Postcolonial Research Articles

On Decolonization and its Correlates

This essay offers a critical analysis of the literature on decolonization (and its correlates), from the studies carried out by colonial agents and administrators to the recent vogue for postcolonial and decolonial studies. It highlights the limitations of the top-down approach of most studies up to the 1970s, the binarism that has characterized contemporary studies, and the conceptual ambivalence as well as marketing perspective that distinguish the decolonial approach. Lastly, it considers the idea of using the conceptual framework of creolization studies and the ideas of Oswald de Andrade on anthropophagy to get a better understanding of decolonization.

The Disintegration of “Power/Knowledge”: Post-Socialist Studies as Decolonial Studies? A Personal Point of View. Part 1: Post-Colonialism, Balkanism and Self-Colonization

The relationship between post-colonial and post-socialist studies is extraordinarily complex. Post-colonialists might argue that it can be approached from different perspectives as well as different power positions of knowledge production. As a result, I have chosen a specific trajectory that intersects and challenges the static power positions and is able to trace the debates and the unfolding of the complex problem over time. As a long-time scholar in this area, and moreover, one who has taken many different roads in both fields, I will describe this relationship from the perspective of my own scholarly biography. However, my professional career has spanned several decades and surpassed the transient trends and fashions within this scholarly field. As such, it can only be depicted as an extensive narrative comprising multiple episodes. Each episode showcases its unique scientific intrigue and unravels its own methodological peripeteia, all of which contribute to the overarching story I wish to share. Such complex material required a specific structure and organization, leading to the formation of three distinct parts of the story. These parts are published in sequence across the double issue of the journal Studia Litteraria, devoted to forms of engagement in contemporary Southern and Western Slavic literatures.

Indigeneity, Subalternity and Lakota Territorial Resurgence: Disrupting Urban Settler Colonial Order in a US Bordertown

At first glance, the concept of the subaltern seems to perfectly describe the position of Native Americans within contemporary US society, yet, until recently, it was not commonly used by Indigenous studies scholars. This has changed partly due to the emergence of the field of settler colonial studies, born of the dialogue between postcolonial and Indigenous studies. In particular, scholars have looked at the historical and contemporary role cities are playing in highlighting patterns of dispossession and resistance. In the article, we look at the contributions of this new theoretical framework, then focus on the case of Rapid City, SD, presenting its history of dispossession and violence, and showing how Indigenous resurgence challenges that history.

A Post-Colonial critique on A Passage to India by Edward Morgan Forsterand Untouchable by Mulk Raj Anand

This study is centralized on the significance of post-colonial criticism implanted in Edward Morgan Forster’s A Passage to India and Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable employing varying quintessential post-colonial theories coined by important post-colonial theorists. The following research involves scrutinizing the post-colonial space and the major critics in it corresponding with the horrifying ramifications of imperialism that alters the socio-political, cultural, and economical dogmas of a nation including the linguistic approach which plays an important role in the development of the literary canon. This research explores the subject of colonial implications presented by two different writers originating from far away poles which conclusively examines how two distinct categories of colonial exploitation work one being triggered by foreign agents and another being planted inside the premises of a nation making a distinction between the mechanism of oppression. The two primary texts’ projects justify the outlook on the aftermath colonialism and also portray important theories of Hybridity, Oppression, and Othering.

The concept of "maximalism" in the literary studies of Yevhen Sverstyuk and Ivan Dziuba

Subject of this article is the concept of “maximalism” in the critical works of the Sixtiers, particularly focusing on Yevhen Sverstiuk and Ivan Dziuba. So far, there have been no studies addressing the reception of maximalism by Sixtier critics or its place in their journalistic and scholarly discourse, making this investigation a pioneering effort and thus highly relevant. Furthermore, this article could lay the groundwork for further examination of Sixtier language within the framework of post-colonial theory, as it touches upon the issue of imperial influence on individual identity. The aim of this research is to determine the frequency of the usage of the maximalism concept among Sixtier critics, evaluate its position and role within the ideological language of the empire, and discern any shifts in interpretation from established norms. The following conclusions have been drawn: 1. In the theoretical constructs of Sixtier critics, the concept of “maximalism” emerges as highly productive, consonant with the prevailing ideological discourse of the time. Several works of literary critics were dedicated to the issue of moral maximalism, with Ivan Dziuba employing the concept with notable frequency (appearing in roughly every fourth article within the trilogy “From the Well of Years”). 2. Sixtier critics were aware of the stereotypical nature of this concept and its frequent usage in contemporary periodicals and critical literature. They imbued it with their own nuanced meanings, which opposed the prevalent uncritical usage within Soviet public discourse. 3. Moreover, maximalism emerges as a fundamental aspect of the moral consciousness of the Sixtiers, embodying ideals of moral absolutism, particularly within Kantian philosophy. They emphasized the necessity of fostering individuals of high moral standing, primarily demanding of themselves, capable of self-sacrifice in the name of moral rectitude, civic duty, attention attention to the oppressed, and the belief in the intellectual’s ability to change the world. They vehemently opposed the ideas of moral relativism that were deemed unacceptable and antithetical to moral absolutism. There exists a distinct divergence in the declared sources of morality, with Ye. Sverstiuk emphasizing Christian sources, while Ivan Dziuba’s sources differ, leaning towards socio-philosophical sources. This study can serve as a foundation for further research into moral issues in the works and criticism of the Sixtiers.

Is a Woman a Better Refugee Than a Man? Gender Representations of Refugees in the Polish Public Debate

Within the framework of global mobility regimes, some bodies are encouraged to move while others are pushed back. Nation-states create control mechanisms to block those who are “undesirable”. Apart from political utility, the colour of the bodies is indicated by the critics as the main criterion of division. However, one more important dimension that intersects with race here is the gender of these bodies. A woman fits the figure of an ideal victim better due to the nationalist patterns of femininity: she is vulnerable, submissive, and deprived of agency. Contrary to a man: his duty in the context of war is to remain in his homeland and fight for it. A man who does not do that, seeking asylum in Europe, is morally doubtful: he is a migrant posing a threat to “our” prosperity and security. This is how people crossing the Polish-Belarusian border are presented to public opinion and contrasted with female Ukrainian refugees. The article offers a critical analysis of gender representations of refugees in the Polish public debate through the prism of postcolonial theory, demonstrating that gendered and racialised colonial discourses underpin rationalisations about who has and who does not have a right to be a refugee.

Interrogating irresponsible Leadership within the Post Independence Matrix in Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s Wizard of the Crow and Alobwed’ Epie’s The Bad Samaritan

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the phenomenon of irresponsible leadership within post-independence nations, exploring its impact on governance, societal development, and sustainability of democratic systems. The problem at hand is multi-faceted. Irresponsible leadership perpetuates a cycle of underdevelopment, erodes trust in government institutions, breeds social unrest, and hinders progress towards sustainable growth and stability. This study intends to answer the following research questions; how does irresponsible leadership affect socio-economic development of post-independence nations? and how do citizens react to to irresponsible leadership in the post-independence matrix? By analyzing , interpreting and evaluating Wizard of the Crow and The Bad Samaritan, we aim to illustrate underlying factors that contribute to irresponsible leadership, drawing parallels with historical and contemporary events. This paper is built on the hypothesis that irresponsible leadership after independence is like a tangled web of power and corruption. By examining this theme closely, the novels demonstrate how leaders can harm society through their actions, highlighting the struggles faced in building a just and fair postcolonial world. This study employs postcolonial theory which is relevant in that, it unveils how historical injustices and imbalances continue to manifest in contemporary governance. Interrogating irresponsible leadership through the postcolonial lens enable us to understand how neocolonial forces and the imposition of Western ideologies contribute to corrupt governance. Drawing upon both primary and secondary sources, this study engages in comparative analyses across varying geographical locations to offer an understanding of the nature of irresponsible leadership. The findings of this study underscore that irresponsible leadership after independence has hindered progress and development in many African countries. The study also revealed that irresponsible leadership has led to economic instability and social unrest in post-independence nations.

РЕПРЕЗЕНТАЦІЇ ІСТОРІЇ УКРАЇНИ В АНГЛОМОВНОМУ НАУКОВОМУ ДИСКУРСІ

The article highlights the problem of rethinking international communication about Ukrainian history, taking into account the de-imperialization of the historical narrative and overcoming the Russian optics on Ukraine that prevails in Western academic discourse. Sometimes in Western trends, this process is called decolonization, and the corresponding work is called postcolonial studies. While postcolonialism plays a leading role in foreign scholarly visions, it is only gaining momentum in Ukraine. Given the special attention to Ukraine as a country where a new global political architecture is being created today, there is a need to analyze and systematize foreigners’ perceptions of the Ukrainian past, as this will allow for better communication and potentially improve understanding between Ukraine and the Western world in general. Given the total dominance of Russian historiography and its derivative narratives on the entire history of Eastern Europe, this area is extremely relevant and even strategically necessary, as it allows us to study the worldview of both political elites and the electorate of Europe, which is based on a specific vision of the past and directly affects our present and future. This fact actualizes historical imagology as one of the tools for realizing the above. The study is based on the scientific work of foreign historians of non-Ukrainian origin on the history of Ukraine in the English-language discourse. The purpose of the study is to trace the general idea of non-Ukrainian researchers about Ukraine and its historical development, to analyze the state of scientific development of the topic and the source base of the study, and to highlight the main concepts and approaches to the representation of Ukraine’s history. The chronological framework covers the scholarly discourse that began with Ukraine’s independence in 1991 and continues to this day.

Was the result determined by disgruntled voters who did not go to the polls?

Üsküdar University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Political Science and International Relations (English) and Postcolonial Studies Application and Research Center (PAMER) Director Asst. Prof. Fehmi Ağca evaluated the results of the 31 March 2024 Local Administrations General Election.

The Genealogy of Confucian Modernity and the Reconstruction of Confucian Traditions in Post-Liberation Korea

Abstract: This article aims to trace the genealogy of Confucian modernity after Korea's liberation from Japanese rule and analyze how the historical context in which Confucian traditions were reconstructed. It seeks to analyze the process through which the disparate concepts of modernity and Confucianism were combined, moving beyond the perspective of denigration and development of Confucian traditions found in existing studies and approaching it from the perspective of postcolonial studies and traditions as invented practices. From the post-liberation period to the early 1960s, two arguments competed: one viewed Confucianism as having ruined the country, while the other claimed that it had sprouted modern times. While the former view still persisted, Confucianism was being used for political purposes, and scholars including Ch'ŏn Kwanu made efforts to find the sprout of modernism from Confucianism. The turning point came with the fervor of "modernization" that swept the country and the world in the 1960s. Influenced by domestic and foreign modernization theories, including Rostow's modernization theory, which began in the United States, the Park Chung Hee regime embraced the "modernization of the motherland" as its slogan. At the academic level, this trend was reinforced by the United States' support for Korean studies. In this process, discussions linking traditional Confucianism with modernization became more sophisticated in the intellectual community. By the late 1960s, these discussions went beyond explaining the connection between Confucianism and modernity through the concept of sprouting and reached a level of directly mentioning their connection. In the 1970s, this trend intensified further, leading to the conclusion that sirhak (practical learning) in Confucianism had pioneered its own modernization theory before the adoption of Western modernity. Through these analyses, this study aims to delineate the genealogy of discussions about Confucianism, such as that it is the cause of underdevelopment represented by stagnation or that it is the basis of East Asian modernity. Ultimately, by analyzing the contexts in which Confucian traditions are reconceptualized, this study aims to critically reconstruct the notions of tradition, nationalism, and modernity.

DESARROLLO Y LÍMITES DE LA HISTORIA LATINOAMERICANA EN COREA DEL NORTE

This paper explores North Korea’s links with the Third World, particularly with Latin America, through its historiography. By analyzing historical works, the paper describes the relationship between political changes in the peninsular country and the development of North Korean historiography about Latin America. The selected works are relevant insofar as they are dogmatic products at the service of North Korean state-building: The Dictionary of History (Ryeoksasajeon) and some articles in Historical Science Journals (Ryeoksagwahak) and Annals of Kim Il-Sung University (Kimilsŏngjonghaptaehak hakbo). To this end, an account is first given of the links of anticolonialist historiography in North Korea with postcolonial theory. This is followed by an analysis of its treatment of Latin America in the era of decolonization and a description of the changes accompanying the last decade of the 20th century. The paper reveals the consequences of a close relationship between political power and historiography, with efforts to overcome colonialist historiography through historical materialism and Juche ideology. Likewise, its view of Latin America is limited by dichotomous interpretations centered on the view of the peninsular country.

DECENTRING WESTERN FEMINISM AND MANLY NATIONALISM

Gender based segregations either in public and private spheres have been recurrent problem for women in Western world, however the cases of women in the “Third World” highlight the ways in which race and gender intersect, exemplifying a double form of oppression. This intersection also functions between colonialism (external) and local patriarchy (internal) mechanisms that control women as in the case of Algerian women. This article considers the ways in which Algerian women reformulated the ways of decolonising Western feminism and nationalism in the Algerian Revolution (1954-1962). As such, this paper looks at the distinct perspective, created by Algerian women with an emphasis on their implicit contribution to Western feminist scholarship. By veiling and unveiling interchangeably for national liberation movement against France, Algerian women deviate from the very definitions of Western feminism and challenges patriarchal notions of nationalism. The strategic albeit voluntary act of unveiling earns them a space that is self-representative. This space also represents the backbone of national liberation movement where colonial gaze on women, and control on men in Algeria were contested. The paper concludes that Algerian women can successfully cross national and colonial borders, and hence create a space that is beyond the definitions of Western feminist scholarship, and beyond the demands of colonial authority. The theoretical background of this paper is mainly based on the ideas proposed by Chandra Mohanty, Frantz Fanon, Edward Said and Gayatri Spivak to explore insights from transnational feminism and postcolonial theory regarding gender and nationalism.

Sömürgeciliğin İkiyüzlülüğü: This Earth of Mankind Adlı Romanda Irkçılık ve Kimlik Kavramları

This Earth of Mankind, by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, is a moving literary masterpiece that looks into the complexity of identity and the lingering impacts of colonial subjugation. The novel's analysis of oppression reveals the deep web of power relations inherent in colonial countries. The novel illuminates the enormous inequalities between the colonizers and the colonized, as well as the racial and socioeconomic hierarchies that sustain the systemic oppression of the indigenous population. It follows Minke, a Javanese native protagonist, as he struggles with his multiple identities as an educated man finding his way through Dutch-dominated society and as a representation of his indigenous culture. In this regard, this article emphasizes the varied nature of identity creation in a colonial situation through an in-depth investigation of major characters and their relationships. Additionally, the article focuses on how the authoritarian colonial system impacts and constrains the identities of other individuals in the novel. Drawing upon postcolonial theories and historical context as well, this article also sheds light on the recurring themes of identity negotiation, cultural assimilation, and resistance within This Earth of Mankind. It aims to foster a better understanding of the psychological, social, and cultural impacts of colonialism on both the colonizers and the colonized. Ultimately, this article aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on decolonization, identity politics, and the legacy of colonialism through an in-depth analysis of Toer's masterpiece.

Collective Awareness and Lyrical Poetry: The Emergence of Creole Literary Culture in the Archipelago of São Tomé and Príncipe

The problem discussed in the article is the emergence of the autonomous literary system on the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, a former Portuguese slave emporium, as well as coffee and cocoa producing colony. Several concurrent narrations concerning the emergence of the Santomense literary system are presented. One of them accentuates the groundbreaking role of a particular institution, Casa dos Estudantes do Império; other narrations inscribe the literature of the tiny archipelago in a larger system of Portuguese-speaking literature (Lusophony). The author of the present article postulates a radical enlargement of the chronological and cultural perspective, including the legacy of the Angolars (rebellious slaves) and their collective awareness in the genesis of the local literary tradition, in parity with such elements as the legacy of the Portuguese colonizers and free Creole social groups (Forros). It could be a way of overcoming the Eurocentric “chronopolitics” that remained valid also in the postcolonial studies, associating the decolonial processes, on the one hand, with the metropolis as a place where the decolonial thought took shape, and on the other, with the chronology, rhythms, and trends of its literary evolution.

Verbalisation of an alternative academic position in totalitarian discourse

Background. In Soviet Ukraine, academic discourse often acted as a means of implementing language planning, in particular as a tool for the transformation of the language corpus. All grammar textbooks published after 1933 broadcast the official knowledge: the vocative is not a full-fledged case, but rather a special form of address; morphological means of expressing address in Ukrainian are the “vocative form” and “nominative case.” In the conditions of total control over all areas of social life, Ukrainian linguists were faced with a choice of either 1) look for certain language devices, broadcasting the official theory, which would convince the addressee to believe in the talking points that did not fully comply with the language facts, and then anchor those points in their consciousness; 2) avoid aspects that disagree with the language practice or the logic of academic description; 3) word the findings of their research and observations of the language practice in a way that would not contradict the official theory.Contribution to the research field. The article is dedicated to the analysis of the communication practices used by Ukrainian linguists in the Soviet times to express their academic position, which did not agree with official knowledge. The object of comprehension was a unique for postcolonial societies situation in which the creators of both the official discourse and the alternative discourse opposed to it were the colonised themselves.Purpose. The aim of this research is to analyse ways and means of verbalisation of the alternative academic position held by linguists in the academic discourse of the totalitarian era, based on the materials representing the topics “The Case System” and “Address” in Ukrainian grammar books for higher education, published between 1933–1991.Methods. The research is based on the theoretical and methodological foundations of postcolonial studies, which involve a critical reading of texts that reflect the influence of various forms of authority on the life of subordinate communities. In particular, the theory of critical reading of J. Errimgton’s linguistic works and R. Vodaks’ methodology of discourse-historical approach, which has been adapted for academic discourse analysis, have been applied in this research.Results. Some linguists, who did not share the canonised theory of the vocative, implied their point of view in the official texts they had created (i.e. textbooks for higher education.) On the one hand, they used official terminology and theoretical concepts: they were consistent in naming the vocative case a “vocative form,” and presented two ways of expressing address. On the other hand, the lexical and grammatical structure of their statements levelled the postulates regarding the fact that “vocative is not a case”, and that “the nominative case is used to express address on par with the vocative.” Among the techniques used by the linguists, heavily euphemistic speech in combination with syntactic complication of the structure prevailed, as well as splitting nominations by verbalising the concept with variant naming and violation of logical connections between consecutive statements. Such individual practices of linguistic resistance replicated the practices of the official totalitarian discourse, but with the aim to broadcast the opposite meaning.Discussion. The peculiarity of the alternative academic discourse (in particular, the language education one) of the totalitarian era lies in the fact that it did not directly confront the official theory, but rather occurred within its boundaries. This gives a reason to consider some Ukrainian linguists of the Soviet period as creators of both colonial and anti-colonial discourses.

Bathala comes back: Finding the New From the Old

This paper begins with unravelling the tenets of modernism versus the tenets of postmodernism and examines how the principles of the latter became popular especially with the onset of postcolonial studies. Applying these critical approaches to the study of religion can be a fraught exercise but can also prove enlightening in understanding the suppression and re-emergence of native religions in colonized spaces. The postmodernist paradigm can be utilized to critically evaluate factors that led to the emergence of various indigenization movements in societies that were once colonized, such as the Philippines. This study explores the revival of the ancient Filipino system of belief in Bathala, the Supreme God, through the interpretation of the symbols of Baybayin, the ancient Filipino system of writing. It finally addresses the need for an alternative discourse on the renaissance of the precolonial culture in the Philippines, particularly in the field of religion. Despite the subjectivity of postmodernism as a paradigm, the paper argues that an attempt to uncover the meaning of Bathala will help the present Filipino generation to understand and appreciate the roots of their spirituality.

Resistensi Kritis Ki Hadjar Dewantara pada Surat Kabar De Express: Sebuah Kajian Postkolonialisme

Postcolonialism literary criticism is a critical approach to literature that involves the historical context of colonialism and its impact on culture, identity, and power. Postcolonial literary criticism also helps provide an understanding of the concept of 'the Other', i.e., the way in which colonial culture denigrates and belittles other cultures outside its nation. This study aims to examine the article by Ki Hadjar Dewantara written in the newspaper Express with an approach to literary criticism of postcolonialism. This type of research is a descriptive qualitative literature study with an analysis method, namely content analysis. The source of this research data is an article entitled "Als ik een Nederlander was" or "If I Were a Dutchman," written by Ki Hadjar Dewantara (KHD) and published in De Express Newspaper on July 13, 1913. The research data is in the form of discourse quotes contained in the article. Data collection techniques include read, listen, and record techniques. The findings contained resistance in the form of mimicry, hybridity, and ambivalence. The resistance to mimicry or imitation shown by KHD is included in the category of closed or covert reciprocity because the rejection of the policies implemented by the Dutch government is opposed by writing that contains subtle but sharp satire. Hibridity resistance is found in the choice of KHD diction that deliberately explores and contrasts the words inlander-nederlander, freedom and slavery, freedom and oppression. The ambivalence resistance that was found was KHD, who initially wanted to become a Dutchman with his various arguments that flattered as well as satirized and gave condemnation to the colonial nation as KHD's strategy in awakening the patriotism and nationalism of the Indonesian people to fight for independence.

“Didn’t that sound like the north was calling us?” Imagined geographies and Cold War legacies in Sofi Oksanen’s Dog Park (Koirapuisto)

The article presents a discussion of Finnish-Estonian author Sofi Oksanen’s 2019 novel Dog Park (Koirapuisto), a social and psychological thriller about two Ukrainian women working in the Ukrainian fertility industry, offering surrogacy services to Western clients. The novel explores some of the new modes of exchange and cultural encounter that were established between Ukraine and the West after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It presents a reflection of the social and human consequences of the transition from communism to capitalism but is also a story of how the legacy of Cold War geopolitics continues to shape European mental geographies and experiences at the intersection of East and West. Drawing on concepts from human geography and postcolonial studies, the article offers a reading of Oksanen’s novel focusing especially on how the novel negotiates these geopolitical shifts as well as the position of the Nordic countries on the changing European map.

AN INTRODUCTION TO ANTI-COLONIALISM IN BRITISH AND KAZAKH LITERATURE

This research examines anti-colonialism in literature, exploring its significance and representation in diverse contexts. Employing a qualitative approach, the study conducts an extensive literature review, encompassing academic literature, books, and critical essays. Thematic analysis identifies key motifs of anti-colonial resistance in literary works from various traditions. Anti-colonialism emerges as a powerful phenomenon in literature, reflecting the collective opposition of peoples against colonial oppression. Literature serves as a medium to express the experiences of colonized peoples, challenging dominant colonial narratives, and fostering discussions on historical injustices and human rights in postcolonial societies. The article recognizes anti-colonialism as a complex historical process shaped by unique regional experiences and colonial legacies. Literary works offer valuable insights into diverse perspectives and experiences during the colonial era, portraying multifaceted views of colonial attitudes and responses. The impact of anti-colonial literature has been profound, inspiring struggles for independence and self-determination. Analyzing anti-colonial themes provides valuable insights into power dynamics, resistance, and the enduring consequences of colonialism in contemporary societies. The study emphasizes the relevance of anti-colonial and postcolonial studies, shedding light on critical issues and enhancing our understanding of societal attitudes and historical processes. The research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the complexities of anti-colonial movements in literature and their enduring impact on societies worldwide.

EXPLORING THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF INTERNAL COLONIZATION AND MIMICRY IN GEORGE ORWELL’S ANIMAL FARM: A POST-COLONIAL ANALYSIS

In Animal Farm, George Orwell introduces mimicry and internal colonisation. Mimicry, a basic notion in human imitation, is used to study Napoleon and his porcine companions. Homi K. Bhabha's ambivalence and “same but not quite” theory examines mimicry. The pigs' behaviour is explained by these post-colonial theories. This study also shows how internal colonisation underlies narrative mimicry. This study claims that the story's copying indicates colonization's lasting effects and is a strategy for internal colonisation. Old Major's clear speech inspires Animal Farm residents to imitate humans, making them feel inadequate. This study reveals how internal or external colonisation divides colonised people. In this approach, people may adopt the conquering entity's cultural norms and values as superior. Another group may be indigenous. Internal colonisation by another party or associated group could result through imitation rivalry. This level requires imitation to demonstrate power. Animal Farm exemplifies colonised people imitating colonisers. This detailed analysis of Animal Farm by George Orwell shows how imitation and internal colonisation are interconnected.