European Civilization - Book Report/Review Example

European Civilization It is evident from the writings of several Third World leaders and commentators that the process of decolonization which succeeded the occurrence of World War II significantly shaped the global arena as well as the political framework of many European nations. For the purposes of this essay the writings of Aime Cesaire, Mohandas Gandhi and Leopold Senghor that essentially critique European civilization are assessed and summarized, additionally, the essay also aims to present a comparative analysis of the arguments presented by the aforementioned writers with Hitler’s examination of culture in his book titled Mein Kampf. In his Discourse on Colonialism, Cesaire identifies that the very existence of the European civilization which has traditionally rested upon the foundations of a bourgeois regime has led to the creation of two problems – the emergence of the proletariat and colonialism (31). For Cesaire, the characteristics of European civilization are marked by a lack of conscience, spirituality and morality which is evident in the killings of innocent individuals in nations across Asia and Africa. According to the writer, Europe’s reasons for pursuing colonization are unjustified; indeed being the focal point of progress, knowledge and enlightenment it is understandable why the spread of positive forces should have commenced from European soil and to the rest of the world however, the implementation of colonization for the pursuit of establishing contact between civilizations has reaped negative consequences (Cesaire 33). Therefore, for Cesaire an assessment of the process and the ramifications of colonization primarily postulate that colonization has not been able to civilize the colonized, as the colonizers had expected because the functioning of colonization is based upon decivilizing and brutalizing the colonized which is a reflection of savagery. Throughout the course of the text, Cesaire’s Marxist tendencies are evident, the author intends to point towards a renewal of what society should stand for, “It is a new society we must create” (52) for the writer the foundations of this new society can be based on the model practiced by the Soviet Union (Cesaire 52). Mohandas Gandhi’s strong belief in theological ideologies and non-violence shaped his philosophy of life and played a critical role in the independence of India from British colonial rule. Gandhi’s opposition to colonialism and British rule in the subcontinent was enhanced by the belief that the British administration in India maintained its dominance in the country by taking advantage of religious differences that were present within the subcontinent (228). Several incidents that occurred during the period of British rule in the country demonstrated the barbarism associated with colonialism, the killings of more than 300 innocent civilians by British forces in the tragedy which took place in Amritsar in 1919 drastically changed Gandhi’s perceptions regarding the model of British governance. Regarding his philosophy of Satyagraha which originates from the notion of civil resistance Gandhi asserts “we must patiently try to convert our opponents” (233), Gandhi understood the nature of British rule in India, which he termed as the “unbending English nature” (233) and expected to resolve it by the practice of Satyagraha. Gandhi’s critique of the English nature, European civilization and British regime in the subcontinent focused on highlighting the coercive and barbaric characteristics of his opponents while, proposing that his followers practice the stark opposite of what British rule in India stood for in order to seek independence which is the essence of Satyagraha. Leopold Senghor’s evaluation of European civilization and colonialism largely associates itself with African culture and the nations of Africa. In his accounts of the relationship between European and African civilization, Senghor identifies the need to advance economic and social interests of the population of Africa along with political autonomy rather than striving for the sole purpose of independence. Senghor sees the transition from colonialism to independence as pivotal; however, maintenance of relationships between the African state and Western powers is also necessary to advance progress and economic prosperity. Hitler’s writings in his work titled Mein Kampf display an ideological dichotomy between his views regarding European culture and the observations of anti-colonial writers such as Cesaire, Gandhi and Senghor. Mein Kampf is an unequivocal evidence of the origins of Hitler’s ideology which abundantly borrows ideas from Social Darwinism and essentially promotes the supremacy of the rich over the poor to the extent that the poor are expected to be eliminated. Hitler assumed that the advancement of European culture was only possible if the continued existence of the Aryan race was ensured, to which the Marxist Jews were the greatest threat and should therefore be killed for the protection of the Aryans and the purest form of European culture. Hitler’s ideology also aimed to expand German rule towards the East, the derogatory terms used by Hitler when referring to the people of the East reflect his racist inclinations and present a stark difference from the beliefs of anti-colonial writers. Gandhi for instance sought to promote peace and non-violence for the purposes of softening an unbending British government and achieving the objective of independence. Hitler hails the European civilization and its culture in highest regard and declares, “No, the Jews possess no culture-creating force of any sort…” (136). The ruthless killings of millions of Jews in World War II are reflective of Cesaire’s statement regarding the “moral and spiritual indefensibility” of European civilization and the violence, coercion and brutality that has been enforced by colonizers to intimidate the colonized nations in the name of civilizing them and bestowing upon them economic progress, social prosperity and cultural advancement. Hitler’s ideology that is based on Social Darwinism denounces equality in an explicit manner and holds no regard for the value of human life. For Cesaire, the process of colonization which has been at the crux of European civilization and the endurance of a culture which dictates superiority over other races has led to the development of a claim which seeks to revise the entire structure of society. The reason why colonization is denounced by writers such as Cesaire, Gandhi and Senghor is because the ideological basis of the process is flawed and barbaric, a true representation of which is Hitler’s ideology and his murder of millions of Jews. Certainly, the ideological dichotomy between the writings of Hitler and the anti-colonial writers discussed in this assessment reflects the failings and imperfections of European colonization that was forwarded by a culture that preached superiority, Social Darwinism and dominance over weaker nations. Works Cited Césaire, Aimé. Discourse on colonialism. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1972. Gandhi, Mohandas. The Practice of Satyagraha. Hitler, Adolf. Mein Kampf. Senghor, Leopold. “Senghor’s View of Political Independence”. Ed. Tignor, Robert L. Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: [a History of the World]. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2011. Print. Read More