Post-Colonialism (Research Paper Sample)

Post-colonialism
Class
Professor
Research question
The fundamental question of my research proposal is: What contribution has post colonialism had on developmental studies? Moreover, what has been the impact on post-colonial literary works and the post-colonial society at large? This research paper will focus on the brief history of colonization and its impact on national identity, cohesion and views between the “eastern” and “western” worlds. Through the views of notable theorists, both past and present, we analyze the changing trends in post-colonial literature and developmental studies.
The purpose of my research is to critically analyze how post-colonialism influenced the society and independence. Moreover, it aims to give a glimpse on the relationship between former colonies and the “mother country”, with relevance to developmental studies. The relationship may be viewed from a political, social or economic perspective.
Literature review
Post-colonialism, as a critical literary theory examines the literature that has been written by former colonies of European super powers notably Britain, Spain, and France. Some of these literary works have been written by citizens who were once under colonial rule. The subject matter focuses on portraits and lives of the colonized people and their response to imperialism.
Post-colonial literary showcases two forms of literature. One of them is based on post colonial nations and the other on forging a post colonial national identity. The latter analyzes the challenges that were faced by newly independent states relating to their identity (Spivak, 1990).
However, scholars have expressed different views and thoughts on post-colonialism and developmental studies. Post colonial studies expose the post- independence colonialism via economic, political, linguistic and cultural methods by former colonial powers. This is contrary to what Rajeswari Sunder Rajan defines it. He sees post-colonialism has failed in addressing poverty. Arturo Escobar describes developmental studies as the last attempt that was made to enlighten the “third world “on historical injustices (Spivak, 1990).
Edward said, coined the term “orientalism” from the western depiction of the eastern countries as “the orient”. He spoke of how the west, also known as “the occident” consider their kind to be progressive while perceiving the “orient” as retrogressive and backwards. Said’s thoughts on power and knowledge resonate well with Michael Foucault, a renowned philosopher. The west claimed to have had “knowledge” concerning the east and took to naming places and people in the orient. Through this, they were able to galvanize power and control hence colonialism arose as a result. The power-knowledge relationship is what said reveals in relation to post-colonial studies (Said, 1996).
He clearly shows that the representations exhibited are biased as they lack neutrality. Moreover, Foucault’s discourse theory exposes the manipulative and power-hungry nature of the west. It is through this discourse theory that Said demonstrates how the west has been able to manage the east politically, scientifically, imaginatively, sociologically and ideologically long after independence.
Gayatri Spivak, a principal contributor to post-colonial studies introduces the term “subaltern”. According to post-colonial terms, she referred to this as everything that may lack access to the cultural imperialism. This referred to the “oppressed “who believed they were not getting what they rightly deserved (Spivak, 1990).
Spivak’s critical theories challenge “colonial legacies “and placed her focus on the individuals marginalized by the west in the society as per her literary works. An illustration is her critical analysis of Hegel, a meta-physicist. She exposes how Hegel fails to include the Subaltern from his research and how he barred non-Europeans from taking part in it.
Discussion
The research question aims to find a solution to the contribution of post-colonialism on developmental studies. Post-colonial studies take a critical approach the impact imperialism on the colonized society. Through post-colonialism, developmental studies have been able to analyze politics, culture and history of the colonies and their relationship with former colonizers through publication of literary works (spivak, 1999).
Notable philosophers and theorists question the effect of colonialism on their specific countries. They expose issues such as exploitation and racism brought about by colonial rule. They offer counter narratives parallel to European imperial narratives. Moreover, these studies reveal how colonizers imposed their own values on their colonies. A good example was the Spanish language and catholic religion imposed in the Caribbean. Politically, boundaries they placed caused disharmony between communities as they only served the interests of the locals. It is these boundaries that caused problems after independence. There was a crisis on national identity in newly formed states as they put their tribal allegiance ahead of the state. This problem is illustrated in Algeria and parts of the Middle East.
Methodology
My research paper will employ the use of similar situations from former colonies to explain my approach. We will note that the need for a cultural identity was heralded after independence. This was the case in the Middle East and Algeria. I will explain how the scramble for Africa and other places led to splitting regions along political lines. Hence when independence was achieved, these places lacked a national identity. The primary method for data collection was by use of books, print journals, online journals and internet sources related to my research question (Said, 1995).
The paper analyzes the literature from theorists from around the world. Notable theorists such as Gayatri Spivak, Edward Said, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Arturo Escobar and Frantz fanon contributions to post-colonial literature have been scrutinized in this paper. Moreover, the literature in question spans from the 1970s to the 2000s. This time frame helps to adequately review their thoughts on post-colonial impact on developmental studies. Their literary works expose vices perpetuated by the “mother countries” even after colonization. The fundamental vice is economic dependency whereby former colonies have been made to depend on their former colonizers in form of loans and grants. It also raises the views on superiority complex, where the “west” imposes itself on the “east” by lowly regarding the latter.
Introduction
Post-colonial studies can be defined to be an academic discipline that incorporates methods that analyze and respond to cultural bequests of colonial powers and of imperialism. Post colonial studies aims to show the relationship between the colonial period and neocolonialism. These studies reveal how colonial powers ruled and exploited over their colonies. Post colonial studies address a number of issues. These studies reveal national identity and the development of a post colonial society. Moreover, they reveal how colonial subjects were able to creatively offer resistance to colonial rule and imperialism. (Said, 1995) Moreover, they offer a critical analysis of the colonizers. It also shows how information pertaining to the subjects was used adeptly to serve their interests. Post colonial studies expose the post- independence colonialism via economic, political, linguistic and cultural methods by former colonial powers.
The aim of these studies is to account for and contain the political, economic, social and linguistic effects brought about by colonialism inflicted by a “mother country”. Most theoreticians established avenues for individuals who had been silenced by systems perpetuated by ideologies of colonial powers.
Post colonial studies developed in Europe have been as a result of Edward said. He argued that European scholars had no regard for cultural and intellectual studies of the Muslims and Asians, who formed the basis of their studies. Instead, they had a preference for “western” culture and intellect which they perceived to be superior to others.
Post colonialism and developmental studies
The 1990s saw the notion of developing post-colonial knowledge in developmental studies. This was subject to a heated debate. Part of this debate may be attributed to the fact that the term “post-colonialism” was seen to be inflexible in society. Instead of the latter signaling the end of an era, it provided a platform on which colonial materials and legacies were harshly criticized (Thiong’o, 1986). From a broader angle, we can concur that post-colonial views may be termed to be anti-colonial. Moreover, they have been greatly influenced by Marxist theories. Post-colonialism and dependency theories share similarities. Several key issues support post colonial approach to development. Post-colonial critiques insist on the destabilization of dominant discourses in Europe. The latter are unconsciously rooted in European culture, exhibiting western dominance. Moreover, these studies challenge the unexamined western assumptions that are insensitive to other cultures. These studies challenge “development” that depicts the north as progressive and advanced. Conversely, it depicts the south as backwards, primitive and retrogressive. Developmental studies take to task issues to task relating to equal distribution of resources and poverty (Spivak, 1999).
Developmental studies sets pace for modernization
After the world war two, colonial powers became weakened. This set into motion the necessary machineries for decoloniz...