Postcolonialism
- links to Marxism (first thinker Said influenced by ideas of Marx)
- most distinctive contribution to IR = examination of different forms of cultural domination
Analyses:
- how income and wealth inequalities continue to increase within contemporary globalisation
- why its most adverse effects are felt disproportionately worse in some geographical areas and by particular racial and ethnic groups over others
Core of (post) colonial power
- knowledge production and economic production started dominating Europe from 15th century onwards
-> elevated and cemented its cultural superiority which enabled first colonisers - partly why eurocentrism and later western (European-American) bias (tendency to assume that experiences of Europe and the west are focal reference point and universally applicable) have been so difficult to dislodge
Postcolonialism vs realism and liberalism
R&L
- sovereign states meet as equals in international arena where they can cooperate or go to war in service of their national interests and wellbeing
- cannot answer why most Postcolonial new sovereign states have been unable to lift themselves out of poverty and improve the conditions of life for their populations
Postcolonialism
- questions the equality of sovereign states
- sovereignty of new postcolonial states has not been automatically translated into the same economic and political power enjoyed by all western states today
Postcolonial perspective
- reverse perspective -> from the POV of former colonies (not western centric) bcs world of colonies has been unstable both internally and externally as a result of foreign policy practices of powerful states
- shows the third world as active and important with alternative visions and distinct aspirations
- doesn’t want to replace western-centric view (just do make IR fuller)
Concepts
- not a theory but a critique
- colonialism is not finished
- critique of westernism of disciplines
- wants to collaborate with global south
- race is dominant in IR
- development of non-western theories
- expose the effect of colonisation
Postcolonial critiques of 3 theories
Realism
- balance of power (few chosen mostly white countries)
- eg - Vietnam war - USSR and USA fight over Vietnam which suffers because it has no power
Liberalism
- biggest powers have biggest voice in biggest institutions
Constructivism
- doesn’t focus on race even though doesn’t recognise anarchy
Types
Cultural = orientalism (Said)
- institutions and processes that helped establish the cultural superiority of Europe which helped European colonial expansion
Economic (Marx)
- capitalism hugely helped by resources through colonial expansion
- income and wealth inequalities still prevalent because of this
