Colonialism: Difference between revisions

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<p><span style="">When we talk about&nbsp;</span>'''<span style="">colonization</span>'''<span style=""> (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</span><sup class="reference"></sup></p>
<span>“</span>''<span>The terms 'colonization' and 'colonialism' are often confused. </span><span>The first refers to a specific event that took place in the past and ended; </span><span>the term </span>'''<span>“colonialism” </span>'''<span>refers to </span>'''<span>a dominant ideology, an ongoing phenomenon where a group of settlers exerts systemic power over Indigenous Peoples. </span>'''<span>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</span>''<span> ." -Nicholas Renaud  <ref> Nicholas Renaud, 2021. Introduction to First Peoples Studies [course notes]. School of Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University.</ref> </span>
<p><span style="">“</span>''<span style="">The terms 'colonization' and 'colonialism' are often confused.&nbsp;</span><span style="">The first refers to a specific event that took place in the past and ended; </span><span style="">the term&nbsp;</span>'''<span style="">“colonialism”</span>'''<span style="">&nbsp;refers to&nbsp;</span>'''<span style="">a dominant ideology, an ongoing phenomenon where a group of settlers exerts systemic power over Indigenous Peoples. </span>'''<span style="">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</span>''<span style=""> ." -Nicholas Renaud  <ref> Nicholas Renaud, 2021. Introduction to First Peoples Studies [course notes]. School of Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University.</ref> </span></p>
 
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<p><span style="">When we talk about </span>'''<span style="">colonization</span>'''<span style=""> (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</span><sup class="reference"></sup></p>
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<p><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"></sup></p>
<p><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"></sup></p>
<p><span style="">We focus here on&nbsp;</span>'''<span style="">colonialism</span>'''<span style=""> and advocate the use of this term.&nbsp;</span><span style="">Historically, colonialism was driven by a racist </span><span style="">philosophy that certain groups were considered inferior. W</span><span style="">hite people excluded them from their group, from their “race”, by assigning them to another group, another “race”. R</span><span style="">ace, and this idea of inferiority, is fictional; it is not based in any real differences other than skin colour. </span><span style="">All the same, the effects of this categorization have caused dramatic harm for many human beings. </span><span style="">Many people were and continue to be dehumanized by racialization, particularly through the colonialism it helped to justify.</span></p>
<p><span style="">We focus here on </span>'''<span style="">colonialism</span>'''<span style=""> and advocate the use of this term. </span><span style="">Historically, colonialism was driven by a racist </span><span style="">philosophy that certain groups were considered inferior. W</span><span style="">hite people excluded them from their group, from their “race”, by assigning them to another group, another “race”. R</span><span style="">ace, and this idea of inferiority, is fictional; it is not based in any real differences other than skin colour. </span><span style="">All the same, the effects of this categorization have caused dramatic harm for many human beings. </span><span style="">Many people were and continue to be dehumanized by racialization, particularly through the colonialism it helped to justify.</span></p>
<p><span style=""></span></p>
<p><span style="">There are five stages of colonialism: exploration, expropriation, appropriation, exploitation, and justification. All are necessary in order for colonialism to become an <span class="italic">effective</span> tool <span class="italic">of</span> domination.  <ref>doi:10.1017/asr.2018.85</ref> </span></p>


== Types of colonialism ==
== Types of colonialism ==
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Disposability discourse
'''Latent colonialism'''
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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.&nbsp;
*<span>A colonialist and racist ethos has shaped the practices and policies on which our societies continue to grow. </span>In addition, members of Euro-descendant societies have colonial baggage, <span>or colonial biases t</span><span>hat need to be undone through anti-oppressive education. Latent colonialism is unconscious. </span><span>  <ref> https://redtac.org/possibles/2020/07/19/le-decolonialisme-et-ses-declinaisons/</ref>  </span>
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| style="width: 19.6976%; background-color: rgb(153, 225, 217);" | '''Overt colonialism'''
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*<span>For members of Indigenous communities calling for [[decolonization]], current colonialism is the realization of the extractive economy project by the modern state with the support of repressive authorities (police, army).  <ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuHapKtEQRI</ref>  </span>
*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. &nbsp;
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Loosened restrictions too early
'''Exploitation colonialism'''&nbsp;
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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.&nbsp;
*The trade and commerce like the export of goods, or the slave trade.  <ref>https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/colonialism/</ref>
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Working through illness
'''Settler colonialism'''&nbsp;
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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.&nbsp;
See [[settler colonialism]].
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Individualism
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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  <ref>https://leavingevidence.wordpress.com/2022/01/16/you-are-not-entitled-to-our-deaths-covid-abled-supremacy-interdependence/</ref>  ''
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For examples of consequences of colonialism, see our definitions page for [[anti-colonialism]].


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== Latent colonialism ==
<p><span style="">A colonialist and racist ethos has shaped the practices and policies on which our societies continue to grow.&nbsp;</span><span style="">In addition, members of Euro-descendant societies have colonial baggage, </span><span style="">or colonial biases  <ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuHapKtEQRI</ref>  t</span><span style="">hat need to be undone through anti-oppressive education. </span><span style="">We refer to this colonial present with the word “coloniality”, a type of power that survived the “first colonialism."  <ref> https://redtac.org/possibles/2020/07/19/le-decolonialisme-et-ses-declinaisons/</ref>  </span></p>
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== Overt colonialism ==
<p><span style="">“</span>''<span style="">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</span>''<span style=""> ." -Stephanie Jeremie, La Forge</span><sup class="reference"></sup></p>
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<p><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"></sup></p>
<p><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"></sup></p>
<p><span style="">Modern colonial projects are not unique to the European countries of the Global North.&nbsp;</span><span style="">Indeed, the Israeli occupation of Palestine, supported by several countries in the Global North, is a good example. </span><span style="">This colonialism aims at the violent appropriation of a territory already occupied by a population.  <ref>https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/israel-and-palestine-story-of-modern-colonialism/</ref>  </span></p>
<p><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"></sup>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="">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).  <ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuHapKtEQRI</ref>  </span><sup class="reference"></sup></p>
<p><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"></sup>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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Latest revision as of 18:14, 25 November 2022

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 [1]

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


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.

There are five stages of colonialism: exploration, expropriation, appropriation, exploitation, and justification. All are necessary in order for colonialism to become an effective tool of domination. [2]

Types of colonialism

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. Latent colonialism is unconscious. [3]

Overt colonialism
  • For members of Indigenous communities calling for decolonization, current colonialism is the realization of the extractive economy project by the modern state with the support of repressive authorities (police, army). [4]
  • 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.  

Exploitation colonialism 

  • The trade and commerce like the export of goods, or the slave trade. [5]

Settler colonialism 

See settler colonialism.


For examples of consequences of colonialism, see our definitions page for anti-colonialism.





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


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.


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  1. Nicholas Renaud, 2021. Introduction to First Peoples Studies [course notes]. School of Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University.
  2. doi:10.1017/asr.2018.85
  3. https://redtac.org/possibles/2020/07/19/le-decolonialisme-et-ses-declinaisons/
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuHapKtEQRI
  5. https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/colonialism/