Colonial Experience Research Articles

Plants and Peoples exhibit at MUHNAC: analysis of traditional and scientific medicine from the perspective of the Epistemologies of South

The article explores the ““Cure, Malaria, Frederic Welwitsch and the Healer”” theme of the exhibition “Plants and Peoples” from the Museum of Natural History and Science, Portugal. The study focuses on the research carried out by German naturalist F. Welwitsch on local plants in Angola as well as on history of lived colonial experience A. M. Mafumo, a healer from Mozambique, arrested for practicing “traditional medicine”. Using the analytical framework of the Epistemologies of the South we analyze the relationships between traditional and scientific knowledge using documentation, as well as interviews with curators and visitors. The article questions the exhibit' dialogue between these knowledges as an expression of an ecology of knowledges.

The Narrative Ploy of Double casting -Reincarnates of the Star Bodies in Hindi Films

This paper through a critical review of extant literature and analysis of prevalent discourse seeks to understand the narrative strategy of deploying stars in double casts or rules within a film. As a popular devise it has been recurrently deployed by successive generation of film makers from the early years of film making and to contemporary times. Apparently informed by the production logic of amplification of star value, this bricoleur ploy is embedded in mythical pantheon of plural incarnates of deities, in the anxiety and ambivalence of colonial and post- colonial experiences. It is unequivocally also an adaptation from Western literary paradigm and traditions.

Myth of Sovereignty in the Era of Hyper-Globalisation

Globalisation has made it necessary to review modernity’s paradigms. One such paradigm that may no longer be an accurate descriptor (if it ever was) of international society is that of the sovereign nation-state. Through an exploration of both the western nation-state and the space collectively referred to as ‘postcolony’, two different experiences of globalisation are exhibited, each with different power manifestations. For the former, globalisation has challenged both internal and external legitimacy, which as in turn led to perceptions of a loss of sovereignty. However, the loss of sovereignty does not imply the loss of power; sovereign power has morphed into biopower, with power remaining within that space. In contrast, the postcolony’s historical relationship with sovereignty is one of negation- the denial of it. Globalisation thus threatens not the specific manifestation of power in sovereignty, but rather the continued subordination to western sovereignty. This has occurred due to a continuation of the ‘state of exception’ and socioeconomic hegemony. The piece does not, however, claim to be a definitive analysis of power, sovereign or otherwise, under globalisation. Such an inquiry would be a much greater project that went beyond the two broad categories west/postcolony, looking at specific national contexts: ‘realities’ rather than ‘reality’, accounting for the heterogeneity of both the forms and experiences of colonialism. It is a map of the terrain, and like any map is pitched at the level of generalisation.

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN KEDAH, MALAYA (1909–1940): THE KEY TO ACHIEVING FOOD SECURITY, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION UNDER THE BRITISH

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN KEDAH, MALAYA (1909–1940): THE KEY TO ACHIEVING FOOD SECURITY, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION UNDER THE BRITISH

Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences of settlement and navigating health and social services in Canada

Ukrainian refugee women’s experiences of settlement and navigating health and social services in Canada

Techlienation and Decolonizing Reparations in African Intra-diasporic Contexts

ABSTRACT This study conceptualizes techlienation from the historical standpoint of imperialism, which has created a legacy of sociocultural entanglements within asymmetrical relationships in Africa. It argues that the vestiges of imperialism are perpetuated through certain technological affordances that require new approaches to the interpretation of alienation within emergent African intra-diasporic contexts. It therefore explores the theorization on alienation from the Hegelian normative/ontological perspective that holistically interrogates man’s objectification outside of the Absolute Spirit; and the Marxian descriptive historical cum socioeconomic contextualization of the politics of separating man from the products of his labour. The study also establishes the theoretical underpinnings of alienation in Africa within anti-imperial discourses, especially following its application to the experiences of slavery and colonialism in the quest for decolonisation. It subsequently contends that the forces of neo-imperialism have appropriated digital tools, especially those of new information and communication technologies, to transform the operational dynamics of digital labor in reinforcing cultural imperialism while creating African intra-diasporic contexts. The study concludes that the reparations debate should incorporate the reality of digitally afforded cultural estrangement through the quest for digital justice, as it relates to content creation and dissemination, while postulating the need for Afrocentric retooling and remodeling of today’s digital culture.

한국 언론에서 본 대만 2·28 사건 - 『경향신문』·『동아일보』의 관련 기사를 중심으로

The 1947 February 28 Incident, which resulted in more than 10,000 casualties, is a seminal event in Taiwan’s modern history. The sharp internal and external divisions that were expressed during the event and its aftermath became the prototype for modern Taiwan’s social conflicts. The Incident also attracted the attention of not only Taiwan but also Korea, which had just been liberated, and Korean media outlets reported the causes and background of the Incident in light of their own experience of colonization. Therefore, an understanding of the narrative and causes of the February 28 Incident can serve as a mirror for understanding the immediate post-liberation situation in East Asian countries with colonial experiences. To this end, this article focuses on Korean media coverage of the February 28 Incident, analyzing the sources, context of the coverage, and perspectives expressed in the commentary. This article explains that the KMT’s misguided policies and responses played a crucial role in the escalation of the incident to the rest of Taiwan, and that internal conflicts and divisions within the KMT contributed to the difficulties in the negotiation process. As commentary in the Korean and Western media has shown, the February 28 Incident cannot be viewed simply as a result of internal contradictions in Taiwanese society, but also provides clues to understanding the effects of Japanese colonial rule, the state of the KMT, and economic insecurity.

Factors Affecting Choice of Comprehensive Motor Insurance in Nepal

Purpose: Compared to third party liability insurance, comprehensive motor insurance offers far more coverage. Nevertheless, despite the bigger benefit, owners of motor vehicles are not particularly motivated to purchase comprehensive auto insurance. The purpose of this study is to determine the primary determinants that influence the owners’ choice of auto insurance.
 Methodology: The study used a descriptive and quantitative research approach to look into how consumers’ choice of automobile insurance is influenced by social, psychological, economic, and vehicle factors. A systematic questionnaire was used to collect data, and it was disseminated both physically and digitally. A total of 247 samples were collected and determined to be useful for the study. Using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26, twelve hypotheses were tested through the use of correlation, multiple regression, and crosstabs (chi-square) analysis in the study of the data.
 Findings and Conclusion: In addition, the study found that the choice of comprehensive motor insurance was significantly influenced by factors such as marital status, income, age and value of the vehicle, insurance knowledge, and claim history. It also found that psychological and economic factors had a significant impact on this decision. The study’s conclusions showed that people who could afford to pay a large premium, were financially secure, had higher insurance knowledge, and had a favorable claim settlement experience were the main factors influencing their decision to purchase comprehensive auto insurance.
 Implications: The research was conducted with few variables and there are a lot more variables that might be associated to the choice of motor insurance, as the R square value was only 32.4%. Further variables can be explored and the study can be carried out separately for four wheelers or two wheelers to be more specific. Based on the results, it is recommended that insurance companies focus on educating the public about the insurance coverages, risks, and advantages of having a comprehensive motor insurance, and simultaneously improve the claim service for the loss bearers.

The Roots of Ethnic Conflict in Post-World War II Myanmar, Malaysia, and the Philippines

The impacts of colonial history on present-day ethnic relations in Southeast Asia, a region known for its cultural and ethnic diversity, remain significant in understanding the sociopolitical developments within the countries of the region. This paper examines the historical origins and contemporary implications of long-standing ethnic conflicts in Southeast Asia, focusing on Myanmar, Malaysia, and the Philippines. I argue that these conflicts stemmed from colonial legacies and can be traced back to each country’s respective colonial periods, which took place at different points in history. From the imposition of territorial boundaries to racial classification and differential treatment, colonial policies resulted in enduring tensions between ethnic populations, which continue to shape ethnic relations in these countries today. British colonial rule in Myanmar fostered tensions between the Bamar majority and non-Bamar minorities, while in Malaysia, disparities between Malays and ethnic Chinese were fueled by British migration policies. In the Philippines, conflicts involving the Muslim minority in Mindanao originated from attempts by the Spanish at Christianization and subjugation, further exacerbated by American imperialism. Despite variations in colonial experiences and timelines, ethnic conflicts underscore the lasting impact of colonization on these countries’ present-day social and political dynamics.

Contested imaginaries: workfinding information practices of STEM-trained immigrant women in Canada

PurposeThis pan-Canadian study examines the information practices of STEM-trained immigrant women to Canada as they navigate workfinding and workplace integration. Our study focuses on a population of highly skilled immigrant women from across Canada and uses an information practice lens to examine their lived experiences of migration and labour market integration. As highly trained STEM professionals in pursuit of employment, our participants have specific needs and challenges, and as we explore these, we consider the intersection of their information practices with government policies, settlement services and the hiring practices of STEM employers.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 74 immigrant women across 13 Canadian provinces and territories to understand the nature of their engagement with employment-seeking in STEM sectors. This article reports the findings related to the settlement and information experiences of the immigrant women as they navigate new information landscapes.FindingsAs immigrants, as women and as STEM professionals, the experiences of the 74 participants reflect both marginality and privilege. The reality of their intersectional identities is that these women may not be well-served by broader settlement resources targeting newcomers, but neither are the specific conventions of networking and job-seeking in the STEM sectors in Canada fully apparent or accessible to them. The findings also point to the broader systemic and contextual factors that participants have to navigate and that shape in a major way their workfinding journeys.Originality/valueThe findings of this pan-Canadian study have theoretical and practical implications for policy and research. Through interviews with these STEM professionals, we highlight the barriers and challenges of an under-studied category of migrants (the highly skilled and “desirable” type of immigrants). We provide a critical discussion of their settlement experiences and expose the idiosyncrasies of a system that claims to value skilled talent while structurally making it very difficult to deliver on its promises to recruit and retain highly qualified personnel. Our findings point to specific aspects of these skilled professionals’ experiences, as well as the broader systemic and contextual factors that shape their workfinding journey.

“It’s not that I don’t like it here, it’s just that I eventually want to live somewhere else”: young refugees’ contested arrival experiences, local racialized discourses and emergent future selves in Amsterdam

ABSTRACT Although the urban fabric is often associated with relevant infrastructures that foster young refugees’ experiences of settlement and future imagining, a critical notion of place remains largely absent from the literature. This paper investigates refugee youths’ urban arrival and settlement processes by examining the role of public space, place and identity in their imagination of possible future selves. We use place identity as a dynamic, translocal and contested concept to explore how future selves are emplaced in multiple and contradictory ways. The paper reports on an eight-month ethnographic study in an underprivileged neighborhood in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, that is characterized by functionalism, social housing and a high concentration of refugee arrivals. We find that personal referents of public neighborhood places are important for nurturing young refugees’ specific hardships and traumas that threaten future self-imagination. We further demonstrate how momentary belongings due to diverse yet intertwined neighborhood identities foster the emergence of multiple possible future selves. Lastly, we show how local racialized discourses of place endanger and “trap” possible future self-concepts. We conclude that urban refugee youths’ future self-imaginations develop alongside multiple contested places and temporalities, and contribute to a relational understanding of urban processes and experiences of forced mobility and displacement.

Science Advisory to Governments and Regional/Sub-Regional Organizations in West and Central Africa

Science advice to governments and regional and sub-regional organizations in West and Central Africa has been reviewed. The objectives were to analyze its evolution and characterize the sources of advice. During the colonial period, it was by the colonial administrations and for their needs. At independence, in general, the new nations (particularly French speaking) entered into agreements with the former colonial powers to develop science, technology and innovation capacity for sustainable development. English speaking nations sought more partners outside the colonial experience. Colonial research institutes were increasingly transformed into national research institutes/institutions with national development mandates. Governments increasingly turned to science advice from consultants, inter- ministerial committees, advisory bodies, ad hoc experts’ groups, or a combination of these. Regional/sub-regional organizations sought advice from consultants, ad hoc technical experts’ groups, advisory bodies or a combination of these. Increasingly, science advice is delivered by Africans. Science advice by science academies is most rigorous. The arrival of more science academies, with varying links with governments, indicates that evidence-based science advice is growing in the region.

An Examination of Identity and Colonialism in Tayeb Saleh's Season of Migration to the North through the Lens of Frantz Fanon's Black Skin, White Masks A Comparative Study

"In the exploration of post-colonial literature, Tayeb Saleh's 'Season of Migration to the North' and Frantz Fanon's 'Black Skin, White Masks' emerge as pivotal works that intricately dissect the complex interplay between identity and colonialism. Both authors delve into the psychological ramifications of colonial histories on individual identities, unraveling the multifaceted layers of the post-colonial experience. The themes of identity and colonialism in Tayeb Salih's "Season of Migration to the North" through the lens of Frantz Fanon's seminal work, "Black Skin, White Masks." By examining the experiences of the protagonist, Mustafa Sa'eed, who returns to Sudan after studying in England, the essay delves into the complex ways in which colonial encounters shape individual identity. Drawing on Fanon's theories, particularly the concepts of double consciousness and the psychological effects of colonization, the analysis sheds light on the psychological and cultural impact of the colonial experience on Sa'eed and other characters in the novel. This article investigates the idea of cultural hybridity and the ambivalence that arises from navigating multiple cultural influences. Moreover, it explores the gender dynamics present in both works, emphasizing the power imbalances and objectification of women within the colonial context. Through a comparative analysis, the article seeks to highlight the characters' struggles for authentic selfhood and the broader implications of their experiences in a post-colonial world. Ultimately, this exploration provides insights into the enduring relevance of these themes and the intricate interplay between identity and colonialism in literature. The present article seeks to examine the nuanced ways in which Saleh's narrative and Fanon's psychoanalytic insights intersect, offering a profound understanding of the profound impact of colonialism on the construction and negotiation of identity in a post-colonial world."
 Tayeb Salih's novel, Season of Migration to the North, delves into the intricate relationships that exist between colonialism and identity in post-colonial Sudan. In close resemblance to Frantz Fanon's groundbreaking work Black Skin, White Masks, the article explores the novel's complex concerns of identity building, cultural hybridity, and the psychological effects of colonialism in African literature. By their audacious writings, Fanon and Salih both transformed the postcolonial African landscape. Using a postcolonial perspective, this study investigates how the story's characters navigate their cultural heritage and sense of self in the years after colonial domination.

French Colonial Policies in West Africa: Power Dynamics, Cultural Impositions and Economic Legacies

The complex dynamics of French colonial policies in West Africa during European imperialism played a crucial role in streamlining administrative procedures and consolidating control over the indigenous African population. This colonial framework not only imposed a distinct sense of identity on African communities but also created deep stratification within these societies. Implementing the direct rule system, an essential aspect of French colonial administration, facilitated imposing laws and regulations that often marginalized traditional authority structures. As a result, a symbiotic relationship emerged between the African colonies and France, with the former serving as essential suppliers of resources crucial for sustaining France's growing industrial enterprises. This paper delves into the intricate nuances of the French colonial policies and their enduring impact on West Africa. By critically examining the assimilation and association policies, the study elucidates the power dynamics, cultural impositions, and economic implications that characterized the colonial experience of French colonies in West Africa. Unpacking the complexities of the colonial governance framework highlights the systemic disparities and cultural alienation perpetuated by the French colonial apparatus, underscoring the persistent socio-economic challenges and cultural subjugation that continue to shape the contemporary West African landscape. By exploring historical injustices and postcolonial complexities, the study emphasizes the urgent need for a holistic and inclusive approach to postcolonial development, advocating for preserving cultural heritage and promoting equitable socio-economic progress within the region.

In-between the West and the other: Postcolonial contradictions in Korean students’ understandings of Islam

ABSTRACT This study investigated how Korean students understand Islam, Islamic cultures, and Muslims by conducting open-ended, task-based interviews with 29 participants. Findings indicate the students believed that Islamic customs and cultures stalled in premodern periods and that Islamic ideas could not harmonise with the values of present-day society and might even be dangerous. At the same time, students showed sympathy towards Muslims, recognising them as marginalised throughout the world, including in Korean society. These contradictory ideas are discussed in relation to the postcolonial context in South Korea: students’ perceptions of Islam are situated in a unique context involving colonial experiences of being oppressed intertwined with Westernised perspectives. By revealing the conflicting understandings of Islam among non-Western students, this study adds complexity to the previous literature on Islamophobic understandings of students in Western countries.

Repositioning Ethnomathematics in European Context as a Matter of Social Justice

The aim of this theoretical article is to, on the one hand, highlight the need for rethinking about EM—considering it as a dynamic field of knowledge and action, and taking into consideration the context in which EM has emerged and developed in counterpoint with current global conditions. On the other hand, this article demonstrates the importance of an EM perspective within the European context; this requires a shift from the experience of colonialism, within which Europe had the central and formative role, toward the more recent phenomenon of coloniality, that is, with the structures, epistemologies, and power relations that maintain societal and cultural hierarchies, in particular, those institutional and social structures that constitute and inform education and mathematics education. Europe, identified as a totality with the exercise of power, has made the recognition of asymmetric power relations within its own geographic boundaries less explicit; this situation has also hampered the development of EM in the European context. The identification within Europe of the Symbolic South (Santos, 2015), and the associated forms of epistemicide of (mathematics) knowledge that comes from out-of-mainstream (marginalized) populations within Europe, for example Roma mathematical practices, activated together the efforts reflected in this article. Methods of ethnomathematics, informed by the analysis of the Symbolic South present in European communities and ongoing structures of coloniality that create epistemicide, can respond to issues of inequity and social justice. ME in the European context and in dialogue with non-structural theories can also broaden the typical EM perspective and methods.

Learning to Be Black in America

Whereas a lot has already been written on the manifestations, representations, and effects of race and racism on Black people generally, not as much attention has been paid to the meaningful distinctions in the racial experiences and perceptions of continental Africans who migrate to the United States. This paper presumes that continental Africans experience race differently from African-Americans, and that this experiential and notional difference complicates relations between these two groups. Upon arrival, African immigrants learn to live Black in a matured racial space – the United States – which does not often differentiate ethnic and national differences in racial experience. It is this learning to live black and becoming Black that I call racial enculturation. In thinking through this friction, this paper contrasts Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah with Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me to unearth the divergences in their accountings of racial encounters.
 I posit a taxonomy of four enculturation anxieties that African immigrants to the US face: racial levelling, fraternal nervousness, racial etiquette, and political will. I propose these four nodes as a lens by which to see racial experience from the African immigrants’ viewpoint and how it destabilizes the predominant view from the African American and white perspective. This paper will also show that the variance in the historical experiences of colonialism, slavery, and apartheid among different groups of Black people globally has material implications for how we represent and theorize race and racism.

Xenophobia in the context of African worldviews: A synopsis of the Nigerian situation.

This paper examines the phenomenon of xenophobia in Africa. The manifestation of xenophobia was explored within the tenets of the terror management theory which links existential concerns to the development of worldviews that help to make sense of life vagaries. We put forward that colonialism impacted the African worldview of collectivism and human connectedness and contributed to a worldview of the world as a dangerous place. The authors largely situate xenophobic attitudes of Africans toward Africans within the colonial experience which promoted ethnic discord and influenced the perception and receptivity toward strangers. The value of collectivism in pre-colonial and post-colonial African societies was compared to demonstrate the impact of colonialism. Furthermore, a synopsis of ethnic politics as a legacy of colonialism in Nigeria was provided. The authors conclude by emphasizing the importance of giving recognition to ethnic identity as one approach to managing xenophobic attitudes toward co-nationals in African countries.

‘Speaking proper French’: citizen bids for state recognition in Chad and Côte d’Ivoire

Theories of international recognition posit that states’ identities are formed through dialogical relations with other states. However, they often overlook the ways in which weaker states’ struggles, constrained within the languages of the powerful, produce misrecognition and inhibit identity formation. This is the experience of many post-colonial francophone African states whose search for international recognition has been inhibited by their special relationship with France, their former coloniser. This article shows how such struggles for recognition can fail. It draws on two examples of francophone African countries, showing how their search for recognition sprung from the misrecognition of colonial experiences. Each has made explicit attempts to attract richer forms of state recognition through purposive acts but has continued to do so within post-colonial conditions. Using citizens’ understandings of these struggles, the article explores what drove them, how they manifested and how they unravelled. It draws on Frantz Fanon’s account of misrecognition, making a novel interpretation based on his concept of ‘speaking proper French’, or how experiences of ‘identity alienation’ can only produce further misrecognition.

Architectural Design Experience of Post-earthquake Special Education Settlement for Children

Deprem/Afet ile ilgili çalışmalar günümüzde birçok alanda tartışılmaktadır. Maalesef ki hayatımızın kaçınılmaz gerçeklerinden birisi olduğu için tartışmalar daima güncel kalacaktır. Deprem gerçeğinde mimar ve mühendislerin sorumlulukları daha fazladır. Mesleğin temelleri mimarlık eğitiminde atıldığı için bu konuda ilk adım afet bilincine sahip mimarların yetiştirilmesidir. Bu çalışma, Gazi Üniversitesi Mimarlık Fakültesi Mimarlık Bölümü Atölye 4 öğrencilerinin tasarımlarını kapsamaktadır. Mimarlık eğitiminde deprem, en hassas konu olan çocuklar genelinde ele alınmış; “Deprem/Afet Sonrası Çocuk Özel Eğitim Yerleşkesi” teması ile öğrencilerin yapmış olduğu tasarımlar, betimsel analiz yöntemi kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Çalışmada, elde edilen veriler üzerinden bir bilince ulaşılmasını sağlamak ve deprem-mimarlık-çocuk konusundaki çalışmalarda, tasarım süreci-ihtiyaç çerçevesi oluşturmak hedeflenmektedir. Analizler sonucunda, çocukların aidiyet hissi, güvenliği ve temel gereksinimlerinin karşılanması adına, deprem sonrası çocuk özel eğitim yerleşkelerinin ve yerleşke tasarımında sürdürülebilir ve çocuk dostu tasarım prensiplerinin benimsenmesinin önemi açıkça görülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın, deprem sonrası çocukların fiziksel ve ruhsal ihtiyaçlarının karşılanması konusunda farkındalık sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.