Talk:Postcolonialism

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Contents 1 Rewrite 2006 (settled) 2 spivak and postcolonialism (settled) 3 other traditions that study post-colonial societies 4 Inversion in postcolonial theory (settled) 5 still needs rewrite (settled; not as badly now) 6 Something on Africa?

[edit] Rewrite 2006 (settled)

this page really needs work... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.67.215.148 (talk • contribs) 03:56, 16 October 2005

I have started a rejigged edition at Post-colonialism/temp and would value help in getting it up to scratch. --Nick Boalch ^?!? 14:45, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

I've added much of that to the present article, since the work over there seems to have been done now. --Flammingo^Hey 19:07, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Now that is an excellent rewrite of the intro. I'll be happy to help out where possible, but my knowledge is limited to post-colonialism as a literary theory and doesn't extend far beyond Said. Ziggurat 22:52, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

Thanks. I envisage the article ultimately containing in-depth sections on the various aspects of post-colonial theory, so a more developed section on the literary aspects would be helpful. If you can't go far beyond Said, I nevertheless reckon something is better than nothing. :) --Nick Boalch ^?!? 23:14, 9 January 2006 (UTC)

It might be a good idea to begin with a description of what post-colonialism is not. You could discuss the problems with the term itself. A Good place to start would be the essay 'The Angel of Progress' by Anne McClintock in Colonial Discourse and Postcolonial Theory, edited by Patrick Williams and Lauren Chrisman. Damn Dirty Ape 16:39, 26 March 2006

Gandhi's Hind Swaraj is absolutely not a post-colonial work. It is a reactionary, completely uncritical critique of colonialism. I have removed that from the list of "founding works" in the original postcolonialism entry. Also, in the temporary new entry (which I think is far more complicated and better), I think the following statement is too simplistic and lacks appropriate discussion/texturization; nor is there a citation provided for this apparent critique: "Attempts at coming up with a single definition of postcolonial theory have proved controversial, and some writers have strongly critiqued the concept, which is embedded in identity politics." I don't understand the preceding sentence. It characterizes postcolonialism as a somewhat reactionary movement, which I don't think it is. And I would also disagree that it is "embedded in identity politics." I would like some discussion on that point--Bibban 22:36, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

I have added some stuff in the new temporary section about Stoler, resistance, and so on to texturize the description of postcolonialism a bit further. Also, I have taken out the hyphen between post and colonialism. I think the hyphen only needs to be there when one describes post-colonial countries, or particular post-colonial moments/poliics. To refer to the theory/set of theories, I think the hyphen is unnecessary. But others should disagree. :)--Bibban 22:36, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] spivak and postcolonialism (settled)

there would be no such thing as postcolonialism if gayatri spivak and ranajit guha never defined a field of work under that moniker in the 1980s. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 70.52.220.83 (talk)

NB: Meanwhile, they have been added --Flammingo^Hey 19:07, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] other traditions that study post-colonial societies

I'm aware of (but not an expert in) some other traditions that study post-colonial societies but aren't generally called "post-colonial theory", being generally less tied to critical theory. Are they described elsewhere on Wikipedia, and if so should we link to that article (or if not, start one)? I'm thinking of sociologists like John Goldthorpe (in particular his Sociology of Post-Colonial Societies); economists ranging across the political spectrum who debate the effects of colonialism on modern-day economies (M. Shahid Alam being a notable anti-colonialist in this vein); political scientists who debate the effects of the same on modern-day political systems; and so on. --Delirium 13:54, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Inversion in postcolonial theory (settled)

You might want to see this article, please help improve it. Thanks. --Strothra 06:34, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Maybe it'll get more attention in the see-also-section. Flammingo^Hey 20:30, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] still needs rewrite (settled; not as badly now)

There was much content on Talk:Post-colonialism/temp, which is now inserted, since it will get a lot more attention. The literature topic should rather go to postcolonial literature, which is to my experience the most active field of postcolonialism...-Flammingo^Hey 21:13, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

Now it's on the way, I still feel like talking to myself, though.--Flammingo^Hey 10:30, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Something on Africa?

For rewriters: add something about the arbitrary borders of 1886 (Berlin), the use of 'paramount chiefs' for local control, the kleptocratic shambles seen after 40 years of decolonisation (e.g. Mugabe),and the missionary schools input. Were the missionary schools abetters of colonialism or did they help some Africans to vocalise against colonialism? A bit of both, doubtless. A highly subjective area, as 'identity' is constantly shifting, but there is one core certainty - it allows academics to write books.Red Hurley 13:10, 29 May 2007 (UTC)

Oh, please, please join! There is a whole chapter waiting for that! --Flammingo^Hey 10:31, 26 October 2007 (UTC)