The Views On Colonization Essay Example

without a plan: Can foreign aid work?." However, racism is also manifested in the poem. In the narrative, “captive peoples” are “sullen peoples, Half-devil and half-child”. These excerpts can be viewed as looking down upon to other people in the society and seeks to suggest that people from the United States are superior and the attitude in the poem seems to embrace violence. During the Great Trial of 1992, Gandhi lays a foundation by a statement, which clearly shows his position that violence, is not the way to use when pursuing interests and failure to comply with evil is important just as being compliant with the good things of life. These were not just empty words because he proved to be an advocate o peace throughout his lifetime.

His influence could not go unnoticed. This became known more so because he lived in a society where most people believed that violence was the only means through which their problems could be addressed. They mostly got the notion by looking at the various nations that got their independence through violent means like America, Haiti and Francefootnote. Franz Fanon, “Wretched of the Earth” views the colonialists as countries that use their force so that they can benefit from the natural resources in the colonized countries.

In order to justify these actions, the colonialists make stereotypes of the colonized countries by claiming that their cultures are outdated therefore suggesting that they emulate the culture of the colonizers. The colonizers make use of the divide and conquer strategies to split the colonized nations for them to increase their chances of retaining their power and to keep them downfootnote. Fanon suggests that

in order to regain their self-respect, there is need to use violence and resist the colonizers. He goes ahead to also give examples of nations that used violence to gain their independence.

Fanon also encourages those colonized not to accept the inhuman acts imposed by persons from the west. He also observes that the western culture corrupts the leaders of a decolonized state, which results into them putting their personal interests above the interests of the other citizens. He also urges that the former colonial power to compensate the former colonies instead of continuously exploiting them. Besides, he looks at the importance of physiological violence to fight the colonial rule, which is perpetuated by the settlers. Colonialism also brings out the inferior status of the colonized nation.

The inequality treatment by the colonizers inspires the indigenous people to overthrow the colonizer’s rule to throw off their status of inferiority. 3: Coulthard, Glen S. "Subjects of empire: Indigenous peoples and the ‘politics of recognition’in Canada." The part “Concerning Violence” and “Spontaneity”: the Strength and Weakness,” Fanon looks at some of the problems that arise with the confrontation of liberation movements. He expresses his faith in the process of liberation. He outlines the process of how those colonized attain liberation by transforming the consciousness of other people in the society. Many political activists and other intellectuals need to bridge the gap that exists between them and the common people.

Many of these activists and intellectuals are not familiar with those persons who live in the remote villages, this limits their connections in the aspect of politics, and Fanon views this as a big mistake in the process of uniting those

who had been colonized. Another problem arises due to their belief in their cultures in contrast to the people in the middle class. Fanon however believes that those cultures are always affected by the effects of colonization and therefore those who are least affected by the act of colonialism become brainwashed into feeling that they are inferior to the colonizersfootnote: Boehmer, Elleke, ed. Empire Writing: an anthology of colonial literature 1870-1918. In both The White Man's Burden and the Wretched of the Earth, various aspects are obvious for instance both of them seem to agree on the element of white persons being superior compared to people of other race. More so, there is always an element of resistance from those who are colonized and the violence leads to deaths, which result to blame games long after the effects.

Also looking at Gandhi’s statement, there seem to be an agreement with both these books whereby violence will always be the preferred means by those colonized. However, it is important to note that the White Man’s Burden mostly looks at the positives of imperialism while the wretched of the Earth insists on the negatives of colonization and the impactsfootnote: Black, Marc. "Fanon and DuBoisian double consciousness." Fanon advocates for violence as the way to gain self- respect however, some form of violence is not automatically justifiable as the only way to resist and gain self-respect. For instance, acts such as rape or terrorism cannot be justifiable even if it may appear to be the only way to gain freedom.

As much as violence can sometimes lead to liberation, the process needs to go on even long after self-independence. People

need to unite especially those who were affected by the divide-and-rule tactics that were used by the colonizers. However, in some instances, violence would not always be the best option. I would personally prefer pursuing alternative channels if they are available rather than just resorting to violent acts. It is important to always make an analysis of the impacts of violence. Instances of violence would in most cases result in deaths and leaving many injures.

Liberation is a process and it must be handled appropriately especially by those who are colonized by the divide and rule strategy.

References

1. Leubsdorf, John. "Gandhi's Legal Ethics." Rutgers L. Rev. 51 (1998): 923.
2. Sen, Amartya. "The man without a plan: Can foreign aid work?" Foreign Affairs (2006): 171-177.
3. Coulthard, Glen S. "Subjects of empire: Indigenous peoples and the ‘politics of recognition’in Canada." Contemporary Political Theory 6, no. 4 (2007): 437-460.
4. Boehmer, Elleke, ed. Empire Writing: an anthology of colonial literature 1870-1918.

   Oxford Paperbacks, 1998.

5. Black, Marc. "Fanon and DuBoisian double consciousness." Human Architecture 5 (2007): 393.