms
colonialism and colonisation. Although, thus far I have not made explicit the difference
between the two, it is important to mention that colonialism is an ideology whereas colonisation
is the very practice driven by this ideology (Young, 2001, p. 16). This distinction will become
more evident in the following section which elaborates upon the notions of settlement and
exploitation colonisation. Thus, circling back to its definition, the pursuit and purpose of these
colonies is critical in shaping colonial ideology (i.e colonialism) and in turn the way in which
the colonial rule is imposed within the colonies (i.e the means of colonisation). As such, settler
colonialism was intended for settlement of the coloniser. In other words, the purpose of these
colonies was to establish a new society as a habitual expansion of Western territory such as the
British did by settling in North America, Australia and New Zealand. While this occurred
without any regard to the existing inhabitants and was mostly accompanied by excessive
violence, it cannot be compared to the prolonged cruelty of exploitation colonialism. As the
term already suggests, exploitation colonies were exposed to economic exploitation by their
colonisers (Young, 2001, p. 17). This entailed both the enslavement of the indegenous people
10. BROWN HISTORY 10
for their labour and the forceful extraction and appropriation of the fruitful lands and its
resources (Loomba, 1998, p. 25).
Once again, it should be noted that this explanation is a mere simplification of an overtly
complex concept. It is therefore salient to acknowledge the vast variety within colonialism as
distinct considerations. However, it is in theory possible to further categorise exploitation
colonialism in adherence to its broader ideology and purpose of either slavery or trade and
commerce. The former category is most commonly related to the African continent, where
black Africans were shackled and shipped off to the West where they often lived the rest of
their lives in servitude of a white master. The colonies for the purpose of trade and commerce
were often located in the tropical climates of the global South (Loomba, 1998, p. 25). This was
highly favourable for the cultivation of exotic goods and materials which in turn proved
profitable for both business and the Western economies (Loomba, 1998, p. 21). Asia, in
particular, was very rich in natural resources, a notion vastly exploited to serve the benefit of
the Western coloniser. The Europeans established multiple trading posts and trading companies
throughout the continent such as the East India Company, to extract the riches that they deemed
rightfully theirs (Loomba, 1998, p. 26). This simultaneously coincided with the economic
rationale which prescribed wealth and prosperity by accumulating a trade surplus (Loomba,
1998, p. 27). Colonial domination enabled the export of exotic goods as the Westerners’ own,
gaining the rents and revenues from the fruits reaped by the exploited colonised (Loomba,
1998, p. 21). In addition to this, the indigenous people were faced with the injustice of European
‘’free trade.’’ As such they were forced to buy back their homegrown products from their
superior rulers, thereby creating a dependency of their very own exploitation whilst
maintaining subjugation by the white Western colonisers (Loomba, 1998, p. 27).
To adhere to the scope of this thesis the focus lays mainly on the latter form of
exploitation colonialism as practiced in South Asia. The following section will provide a
11. BROWN HISTORY 11
concise discussion of colonial history. I will commence with what is presented and perceived
to be common knowledge of the West’s thriving centuries of colonisation. Followed by a more
unconventional perspective of the colonised (Johnson, 2007, p. 37). This will allow for
comparing and contrasting the different interpretations so that a further elaboration on the
colonial implications on society is made possible.
European Exploration
The 15th century marks the beginning of colonialism, a long lasting era that came to be
through an urge of curiosity. At the time, Europe faced both high heights and low depths in
terms of socio-economic conditions, the rich and the poor were juxtaposed as most nations
were confronted by serious inequalities. As a result, the search for riches began. Rumours of
abundance in the faraway lands of the so-called ‘’New World’’ lured the Europeans. The
Spaniards and the Portuguese set sail to discover and explore in the name of ‘’God, Gold and
Glory’’, a creed that stands central to First Wave Colonialism (Loomba, 1998, p. 20; Young,
2001, p.16). Accordingly, First Wave Colonialism is characterised by the conquest for wealth
and the conversion to Christianity (Gilmartin, 2009, p. 116). With newly acquired territory, the
Spanish and Portuguese explorers returned to their homelands as national heroes. The treasures
they had brought along with them from the Americas were unseen and unheard of. It sparked
a sense of competition amongst other European nations such as the French, the British and the
Dutch who could not stay behind in the pursuit to prosperity and travelled to the Americas as
well (Gilmartin, 2009, p. 115).
A century later, the Europeans traversed across the Atlantics to the Indian Ocean,
discovering Asia for the very first time in Western history. For many years, decades and even
centuries, it was the Dutch and Portuguese rule that reigned over the continent (Darwin, 2009,
p. 26). However, most of Asia’s colonial past is in fact remembered in relation to the most
12. BROWN HISTORY 12
profound and perdurable British Empire (Darwin, 2009, p. 17). As such, the British arrived in
India in the early 17th century taking over the country and eventually a greater part of the
Indian subcontinent including but certainly not restricted to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and what we
now have come to know as Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Young, 2001, p. 17). Furthermore, the
Empire counted various settlements and colonies that stretched over lands and seas so far apart
that the sun never set on its territories (Kolsky, 2010, p. 229).
The establishment of the East India Company in December 1600 matched the
rationality underlying Second Wave Colonialism which was driven by a strong incentive for
free trade. As such, the East India Company provided favourable conditions for trade for the
British in South Asia, thereby introducing the West to rare and exotic goods such as silk, tea,
sugar and other spices (Sanghera, 2021, p. 83).
Simultaneously, the East India Company allowed for the British to coordinate, impose
and enforce control over their colonies (Darwin, 2009, p. 180). This practice of power benefited
the British by establishing a clear hierarchy of coloniser and colonised, the British embodying
the role of the former. Here the Western gaze and the white man’s perception of the Other - the
colonised - become significantly relevant. Common condescending belief and patronising
perspectives find itself at the core of colonial oppression and domination (Curry, 2018, p. 32).
Upon arrival in the New World, the white Westerners were encountered by, what they deemed,
black and brown barbarians living in backward societies (Césaire, 1972, p. 2; Johnson, 2007,
p. 35). Consequently, the civilised coloniser felt compelled to share with these savage nations
the Western sense of sophistication and enlightenment. From the perspective of the Western
Subject, colonisation was an act of service. Thus, the notion of necessary civilisation was used
to serve as a justification for colonialism, something the so-called savages should have been
grateful for (Curry, 2018, p. 31; Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 211).
13. BROWN HISTORY 13
Exploitation and Violence
Much like a coin, every story has two sides, accordingly, history is no exception to this.
As mentioned before, colonialism has most certainly not been all glory for everyone. To
address this in full and provide complete comprehension of its subjectivity, I will continue by
shedding light on its darkest terrors and give a voice to the muted victims (Walter, 2007, p.
484). Thus, while the Westerners explored their power and prosperity in the self acclaimed new
regions of the South, the local population was forced to face the ugly truths of their oppression
(Sanghera, 2021, p. 21). Irrespective of when and where the white man first arrived, it seemed
as though it was their duty to dominate, and so they did. Ruthlessly. While the attribution of
violence during these conquests can hardly be denied, the true extent to which has been
obscured and obfuscated over time to the point of utter shock or even denial when confronted
with the history of excessive colonial brutality (Kolsky, 2010, p. 2). As such, for too long, the
biased tellings of history have concealed the menacing coercion and aggression of the Western
colonisers towards the indigenes on colonial territory. Hiding the horrific acts of hostility and
hatred, the pain and fear inflicted on the colonised coloureds is disregarded and its severity
silenced and suppressed.
With statues heralding the great heroes and national holidays celebrating the overseas
explorations of the Europeans, this particular perspective allows for continued triumph of white
man’s discovery of the rest of the world (Sanghera, 2021, p. 26). While, once again, these
revelations were redundant since human life had far preceded Western discovery and had long
prevailed in these lands. This latter, somewhat egalitarian, acknowledgement is on the rise and
has sparked recent commotion concerning the injustice and inhumanity surrounding
colonialism. Today’s date, in a similar fashion of a Renaissance revolt, statues of colonial
fathers and figures are taken down, street names and monuments with overt affiliation to the
white domination of colonialism are reconsidered and many activists are on the route to
14. BROWN HISTORY 14
redemption for what has happened in the past (Sanghera, 2021, p. 13). So what exactly did
happen?
While the secret abuse has often been done away as incidental and occasional, in
retrospect, violence was at the order of the day and simply cannot be separated from colonial
domination (Césaire, 1972, p. 4; Kolsky, 2010, p. 2; Price, 2018, p. 25). However, considering
the vast variety of coloniality, it is hardly possible to address colonial violence as singular or
static (Price, 2018, p. 26). Much like colonialism itself, the exact execution of its violence is
dependent on the different determinants of who, what, where and when. Yet it is in fact possible
to appoint similarities in the nature of the violent rapes, beatings, murders and other forms of
torture excercised to control the colonised (Price, 2018, p. 27).
As such, colonial violence was ubiquitous and quotidien and, in essence, always
directed at the indigenous population who fell victim to the gruesome ill treatment of the
Western colonisers (Price, 2018, p. 25). Understood as such, violence is intrinsic to colonialism
and is at the core of colonial domination (Césaire, 1972, p. 4). It was war and terror for the
colonised, from fighting for their freedom to being hunted down, abused, persecuted,
kidnapped and even killed in the safespace of their own homes. Accordingly, this type of
violence fosters a personal feature specific to the oppressed which is often argued and justified
in compliance to the colonial rule (Price, 2018, p. 28). The excessive attribution of violence
has rendered the possibility of exerting power and dominance over the colonised. Yet
simultaneously, the exerted violence extends far beyond the official authorities of the colonial
rule and thus exceeds its justification. This is most evident in the inhumaneness of colonial
violence which followed from the argument of barbarism as proposed by Aimé Césaire in
‘’Discourse on Colonialism’’ (1955, p. 2).
Confronted by the so-called savage societies upon conquest of the foreign lands, the
Europeans could not possibly acknowledge these coloureds as civilised human beings, let alone
15. BROWN HISTORY 15
somewhat akin to them. This pervasive racial condescension was borne by colonisation which
insisted on anything other than white and Western as inferior, less able and even less human
(Sanghera, 2021, p. 36). Thus, stripped from their humanity, the colonised were perceived as
brute barbarians, incompetent of accomodating to the civilised Western world and therefore in
desperate need of a firm push in the ‘’white’’ direction (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 211). As
such, the superficial differences of skin colour, and the heavy load it bears, between the
coloniser and colonised gave rise to an inescapable hierarchy condoning the inequalities that
allowed for the harsh imposition of the colonial rule and its immoral violence against the
oppressed natives (Curry, 2018, p. 34; Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 203).
According to Césaire, the viciousness of the latter could only have been possible
through the dehumanising gaze of the West onto the colonised (1972, p. ). Consequently, the
element of colour and complexion appears so substantial to the eyes of the superior white man,
that he equates darkness to nothing other than barbarous, brute and beastly (Ndlovu-Gatsheni,
2019, p. 216). Accustomed to this self-painted picture, the coloniser viewed the indegenous
population as inhuman and animalistic and therefore unworthy of basic human morality. This
in turn would come to justify the inhumane treatment of the colonised and the violence
attributed against the coloureds. However, this gives rise to a dialectic confronting the
supposedly civilised and utmost sophisticated Western society and the savage-like nature of
violence inseparable from colonialism. Césaire argues that the brute treatment of the
barbarians, reduces and finally diminishes the colonisers’ humanity (1972, p. 5). Irrespective
of the colonised, the cruelty of colonial violence has uncovered true savagery of the West. In
other words, acting upon the idea of the colonised as uncivilised has led to the process of
‘’decivilisation’’ of the West, being guilty of exactly their own accusation of barbarism
(Césaire, 1972, p. 2; Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 211).
16. BROWN HISTORY 16
The Rationality of Colonial Violence
In order to gain full insight on the deeper impact and implications of colonial violence,
we must turn to its basic rationality. As such, the brutal violence is driven by various motives
from power to dominance and authority. On the other hand, the excessive attribution of
violence simultaneously hints at the attempt of concealing the true underlying fear and despair
constantly lurking over the coloniser’s shoulder, thereby posing a threat to colonial power
(Césaire, 1972, p. 1). In this section I will further elaborate on these motives central to the
psychology of colonial violence.
Essentially, colonial violence can be thought of as instrumental through its presumed
potential of establishing power. With violence on their side, the coloniser asserts his dominance
in adherence to the condescending attitude upheld against the colonised. This power structure
of coloniser over colonised, white over coloured and West over the Rest, fosters a hierarchical
order based on race and complexion (Johnson, 2007, p. 34). While this particular interpretation
is most straightforward, the analysis of colonial violence is complex and necessitates a closer
look.
In her book, On Violence, Hannah Arendt explores the relationship between power and
violence (1970). Although Arendt never explicitly comes to define power, it can be inferred as
a product of the collective and refers to the ability to act in coordination and collaboration
(1969, p. 44). Accordingly, power rests on the rule of shared ideology which in turn allows for
the assumption of voluntary adherence by its subject. Understood as such, power in its purest
form negates violence and coercion. (Arendt, 1970, p. 45). This goes against the common
belief of power and violence as synonymous. In fact, Arendt clearly distinguishes the two
(1970, p. 47). Violence is individualistic and embodies instrumentality which is in contrast to
power considering its collective nature and the necessity of plurality. For a position of power
can only be maintained in relation to others (Arendt, 1970, p. 44). In other words, power is the
17. BROWN HISTORY 17
coordination of all against one whereas violence is one against all. This particular insight
reveals a weakness in the often, falsely assumed relationship of violence as a means to establish
power (Arendt, 1970, p. 47). Accordingly, Arendt proposes violence as a threat to power rather
than complimentary to it. The attribution of violence from a position of power can be
interpreted as a sign of its instability (Arendt, 1970, p. 4).
Within the context of colonialism this would imply a continuous threat to colonial
dominance. While seemingly counterintuitive, along these lines, it can be argued that colonial
violence may have served to cope with the fear of losing power and authority over the
colonised. Furthermore, the intrinsic fear of the foreign coloureds also contributed to the
excessive attribution of colonial violence (Price, 2018, p. 31). After all, the white man assumed
barbarism from the uncivilised indigenes thus to prevent being overpowered and overthrown
the coloniser turned to barbarian violence himself, safeguarding their position as oppressor.
II: Independence and Post-Colonialism
In a world of binaries from Western and non-Western to coloniser and colonised, the
act of oppression is bound by opposition in the spirit of resistance (Nandy, 1983, p. 10; Freire,
1985, p. 183; Walsh, 2015, p. 16). An inevitable notion given the forceful nature underlying
this coercive form of domination to which its subjects cannot but succumb. As mentioned
before, the colonial rule relied much upon the attribution of violence to establish and maintain
power (Arendt, 1970, p. 35). Any sign of unwillingness was thus quick to be aggressed into
compliance, thereby treating the natives as pawns in the game of colonial conquest. The
prevailing secrecy surrounding colonial violence has led to the belief of the colonised’
voluntary submission, obfuscating the resistance and resilience against the oppressive West.
By means of this, it is suggested as though the colonised willingly submitted to their oppression
which in turn allows for the justification of white man’s history of colonisation (Freire, 1985,
18. BROWN HISTORY 18
p. 192). However, contrary to this belief, colonialism should in fact be characterised by the
ongoing struggle against the colonial power, for the indigenes did not simply give up the reigns
over their land to the Western explorer, evident in the endless violence for the pursuit and
preservation of power as part and parcel of colonisation. In adherence to Arendt’s analysis of
power and violence, the latter poses an existential threat to the colonial rule, bound to collapse
by the very violence of its power (1970, p. 4). As Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec ruler, allegedly
said when defeated by the Spaniards:‘’The face of our Sun has disappeared, and has left us in
complete darkness. But we know it will return again, that it will rise again, and it will begin to
illuminate us anew.’’ While these words echo dismay and despair, it is also hopeful and
confident that the oppression will eventually be overthrown and will cease to exist, as power
established through violence is fragile and seldom to be everlasting (Arendt, 1970, p. 47). As
such, it is almost laughable and ludicrous to consider 500 years of colonialism separate from
its resistance.
Towards Independence
The journey to colonial independence has been a long one. Despite uncertainty and
anxiety prevailing in the minds of the colonised, the sense of opposition against the oppressive
power has proven to be stronger. Considering the historical significance of the British Raj, I
will treat colonial India as a chief example for the conception of Brown History, the
colonisation of South Asia and eventual its independence.
From beginning to end, the Indian Independence movement lays bare the differences
between the Indians and the British colonisers. While the British posed their domination as
progressive and an aid to development, argued for instance by the newly constructed railroads
and improved infrastructure connecting the vast landscape of India, the Indians in fact endured
slavery and exploitation as a result of this, arguably causing more harm and damage to the
19. BROWN HISTORY 19
natives than anything else (Césaire, 1972, p. 6; Darwin, 2008, p. 10; Kolsky, 2010, p. 3). The
century-long resistance against the British Raj is thus a given and coincided with India's
colonisation from 1858 to 1947. Essentially, the Indian Independence movement was anti-
colonial, aimed at overthrowing British domination and regaining India’s freedom and
autonomy. The numerous rebellions and revolts against the colonial power covered the entire
subcontinent (Bayly, 1987, p. 171). Sparked by various distinct incidents, the movement
compiles a complex history. However, the importance of education should be emphasised as
an underlying drive for resistance (Bayly, 1987, p. 176; Darwin, 2009, p. 195; Walsh, 2015, p.
11). Learning about Western civilisation and the ideas of liberal democracy, the colonised
experienced significant discrepancies and even contradictions between what the colonisers
preached and practiced (Kolsky, 2010, p. 1; Walsh, 2015, p. 13). While the Enlightened
Westerners spoke profoundly of liberty and justice, they seemed to leave behind this sense of
morality when considering the coloureds (Kolsky, 2010, p. 2; Walter, 2007, p. 454). Falling
victim to white man’s violent hypocrisy, the Indians turned to various countermeasures
themselves, including violence in retaliation for their repression. The failures of the many
physical uprisings finally begged for a different approach to freedom, to which Mahatma
Gandhi appointed non-violence.
Gandhi, the anti-colonial nationalist and politician, played a pivotal role to attain
swaraj, Hindi for self-governance and eventually synonymous for India’s independence
(Bandyopadhyay, 2009, p. 3; Darwin, 2009, p. 193). Instead of relying on violence, his political
agenda was centered around the virtuous ahimsa which is the philosophy of non-violence
applied to all of life (Gandhi, 2012, p. 53). These moral teachings, contrasted by the colonial
immorality, contributed to the convocation of peaceful protests, hunger strikes and other non-
violent, anti-colonial movements to overthrow the British Raj (Bandyopadhyay, 2009, p. 11).
This coincided with Gandhi’s philosophy of satyagraha, it emphasises the approach of non-
20. BROWN HISTORY 20
violence invoking a basic sense of humanity to which the attribution of oppressive violence
can no longer be justified. Satyagraha is the belief of overcoming injustice and oppression
which can be understood in the simple terms of ‘’peace not war’’. Raising an informed and
educated generation aware of their misfortune and maltreatment was of utmost importance to
invoke this potential in spirit and practice. Finally, on August 15th 1947, the victory of
resistance was assumed with the Indian Independence Act ending nearly a century of colonial
oppression (Bandyopadhyay, 2009, p. 9).
The Problem of Post-Colonialism
Towards the second half of the twentieth century, a global pattern emerged amongst the
majority of Western colonies which were increasingly declared independent from the colonial
rule, thereby introducing a new era known as post-colonialism. By the very composition of the
word and the attribution of the prefix ‘’post-’’, post-colonialism suggests the end of
colonisation (McClintock, 1992, p. 85). While the latter may sustain in theory, reality begs to
differ. Thus, in light of the ever real aftermath of colonisation, I wish to elaborate upon the
problem of post-colonialism in what follows.
Initially post-colonial theory was intended in defence of the colonised, aimed at
understanding the underlying notions of colonisation and the subsequent racial power dynamics
that came to be, thereby exposing various narratives which have been long oppressed by the
colonial hegemony (Walter, 2007, p. 497). Furthermore, the implied temporal lense of post-
colonialism allows for it to flow seemingly naturally from colonialism as the result of increased
independence and the simultaneous collapse of the West’s colonial authority (McClintock,
1992, p. 94). Understood as such, post-colonialism gives rise to the false conception of a
liberated world, posing colonisation to be something of the past (McClintock, 1992, p. 86). On
the one hand, this can be argued by the prevailing physical independence which indeed, for
21. BROWN HISTORY 21
most part, implies a free world. On the other hand, the post-colonial condition is not as
straightforward and cannot simply be reduced to such optimism (McClintock, 1992, p. 91).
Dismissing colonialism as something of the past poses a threat which fails to acknowledge the
pressing social problems of contemporary society. As such, our modern world still bares the
burden of colonisation evident in a widerange of interrelated issues from injustice and
inequality to racism and discrimination. Post-colonialism aggravates this debacle by
maintaining certain power structures which clearly distinguish the colonial oppressor from the
oppressed (McClintock, 1992, p. 89). In doing so, the oppression is carried on beyond ‘’post-
colonialism’’, considering the ex-colonised only in relation to Western domination and their
colonial past. Drawing upon Beauvoir’s conception of the Other, this proves the discontinuity
and insignificance ascribed to their sole existence (McClintock, 1992, p. 86; Walter, 2007, p.
453). Contrary to the suggested ideal of independence, the colonised remain oppressed within
the realm of post-colonialism. Consequently, the hierarchy established in colonial history still
prevails in the structure and organisation of today’s world, administering the highest privilege
to the white Westerner and any other colour or culture as inferior (Walter 2007, p. 469).
Thus, while post-colonialism may be a product of good intentions and has certainly
proven insightful for a better understanding of colonialism, its theory is lacking as a means to
overthrow the negative social connotations rooted within colonialism (Walter, 2007, p. 452).
Before proposing a more complete and compatible theory for addressing this, I wish to first
define and elaborate upon the insinuated problem of colour prejudice, racism and ethnic
discrimination.
Perpetual Colour Prejudice
As mentioned before, our world is tainted by the prevailing inequalities fostered by the
perpetual colour prejudice of race and culture as analogous to the Western perspective of
22. BROWN HISTORY 22
colonialism (Césaire, 1972, p 8). The self-constructed conception of white dominance over the
rest, connotes to the belief of the West being further developed and more civilised, which in
turn adheres to the narrative attributed to justify colonisation (Walter, 2007, p. 453).
Accordingly, racism can be understood as a construct of colonialism which persists to oppress
the colourful Other despite the promise of independence. While colonialism is responsible for
creating such sense of discrimination, it has also purposely prevented and putrefied progress
and development in the global South, still marked by its hardship.
The ever long history of oppressive colonialism has imposed and demanded submission
from its subjects. The hierarchical subjugation of the colonised has been engraved in the minds
of man and internalised as a self-fulfilling prophecy that seems to be everlasting (Ndlovu-
Gatsheni, 2019, p. 207). In his essay Colonialism is a System, Jean Paul Sartre sets out to prove
just that. The underlying argument uncovers colonialism as a systematic structure of
oppression. As such, colonialism is in favour of the West, advocating its own advantage while
deliberately destroying and suppressing any form of development by the Other (Césaire, 1972,
p. 6). This enforced hierarchy invokes a sense of inescapable inferiority amongst the colonised,
in turn, coinciding perfectly with the predominant Western hegemony which poses the Western
perspective as a guiding principle for all of humanity (Walter, 2007, p. 493). The assumed
universality further contributes to the inferiority complex of the non-West (Césaire, 1972, p. 7;
Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 212). Understood as such, the extensive consequences of
colonialism are for most part intangible and a process of the mind into the practice of prejudice.
The attempt to overthrow colonial connotations thus demands more than physical liberation.
Consequently, total independence can only be attained successfully by decolonising the mind
(Mignolo, 2007, p.450).
23. BROWN HISTORY 23
III: Decolonisation & Education
In contrast to post-colonialism, decolonisation is explicitly aimed at deconstructing and
dismantling the logic of coloniality (Mignolo, 2007, p. 452; Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, P. 214).
This logic is built upon the notions of racial, cultural and religious differences which are
considered to be inferior and subordinate if divergent from the West (Zembylas, 2020, p. 3).
The oppressive power and domination of the racial Other is a direct product of colonialism,
which first produced racism (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019 p. 203). Decolonisation thus addresses
racial discrimination as a pertinent problem of colonialism which in turn has come to rule the
reason of man (Zembylas, 2020, p. 18). Entrapped by the narratives still preserving injustice
and inequality, decolonisation must go beyond mere political independence to unleash its
liberating potential (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 203). The very objective of decolonisation is
to transcend and overturn racial discrimination and the accompanying social hierarchies
intrinsic to the rationality of Western colonialism and its civilisation (Mignolo, 2007, p. 459).
In the following sections I will elaborate more upon the necessity to free the mind from
colonial connotations and how decolonisation can aid to attain liberation in full. For this, I will
draw upon the power and liberating potential of education as an instrument for decoloniality.
The Colonised Mind
To delve into the importance of decolonisation, colonialism must be understood as more
than solely a system of physical domination and oppression. While the foreign lands and its
indigenous population have been the direct victims of Western colonisation, the effects stretch
far beyond this territorial tangibility. As such, colonial ideology has perpetrated the cognitive
realm through its authoritative intervention with culture in its most extensive form. This
includes, yet is certainly not limited to the conception of knowledge, language, aesthetics and
even politics (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 206). The cognitive approach of exerting colonial
24. BROWN HISTORY 24
power is characteristic to so-called neo-colonialism (Loomba, 1998, p. 25). In contrast to
colonialism as discussed so far, neo-colonialism relies on non-physical forms of control to
effectively colonise the mind. While these provocations of neo-colonial power may seem
implicit and subtle, the oppression remains fierce and ferocious, penetrating deep into the soul
and persistently pestering the mind into submission (Nandy, 1983, p. 11; Freire, 1985, p. 192).
The peculiarity of neo-colonialism is that it can go unnoticed as it dominates both the conscious
and unconscious. Thus, as colonialism exceeds the physical domain, it becomes a product of
the mind by which the history of colonial oppression is continued. The latter is evident in our
global hierarchy and world order classified by colour and culture as analogous to the
underlying rationality of the power dynamic between coloniser and colonised. Thus, as the
white man once introduced humanity to civilisation, today he dictates the terms of
development, Western development (Nandy, 1983, p. 12). To give an example, the notions
Third World and Developing World are generally attributed in reference to non-Western,
impoverished countries (Freire, 1985, p. 188). This derogatory terminology expresses our
relative reality as the weight of the West appears critical in setting the standard for our world’s
wealth and welfare (Nandy, 1983, p. 26; McClintock, 1992, p. 93). Here the general insinuation
of the ‘’West is best’’ mentality returns as the Western world serves as a guiding principle and
ideology for the Rest ( Walsh, 2015, p. 15). As such, the latter implies an internalisation of the
former (Freire, 1985, p. 185). This is in line with the long term implications of Western
colonialism which disguises dependency as independence.
By successfully imposing Eurocentric power and preeminence over the many centuries
of colonisation, the oppressed subjects have eventually come to internalise their domination as
a natural consequence of their presumed lack of civilisation and deficiency of their dark
complexion (Freire, 1985, p. 192). Ashish Nandy articulates this as the birth of the ‘’Intimate
Enemy’’ who has come to believe in his own inferiority (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 208).
25. BROWN HISTORY 25
Humiliated by the constant badgering and bullying of colonialism, the Intimate Enemy is
provoked to dissociate from the Self as its sole perception is shame induced (Ndlovu-Gatsheni,
2019, p. 212). By acknowledging and accepting the condescension, it eventually becomes the
truth (Hall, 2016, p. 161). Thus, the oppression of the Other seems to be objectively rational,
in turn justifying the continuation of asymmetrical power relations even long after the alleged
colonial independence (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 213). This has contributed to an arbitrary
and lop-sided conception of the world which can be described as the dominant Western
hegemony.
Antonio Gramsci was the first to introduce the notion of cultural hegemony which he
defined as the manifestation of power through cultural institutions. Thereby, shaping moral
beliefs, norms and values as well as common knowledge and one's perception and
consciousness (1971, p. 10). By means of this, a hegemony ultimately enforces one perspective
as dominant over the other, establishing a hierarchical power dynamic by which the subaltern
is suppressed (Hall, 2016, p. 162). While Gramsci focuses his study of hegemony on the class
specific society of the capitalist bourgeoisie and the proletariat, many thinkers and theorists
have borrowed from his conception to explore various other relations of power and dominance.
Stuart Hall is one of them. In his book, Cultural Studies 1983, Hall delves into domination and
hegemony within the context of social formation (Hall, 2016, p. 155). Hall elaborates on
Gramsci’s process of hegemony as the alignment of interests between the dominant and
subaltern social groups which eventually, in the particular moment of hegemony, gives rise to
a universal code of conduct and the conception of a sole commanding world-view. However,
the coordination of interests essentially takes into consideration the dominant ideology which
is surreptitiously forced upon the subaltern to ensure that the dominant will becomes command.
Along these lines, hegemonic universality professes its power and oppression as the product of
collective conviction (Hall, 2016, p. 162).
26. BROWN HISTORY 26
The same universal rationality underlies the construction of Western hegemony which
in turn has come to dictate our global hierarchy and social dynamics (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019,
p. 208). Coloured by Eurocentrism, Western hegemony predicates the Western way as the only
way, thereby excluding alternate approaches to the realms of power, knowledge and being
(Walsh, 2015, p. 13; Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 215). In doing so, the West once again
safeguards its position of power in relation to the subaltern Other (Walsh, 2015, p. 19). This is
only made possible as the everlong history of colonial oppression is normalised (Curry, 2019,
p. 36; Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 206). Consequently, Western hegemony is both an
affirmation and continuation of coloniality by which the hierarchy of the West over the non-
West is labelled as common sense (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 212). Hall shows the intrinsic
danger of a hegemony as the argument of common sense solely arises when reason is lacking.
This in turn hints at the impaired ability to think, act and be critical of the system of power.
(2016, p. 165). In other words, the asymmetry of power is taken for granted and the oppression
of the (ex-)colonised seems to be nothing out of the ordinary (Walsh, 2015, p. 14). This is the
direct result of the reciprocal relationship between colonialism and Western hegemony by
which the mind is colonised into believing in the ubiquitous superiority of the West.
The Pedagogy of Decolonisation
In this final section I will establish the importance of education. Thereby emphasising
its emancipatory potential within the context of today’s racialised social struggle which is
deeply rooted in the remnants of colonialism (Southwell & Depaepe, 2019, p. 1). In other
words, I will explain how education is instrumental to decolonise the mind.
As briefly mentioned before, decoloniality goes against colonialism. While it is
essentially in resistance to the latter, decoloniality should be understood as more than a mere
theoretical critique. As such, decolonisation is the very act of delinking and undoing the
27. BROWN HISTORY 27
colonial condition (Mignolo, 2007, p. 452). Accordingly, debunking colonial rationality is of
utmost importance for the process of colonial independence and liberation (Walsh, 2015, p.
11). Thus far this rationality has sustained a dominant power structure in favour of the West.
Through the establishment of Western hegemony, the oppression of the colonised Other has
become a universal standard and by that, a universal problem (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2019, p. 203).
However, the problem in effect remains particular to the oppressed. In his book Politics of
Education, Paolo Freire articulates the dynamic between the dominant and subordinate culture
as ‘’being’’ and ‘’non-being’’ in an analogous fashion to Beauvoire’s conception of the Other
(Freire, 1985, p. 192; Beauvoire, 2009, p. 30). Thus, understood as such, the non-being ascribed
to the non-Western comes to expose the insignificance of the Other, in turn disregarding the
burden of its particular problem.
Remarkably, the inequality between West and non-West is further aggravated by
education (Connell, 2012, p. 681). The reason for this is twofold. Firstly, this can be attributed
to a presumed universal pedagogy. Drawing upon the notion of Western universality, this
implies that standard education is West-centered, thereby creating a fundamental gap between
the two worlds (Walsh, 2015, p. 12). Secondly, the sustenance of an asymmetrical power
structure is due to the performative nature of education (Connell, 2012, p. 681; Southwell &
Depaepe, 2019, p. 2). Within an educational system, knowledge is generally passed on from
educator to student under the common assumption of it being true (Freire, 1985, p. 189).
However, the universality of education poses the threat of unconsciously consuming subjective
knowledge which in turn is reproduced as the objective truth. Consequently, the real danger of
performative education is the birth of biased subjectivities which are inherently complicit to
the universal West (Walsh, 2015, p. 14). Here the reciprocity becomes clear between the
universal and performative character of education which are intended to further develop the
political agenda of the West and its domination over the Other. This is in line with Freire’s
28. BROWN HISTORY 28
understanding that pedagogy and politics are interrelated and cannot be considered separate
from one another (1985, p. 188). Thus, in order to overthrow the oppressive system of Western
power, we must unlearn the colonial teachings of condescension and replace these with
decolonial teachings (Walsh, 2015, p. 13).
For the purpose of decoloniality, it is necessary to be critical of the imposed knowledge
and to challenge Western hegemony. However, being truly critical is especially difficult when
the mind is entrapped and constrained by the Western doctrine (Walsh, 2015, p. 12; Southwell
& Depaepe, 2019, p. 2). As a result, it is hardly possible to formulate criticism beyond the
Eurocentric framework of critique (Bartholomew, 2018, p. 629). As such, the main pitfall in
Freire is returning to Marxism and modernity (Walsh, 2015, p. 14). Effectively decolonising
the mind thus requires departure from the Western realm. This implies leaving behind the
principle of Western universality which in turn gives rise to the significance of the Other and
its Other modes of existence (Freire, 1895, p. 189; Walsh, 2015, p. 12). It is at this moment
that the plurality and diversity of mankind is acknowledged. In order to materialise
decoloniality, this plurality should be accompanied by a corresponding multiplicity of
pedagogies (Walsh, 2015, p. 15). The shift from universality to pluriversality is a liberating one
which renders all subjects equal. Thereby doing away with hierarchical structures and
oppressive systems. In contrast to universalism, pluriversality embraces its racial, cultural and
ethnic differences and the vast variety of lived experiences it produces (Connell, 2012, p. 682;
Southwell & Depaepe, 2019, p. 3). The latter is especially beneficial within the context of
transformative education as the transcultural encounters are materialised, thereby enhancing
the potential of shared learning. These social engagements are promising in their potential to
redefine the cultural dynamics, excluded from higher, hierarchical interventions. Understood
as such, education is instrumental to the novel conception of a collective bottom-up culture
29. BROWN HISTORY 29
instead of an imposed top-down culture (Connell, 2012, p. 682; Southwell & Depaepe, 2019,
p. 1).
However, generating and reproducing such a system of fairness and equality relies
strictly on the virtues of respect and responsibility (Connel, 2012, p. 682). These notions stand
central to racial and cultural justice. As such, mutual respect invokes a sense of similarity
thereby giving rise to the ability of sympathising with the Other (Southwell & Depaepe, 2019,
p. 4). In turn, personal responsibility ensures equal treatment of the Other as one cannot account
for unfairness and injustice on oneself (Connel, 2012, p. 681). By means of this, the Other is
no longer oppressed, liberated of condemnation and condescension from above. Thus, to
conclude, a morally righteous education system is trivial to overcome colonial injustice and
colour prejudice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our contemporary social struggle is inseparable from the long history of
Western colonialism, which has divided the world based on racial and cultural differences. The
asymmetrical power of coloniality has come to oppress the Other, justified by the inference of
its racial inferiority to the West. Stripped from their humanity, the colonised is beaten down
and tamed to obey the Western order. Although this hierarchy is initially enforced through the
excessive physical aggression of colonial violence, it is effectively sustained by instilling the
sense of an inherent inferiority of the Other. Thereby colonising the body and mind as the
oppression is internalised. This is essential to comprehend the universal dominance of Western
hegemony which in turn sustains the oppressive dynamic of colonialism placing the West over
non-West. While post-colonialism draws upon political independence to declare the end of
colonialism, this is far from true. Our world is still coloured by racism, discrimination and
colour prejudice. In order to transcend these connotations and attain complete liberation,
30. BROWN HISTORY 30
coloniality must be undone. Decoloniality is aimed at exactly this, deconstructing and
debunking the pervasive colonial rationality. Here education can serve as a means to decolonise
the mind by the unlearning of colonial teachings and instead learning of decolonial teachings.
This requires leaving behind the universality of the hegemonic West and instead, embracing
the world’s diversity. Circling back to the central issue of this thesis; under what conditions
can education serve as a means of liberation thereby focussing especially on decolonising the
mind. To conclude by answering, decolonial pedagogies are essentially pluriversal and
necessitate the notions of mutual respect and responsibility to truly transcend and break free
from colonialism. Under these moral conditions education can serve as a means to liberate the
mind from colonial connotations closely associated to South Asia. Eventually giving rise to a
more just and equal world, free from racial discrimination and colour prejudice.
31. BROWN HISTORY 31
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