In the Discourse on Colonialism, Cesaire illustrates a compelling relationship between colonized states and the proletariat class. He conveys that the proletariat socio-economic class allows for the possible unification of society against the powers of colonialism. Interestingly, the comparison reflects as these elements extend from constructed illusions to unequivocal creeds. By isolating and juxtaposing the two groups, Cesaire is able to elaborate on how he believes that race and class unite to dominate 'inferior subjects' in nations throughout the globe. Throughout the essay, Cesaire provides reasoning for the socially constructed experiences of those dictated by colonial imperialism, particularly Africans, and proletarian conflicts in Europe. In such a way, Cesaire suggests a critical course of colonialism, imperialism, capitalism and communism – fundamental themes in political and intellectual agenda, and in the declaration of the intellectuality in non-European societies.
In the beginning sections of the Discourse on Colonialism, Cesaire defines his central theory of coloniza...
Post-colonialism is a discourse draped in history. In one point in time or another, European colonialism dominated most non-European lands since the end of the Renaissance. Naturally, colonialists depicted the cultures of non-Europeans incorrectly and inferior. Traditionally, the canon has misappropriated and misrepresented these cultures, but also the Western academia has yet to teach us the valuable and basic lessons that allow true representations to develop. Partly in response, Post-colonialism arose. Though this term is a broad one, Post-colonialists generally agree on certain key principles. They understand that colonialism exploits the dominated people or country in one way or another, evoking inequalities. Examples of past inequalities include “genocide, economic exploitation, cultural decimation and political exclusion…” (Loomba 9-10). They abhor traditional colonialism but also believe that every people, through the context of their own cultures, have something to contribute to our understanding of human nature (Loomba 1-20). This is the theme that Lewis prescribes in his, self described, “satirical fantasy”, Out of the Silent Planet (Of Other 77).
Cesaire’s Discourse of Colonialism is about his perspective of colonialism and everything tied to it, but for the purpose of this paper I will focus on how he characterizes the Nazi’s. One quote that describes his main point is
French occupation of Haiti began in the mid seventeenth century. For the next century and a half, the people of Haiti were forced to abandon their livelihoods and instead take up residence on namely sugar, indigo or cacao plantations in order to generate exports for the French market. Conditions on these plantations were often so cruel and oppressive that the common cause of death was exhaustion. No longer able to yield to the terms of their exploitation, Haitians participated in a string of slave revolts, the most prominent of which was led by Toussaint Louverture from 1791, which paved the road for Haitian emancipation. This essay will advance the idea that colonialism has impeded the political stability of Haiti during the nineteenth century, particularly from when Haiti formally declared independence in 1804. It will cover how issues such as; despotism, conflicting economic institutions, the militarization of the political system and racial supremacy, have negatively affected nineteenth century Haitian politics. Moreover, it will also elaborate on how these issues are, in effect, actually insidious derivatives of French rule during pre-independent Haiti.
Introduction: The epoch of imperialism cannot be defined simply as a proliferation of inflated egos tied to the hardened opinions of nationalists, but also a multi-faceted global rivalry with roots of philosophies tainted with racism and social Darwinism. The technique of each imperialist was specific to the motivations and desires of each combative, predominantly Western power and subsequently impacted the success of each imperialist and its colonies. Driven by industrialization, Europeans are aware of the urgent need for raw materials and new markets to maintain a constant rate of expansion and wealth. Imperialism became a competition; in general, the European countries led with fervor while the non-Western regions deemed likely to be stepped on.
This paper examines Chasteen’s “Colonial Crucible”, Khapoya’s “Colonialism and the African Experience”, Steinberg’s “Introduction”, “Siam, 1767-1868” and “The Malay Peninsula to 1874.” These chapters are interrelated in that they all examine the role of European colonial rule of a specific region. First, Chasteen’s chapter examines the differences and similarities between the areas under Spanish and Portuguese rule. The author argues that these different European rulers impacted the religious, cultural, and political identity of these regions from past to present. Additionally, Khapoya’s chapter examines British, French, Belgian, and Portuguese rule in Africa and the source of interest for European powers in Africa. Lastly, Steinberg’s chapters
In the late 1800s many countries in Europe adopted the idea of Imperialism and sought to exploit outside resources to gain power. Places such as pre-colonial Africa and India, rich in cheap raw materials and other natural products, made them prime targets for countries seeking to increase their imperial power. These countries soon became the site of the “civilizing mission”, a movement similar to that of the conquests in Mesoamerica. It was Europe’s goal to colonize and develop Africa in a way that it was beneficial to their Empires. Colonization “forced peoples of different societies to deal with one another on a regular and systematic basis” which led to conflicts among people brought together artificially into multicultural societies” (Bently). This integration generated new identities for the Indigenous and Europeans alike destroying their cultures and self-worth. This new formation of identity developed into racism, and ultimately ended in the destruction of the Europeans “humanity” in the name of greed and power.
According to Trevor M. A. Farrell, author of perspective, “Decolonization in the English-Speaking Caribbean”, colonialism is when organization of resources of a country being exploited is done for the financial benefit of the oppressor. All the power lies in the hands of the colonizing country (589). The tourism indust...
The imposition of colonialism on Africa drastically reconstructed the continent. All over, European powers attempted to “assimilate” countries into their own, all the while exploiting and victimizing their people, culture, and resources. However, if there was one aspect of colonialism that provided a fertile ground for conflict, it was the unknowingly insidious method of introducing religion, specifically Christianity, into African families. This is particularly exemplified in the novels Things Fall Apart, Houseboy, and Weep Not, Child. Throughout these novels, the assimilation of Christianity within the protagonists’ not only results in a destruction of their sacred and traditional values, but also their well-being and those around them.
A popular analysis of the late 19th and early 20th century “scramble for Africa” attributes it to a ramping up of European powers’ imperialist goals, often providing it as supporting evidence in the characterization of the late Victorian period as one of increased imperialist action. However, in analyzing the motives behind the actions of European imperialist powers, continuity emerges. Robinson and Gallagher describe the history of 19th and 20th century Europe as “the history of and expanding society”. This idea of characterizing the entire period as a single “history” is revolutionary in that it points to some sort of continuity in the actions and motives of European powers throughout the period of imperialism that the idea of the mid and late Victorian periods being anti and pro-imperialist periods respectively fails to address. As evidence counter to the idea of a dichotomy existing between the policies of the middle and late Victorian periods, Robinson and Gallagher point out the fact that during the same time period, mercantilist formal empire was being used in India while more informal free trade policies were being used in Latin America by the same imperialist power: Britain. It is in regard to this point that one of the signature ideas of
Said, Edward W. “Culture and Imperialism.” Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism 2nd ed. Ed. Leitch, Vincent B. and William E. Cain, eds. New York: Norton, 2010. 651-655. Print.
While the economic and political damage of the scramble for Africa crippled the continent’s social structure, the mental warfare and system of hierarchy instituted by the Europeans, made the continent more susceptible to division and conquest. The scramble for partition commenced a psychological warfare, as many Africans were now thrust between the cultural barriers of two identities. As a result, institutions for racial inferiority became rooted in the cultural identity of the continent. This paper will expound on the impact of colonialism on the mental psyche of Africans and the employment of the mind as a means to seize control. I will outline how the mental hierarchy inculcated by the Europeans paved the way for their “divide and conquer” tactic, a tool essential for European success. Through evidence from a primary source by Edgar Canisius and the novel, King Leopold’s Ghost, I will show how colonial influences heightened the victimization of Africans through psychological means. I will culminate by showing how Robert Collins fails to provide a holistic account of colonialism, due to his inability to factor in the use of psychological warfare as a means to the end. By dissecting the minds of both the colonizer and the colonized, I hope to illustrate the susceptibility of African minds to European influences and how psychological warfare transformed Africans from survivors to victims during colonialism.
Civilisation cannot be achieved through colonisation. Césaire speaks on behalf of black human beings by stating that colonisation was a “thingification”, an objectification of human beings. Even the land itself is objectified as they see it for raw materials. Western Modernity is further contested as it is stated that Africa before colonisation was the classless utopian society before capitalism and such, with democratic societies always present. Colonisation made humanity take a step back: “Western man is not the man of progress I am”.
During the colonial period in Nigeria (from about 1850 to 1960), the British, like any other colonial power, asserted their dominance through a variety of media. The colonial experience of Nigeria and Britain, and Nigeria's early post-colonial history can be described, roughly chronologically, in three phases or periods: the formation of a ‘captured' colony, the education and inculcation of ‘proper,' British ways (i.e., the ‘taming' of the colony), and the immediate aftermath of colonialism (i.e., the ‘independence' of the colony). This essay attempts to scrutinize these periods in the light of the theories of Karl Marx, Ernest Gellner, and Jack Snyder. My claim is that Nigeria's colonial relationship with Britain, in general, reflects Marx's theory of the dichotomy between the oppressor and the oppressed, Gellner's theory that domination and oppression is disseminated through educational means, and Snyder's theory on the risks and dangers that young, ‘immature' … countries face when they gamble on democracy
An overwhelming majority of African nations has reclaimed their independence from their European mother countries. This did not stop the Europeans from leaving a permanent mark on the continent however. European colonialism has shaped modern-day Africa, a considerable amount for the worse, but also some for the better. Including these positive and negative effects, colonialism has also touched much of Africa’s history and culture especially in recent years.
Throughout history, Africa has been a vulnerable player in the eyes of the rest of the world. From the slave trade to various civil right injustices that have taken place over in every century, from what we have studied in this class, we have been able to see the lasting impact on the continent as a ramification of certain events occurring. Using various sources from the text, which serve as evidence, and help prove how the western world exercised its power in order to capitalize on the African continent and exploit the African people and land.