What Is Post-colonialism - Essay Example

What is post-colonialism, and, with a focus on reflexivity, what is its significance for understanding international relations? Institution Instructor Date Post-colonialism is the period that came after the age of colonialism and this was basically characterised by highly nationalistic feelings among the people who had previously been colonised. It is essential to note that it was during this period when there developed a lot of literature that stood against colonialism and while most of this literature was produced during towards the end of the colonial period. It is still considered postcolonial because it is part of the aspects of anti-colonialism that brought about the liberation of former colonies. The post-colonial period can be defined as the period where formerly colonised countries came to discover their national identities and this was done in such a manner that there was an emphasis on the freedoms and greatness of local peoples and cultures over those of the colonisers. Therefore, post-colonialism follows an epistemological approach that attempts to address the politics of knowledge in such a manner that ensures a study of the decolonised people and its impact on their identity in the contemporary world. Post-colonialism is essential for the understanding of international relations because it not only compares relations between states before, during, and after colonialism, but it also provides an understanding have come to handle their colonial legacy in the context of interactions with other states. Reflexivity is normally considered to be a constant assessment of knowledge and how it is related to the ways of doing knowledge (Bryant, 2002; Flanagan, 1981). In this context, an individual attempts to assess post-colonialism from a personalised point of view so that he or she comes up with ideas that suggest how the period of post-colonialism has come to affect the relationships of states at an international level. A close study of literature concerning post-colonialism will be analysed and the information gathered applied to how it has come to affect international relations in the modern age. Post-colonialist writers such as Frantz Fanon state that colonialism was essentially destructive to the people who were colonised and this was mainly because of their being dehumanised by their colonisers (Fanon 1963, p.205). Fanon notes that colonialism worked towards the debasement of the human characteristics of the colonised, and this was done in such a manner that it was almost impossible for them to retain their self-esteem under the new circumstances in which they found themselves. The use of both physical and mental violence brought about a situation where it was difficult for the colonised to retain their identity and they ended up being forced into accepting the dominance of Europeans. One would argue that post-colonialism is a means through which it is possible for individuals in former colonies to attempt to regain their own identity or to develop a new identity that is essential for them to have self-esteem as well as the confidence that they need to determine their own future. It also shows the attempts of the colonised to resist violently the efforts of colonial powers to subjugate and kill off their identities because it was only through this form of resistance that it was possible for them to attain their independence. Under the circumstances leading to resistance to colonialism, there developed numerous relationships, especially between resistance movements and the nations that supported them (Loomba, 2005, p.154). This was especially the case with China and resistance movements in Rhodesia, later Zimbabwe, which have survived into the post-colonial period. Post-colonialism is an essential part of ensuring that there is an understanding of international relations through the manner in which people in former colonies write about their former colonial masters (Nelson and Grossberg 1988, p.89). This is especially the case in a situation where, like in the United States, post-colonial literature takes pride in the manner through which British rule in the country was brought to an end. This literature glorifies the deeds of those who led the revolution that overthrew British rule and this is done in such a way that these figures have become national icons. The ability of post-colonial literature to influence international relations in this sense is brought about when this literature becomes a part of the national identity and countries take pride in the manner through which they were able to fight for their freedom against all odds (Shapiro 1997, p.41). Through this pride, some countries tend to be more confident in their ability to deal with others, especially their former colonisers without necessarily having to feel inferior to them. Moreover, post-colonial literature is aimed at making sure that national pride and interests are put at the forefront of most treaties or agreements made at the international level. Post-colonial literature also allows for the development of a better perspective about how former colonies are most likely to react in situations that they feel do not favour them on the international scene. Therefore, through literature, post-colonialism is able to influence the behaviour of nations towards others while at the same time influencing the way that former colonisers treat the states that they colonised. Post-colonialism, one would argue, has brought about an understanding of the situation where former colonial powers have come to change the manner in which they treat former colonies. While in some cases the treatment has improved, in others, the situation has become worse as seen in the case of neo-colonialism where former colonial powers have come to dominate the economies and affairs of their former colonies (Neufeld, 1993). This is especially the case with former French colonies in Africa, which have continued to rely heavily on France for not only political support, but also economic support. This reliance on a former coloniser means that the former colonies are no longer independent enough to determine their own foreign policy. Most of these countries tend to follow the policies that they believe are most in line with their former coloniser and this means that despite its not having direct control over them, the former imperial power has the ability to have its way in the newly independent states. The profound influence that former colonial powers have over independent states can be considered to be a reality of international relations because the former have maintained the ability to control the destinies of their former colonies. Former colonial powers have been able to retain their influence without necessarily having to spend plenty of money on the administration of colonies and this has ensured that while governments are in theory independent. They are beholden to their former colonial masters, leading to a situation where it has become difficult for newly independent states to develop themselves to their full potential. However, post-colonialism has also brought about an understanding of the positive changes between former colonisers and the colonised and this has ushered in an era of cooperation between some of these entities (Pasha 2012, p.105). This cooperation between former antagonists during independence wars or revolutions has been of mutual benefit between these entities, as has been the case between Britain and the United States, or Britain and the African nation of Botswana. Post-colonialism in some instances has made it possible for there to be a more mature relationship between states because they have developed trade links between them, as seen between the United States and Britain, which after the American Revolution, chose to pursue a more peaceful relationship where they each benefitted from the other. What started as a trade relationship over the decades became much deeper and these countries ended up developing a political relationship, which made them allies on the international scene. Moreover, countries such as Jordan have become essential for the maintenance of stability in the Middle East, most especially considering that it has provided asylum for a large number of Palestinians who otherwise would have gone on an all-out war against Israel for their homeland that would have been long and bloody. Some of the Persian Gulf states have also become essential for security in the Middle East and this has been through cooperation between them and Britain, their former coloniser, through the maintenance of military bases as well as other forms of security cooperation (Pasha, 1996). Britain has become one of the guarantors of security for some of those Middle Eastern countries that were its colonies, giving them the confidence to run their own affairs without outside interference. Post-colonialism has done a lot in ensuring that the issue of race and race relations has been addressed to some extent (Memmi 2000, p.2). This has been the case with the relationship between former colonies in Asia and Africa, and European countries that dominated them for decades, if not centuries. One of the most significant aspects of post-colonialism is that it has led to a serious debate that has largely debunked some of the extreme Eurocentric assumptions that were dominant during the colonial period and this has allowed for an opening of opportunities designed to address the injustices that were committed against the colonised (Mamdani 1996, p.35). New nations have attempted to develop nationalistic feelings that are uncontaminated by Eurocentric though and actions that have made it possible for people who were formerly colonised to have their own identity while at the same time helping them to become more confident in their bid to determine their own destinies (Gilroy 1993, p.41). The Universalist thought that was propagated by former European colonial powers have to a large extent been brought to an end in post-colonialism because the former colonised have come to take pride in their own identity, especially before the advent of colonialism, when they were all free. Race has come to be addressed in such a manner that teachings that declared European superiority have been replaced by those that promote racial equality and the rights of all human beings no matter their race or colour. Some post colonialist thinkers have even gone as far as to propose that it is essential to study colonialism in a bid to ensure that there is an understanding of race and international relations, as they exist today. Post-colonialism is a term that can be used to describe the conditions in the world after colonialism; an attempt to show how the world has come to work towards the achievement of democracy after colonialism. According to Said, it helps to show the manner through which European powers were able to dominate the world by developing the concept of the West and the East; stating that the former was more civilised that the latter (Said 2003, p.49). Under such circumstances, these powers used their so-called civilising mission to subjugate the entire East, from the Middle East to the Indian subcontinent and this led to a situation where the East came to be identified as a single entity (McClintock, Mufti, and Shohat 1997, p.113). This labelling of the East as a single entity was done to ensure European supremacy, especially when one considers that most of the East was home to multiple cultures with diverse origins and identities and were not as contiguous as most Europeans labelled it. The colonial period can be considered to have been one that marked the European ascendancy as these people came to dominate a significant part of the world, the last of which were Asia and Africa. The belief that was propagated by European scholars concerning the inferiority of other races ensured that colonial powers came to believe that it was their divine mission to subjugate the inferior races so that the latter could be civilised (Spivak 1988, p.271). The post-colonial period has continued to see the world essentially remain under the dominance of former European colonial powers and this has ensured that these powers have continued to exercise their influence, this mainly being economic, even on those countries that achieved independence through bitter struggles, hence neo-colonialism. In conclusion, the discussion above has sought to show the significance of post-colonialism for the understanding of international relations. It has been noted that post-colonialist writers such as Frantz Fanon state that colonialism was destructive to the colonised and this was mainly because of their dehumanisation. Moreover, post-colonialism is an essential part of ensuring that there is an understanding of international relations through the manner in which people in former colonies write about their former colonial masters. This is because it has brought about an understanding of the situation where former colonial powers have come to change the manner in which they treat former colonies. While this may be the case, it has also brought about an understanding of the positive changes between former colonisers and the colonised and this has ushered in an era of cooperation between some of these entities. In addition, post-colonialism has done a lot in ensuring that the issue of race and race relations has to some extent been addressed. Finally, the discussion has shown that post-colonialism is a term that can be used to describe the conditions in the world after colonialism; an attempt to show how the world has come to work towards the achievement of democracy after colonialism. 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