Colonialism

Types of colonialism

Disposability discourse	Much discussion around the severity of COVID was lessened by expressing how it mainly sickens and kills elderly, chronically ill, and disabled people. This discourse suggests these groups are seen disposable.
Loosened restrictions too early	When governments loosened COVID restrictions in response to business demands, political pressure, and public impatience, rather than scientific evidence, high risk populations (the chronically ill, disabled and elderly) were subsequently told they are disposable yet again.
Working through illness	Regulations around how many sick days should be required when someone falls ill with COVID also demonstrated ableism. In relation to these regulations, and in favour of profit above health, many politicians including US President Joe Biden, praised themselves for working through COVID, instead of encouraging people to rest and recover if they'd fallen ill.
Individualism	Individuals have been encouraged to make 'personal' choices on vaccines (without legitimate health restrictions), masks and gatherings. "There is no individual safety without collective safety and collective safety requires that no one is safe unless everyone is safe." - Mia Mingus

When we talk about colonization (and not colonialism), we often refer to the “politico-economic phenomenon by which various European nations explored, conquered, colonized and exploited vast regions of the world already populated by Indigenous Peoples." -Stephanie Jeremie, La Forge

“The terms 'colonization' and 'colonialism' are often confused. The first refers to a specific event that took place in the past and ended; the term “colonialism” refers to a dominant ideology, an ongoing phenomenon where a group of settlers exerts systemic power over Indigenous Peoples. The idea that “colonization” is a thing of the past benefits the status quo, the dominant colonialist ideology carried by the Canadian and Quebec states, for example ." -Nicholas Renaud

We focus here on colonialism and advocate the use of this term. Historically, colonialism was driven by a racist philosophy that certain groups were considered inferior. White people excluded them from their group, from their “race”, by assigning them to another group, another “race”. Race, and this idea of inferiority, is fictional; it is not based in any real differences other than skin colour. All the same, the effects of this categorization have caused dramatic harm for many human beings. Many people were and continue to be dehumanized by racialization, particularly through the colonialism it helped to justify.

Latent colonialism

A colonialist and racist ethos has shaped the practices and policies on which our societies continue to grow. In addition, members of Euro-descendant societies have colonial baggage, or colonial biases that need to be undone through anti-oppressive education. We refer to this colonial present with the word “coloniality”, a type of power that survived the “first colonialism."

Overt colonialism

“From 1960, the word neo-colonialism will be coined to characterize all the methods that aim to maintain economic domination over a formerly colonized country ." -Stephanie Jeremie, La Forge

Modern colonial projects are not unique to the European countries of the Global North. Indeed, the Israeli occupation of Palestine, supported by several countries in the Global North, is a good example. This colonialism aims at the violent appropriation of a territory already occupied by a population.

  

For members of Indigenous communities calling for decolonialism, current colonialism is the realization of the extractive economy project by the modern state with the support of repressive authorities (police, army).

  

If you have any suggested revisions or additional resources to share related to the above content, please email them to kenzie@lehub.ca.

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