Globalization and The Future of Postcolonial Studies (Ania Loomba - 2nd Edition of Colonialism/Postcolonialism)

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is a part of a task given by Dilip Barad Sir from The English Department, MKBU, Bhavnagar. For more information about other writers, Poets, Poems and related topics visit this Blog site of Dilip Barad Sir (Click here). In this blog I am going to discuss the point of view of mine or what I understand in Postcolonial Studies, Globalization and The Future of Postcolonial Studies. To read other half part of this blog The Future of Postcolonial Studies (Ania Loomba - 3rd Edition of Colonialism/Postcolonialism) (Click here).

WHAT IS POSTCOLONIAL STUDIES?

According to Cambridge Dictionary Postcolonial means it is a from or relating to the period after colonialism. Postcolonial studies explore how colonialism has shaped and continues to influence these aspects. 

Certainly, postcolonial studies is a multidisciplinary field that emerged in the mid-20th century and has gained significant prominence in academia. Here's more detailed information:

1. HISTORICAL CONTEXT:- Postcolonial studies arose as a response to the end of colonial rule in various parts of the world. It examines the complex dynamics of power, domination, and resistance that characterized the colonial period and its aftermath.

2. SCOPE:- While it primarily focuses on the former colonies of European powers like England, France, Spain, and others, it also encompasses the study of indigenous and marginalized cultures within these colonies.

3. KEY THEMES:- Postcolonial studies explore a wide range of themes, including:

• IDENTITY AND HYBRIDITY:- It looks at how colonialism influenced the formation of hybrid identities, where people often adopt elements of both their indigenous culture and the culture of the colonizer.

• LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE:-  Scholars in this field analyze how language and literature have been used as tools of both oppression and resistance. They also examine postcolonial literature to understand how it reflects the colonial experience.

• NATIONALISM AND INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS:- Postcolonial studies often explore the role of nationalism and the struggle for independence in the decolonization process.

• GLOBALIZATION AND NEOCOLONIALISM:- It investigates how global economic and political forces continue to affect former colonies and perpetuate neocolonial relations.

4. PROMINENT THINKERS:- Notable scholars in postcolonial studies include Edward Said, Frantz Fanon, Homi K. Bhabha, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, and many others. Their works have been influential in shaping the field.

5. GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS:- While it began with a focus on countries in the Caribbean, Asia, South America, and Africa, postcolonial studies has expanded to include other regions and diasporic communities affected by colonialism.

6. INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH:- Postcolonial studies is interdisciplinary, drawing from fields such as literature, history, anthropology, sociology, political science, and cultural studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of colonial legacies.

7. IMPACT:- This field has had a significant impact on reshaping how we view the legacy of colonialism, both in academia and in broader discussions of social justice and global inequality.

In essence, postcolonial studies provides a critical lens through which scholars and activists analyze the enduring effects of colonialism and work towards a more equitable and just world. (Generated from Chat GPT)

If we consider the role of globalization in postcolonialism, one might argue that globalization can be seen as a continuation of colonialism. One could argue that in the present era, colonialism no longer exists, and there may be no need for postcolonialism. However, scholars like Ania Loomba contend that the concept of postcolonialism remains relevant in today's world, and one can perceive it in the context of globalization.

GLOBALIZATION AND THE FUTURE OF POSTCOLONIAL STUDIES (ANIA LOOMBA - 2ND ED. OF COLONIALISM/POSTCOLONIALISM)

GLOBALIZATION:-

As Postcolonial Studies came after Colonialism, Globalization shares historical connections with Postcolonial Studies too. Though Globalization is a contemporary idea and it emerges mostly in the 20th century, both share Power, Cultural and Economical connection and development. 

9/11 ATTACK AND EMPIRE

This article started with the remembrance of the 11 September, 2001 events of global war on terror. But before that here is a video available on YouTube which gives the answers like What is 9/11? Who planned this attack? How is it executed? What is the outcome of 9/11? What is War on Terror? How innocent Muslims and Sikh suffer because of that?

In this Article by Ania Loomba she claims that this war on terror effects on Global level and these violent events happening in the name of War on Terror are also part of the phenomenon we think of as Globalization. Normally, we see colonialism with the context of European Colonialism but defining our contemporary world in the context of European colonialism or decolonization is no longer meaningful. They contend that globalization cannot be effectively analyzed using concepts like margins and centers, which have traditionally been central to postcolonial studies. In the book, 'Empire' by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri argues that the current global system has given rise to a distinct form of sovereignty, which they refer to as "Empire." They emphasize that this new concept of "Empire" should not be equated with traditional European empires but should be seen as something different and unique.

In contrast to imperialism, Empire establishes no territorial center of power and does not rely on fixed boundaries or barriers. It is a decentered and deterritorializing apparatus of rule that progressively incorporates the entire global realm within its open, expanding frontiers. Empire manages hybrid identities, flexible hierarchies, and plural exchanges through modulating networks of command. The distinct national colors of the imperial map of the world have merged and blended in the imperial global rainbow.

Not only other people but also some of the Movies, Series, Sitcoms also catches the idea of 9/11. Here is an example of a Sitcom named 'Friends' uses this event as a joke without even realising how it turned out if this scene was aired but fortunately or unfortunately it was deleted.

Further they said that The previous era of imperialism was characterized by rivalry and competition among various European powers. But in contemporary times Instead of multiple competing imperial powers, there is now a single dominant global power that not only influences but also determines the behavior of all others. This dominant power establishes a unified structure and applies a shared concept of justice that is different from the colonial and imperialist notions of the past. It is described as "Postcolonialism" and "Postimperialist" because it departs from the traditional practices associated with colonialism and imperialism. According to Hardt and Negri, New power is a global network, not just the US. Network expands the US's idea of inclusion. Network absorbs countries, not invaded them. He says that the new Empire is similar to the old Roman Empire. Both didn't have direct control over subject states; they were more about loose integration, unlike European colonialism, which was more about direct control.

Further, Different opinions exist about the impact of the book. While some think it helps understand and challenge global power dynamics, others believe it doesn't fully address US imperialism or the complexities of global power. Susie O'Brien and Imre Szeman see it as useful for thinking beyond the typical center vs. periphery view of globalization but criticize its focus on margins and cores, which they argue hinders postcolonial studies' ability to analyze contemporary power operations. Critics also highlight that the book neglects the real situations of those affected by modern colonialism, such as guest worker systems and uncapitalized agriculture, which are important but not thoroughly covered in the book's broader discussions. Further Tim Brennan says that 'Empire has almost nothing to say about the actual peoples and histories the empires left behind the authors barely nod in the direction of guest worker systems, uncapitalized agriculture, and the archipelago of maquiladoras at the heart of globalization's gulag colonized of today are given little place in the book's sprawling thesis about multitudes, biopolitical control, and the creation of alternative the values'. 

Debates on Empire is like trending topic in this Globalization world. In which Neo-Libral advocates argued that Many people believe that the movement of money, businesses, workers, products, and buyers around the world breaks down old differences and unfairness, making countries more democratic and improving relationships between them. They also think this process creates new chances that reach various parts of society. This viewpoint is supported by many cultural critics like Arjun Appadurai and Simon Gikandi. New writings about globalization, like "Empire," suggest different views. While globalization supporters believe it has already improved people's lives, Hardt and Negri argue that the changes in culture, economy, and politics offer new chances for liberation. They highlight how global power can be challenged from various places by various groups, what they call the 'multitude.' They also mention Etienne Balibar's work, stating that the understanding of race has shifted from biology to culture. It's no longer seen as genetic differences between groups but as products of their different cultures.

While Hardt and Negri see new ideas about differences as more flexible, Balibar disagrees. He believes that these new racial ideologies are not less rigid just because they involve culture instead of nature. According to Balibar, cultural differences can be as powerful and problematic as biological ones. He mentions how the fear and negative perceptions about Arabs post-9/11 have led to the idea that Muslims cannot fit into Western societies or are inclined towards violence. Balibar connects neo-racism to the anti-Semitism of the Renaissance.  Lisa Lampert too talked about Islamophobia. Muslim as despotic and intractable, and Asian as inscrutable and hard working speak about older colonial views as well as global economical and political rivalries. 

Some Examples of 9/11:-

'My Name is Khan' is a 2010 movie directed by Karan Johar and starring Kajol and Shahrukh Khan. The film is about Rizwan Khan, a Muslim man with Autism Disorder. He travels across the United States to meet the President because his Hindu wife, Mandira Rathod, faced discrimination due to Islamophobia after the September 11 attacks. 

'New York' is a 2009 movie directed by Kabir Khan and starring Katrina Kaif, Irrfan Khan, Neil Nitin Mukesh, John Abraham and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The story unfolds against the backdrop of post-9/11 paranoia and the impact it has on the lives of these characters. The narrative delves into issues of suspicion, patriotism, and the emotional struggles of individuals caught in the aftermath of the tragic events. 

MARKET FUNDAMENTALISM 

As this plays an important role in Postcolonialism P. Sainath observed that 'Market fundamentalism, believing that the market solves all human issues, transcends national, cultural, and religious boundaries. It exists globally and swiftly transitioned some societies from apartheid to neo-liberalism, contributing to various religious fundamentalisms. It's akin to a kind of religious fundamentalism itself, causing distress and anger, recruiting followers across different societies.' Further, Globalization, often claimed as integration and development, has instead led to imposition, disintegration, underdevelopment, and appropriation. It involves exploiting third world countries by demanding debt payments, decreasing raw material prices, removing protective measures, allowing foreign corporations to dominate economies, enabling speculative capital movement, reducing state spending on development and welfare, privatizing services and resources, increasing the cost of essential goods, worsening women's consumption, diminishing job security, reducing wages, and harming domestic industries, agriculture, and food security. 

Further, this article also throws light on The New York Times report on massive protests in La Paz on Friday, October 17, 2003. The demonstrations challenged military blockades and aimed to oppose a proposal to export natural gas to the United States, which says, 

'Globalization is just another name for submission and domination', Nicanor Apaza, 46, an unemployed miner, said at a demonstration this week in which Indian women ... carried banners denouncing the International Monetary Fund and demanding the president's resignation. 'We've had to live with that here for 500 years, and now we want to be our own masters.'

Further it talks about the project of Bolivia of $5 Billion ges pipeline for economic experiment. Nobel laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz criticizes globalization by employing the term "Market Fundamentalism," highlighting its imposition on the world through institutions like the World Bank and the IMF. The point of view of Globalization theories and Contemporary Advocates seems to be different and advocates do not face difficulties in considering the USA as a beneficiary of this new world order. Since 9/11, some UK and US thinkers propose a new US-led imperialism to fill post-decolonization power gaps. They look to past empires, like the Roman and British, for inspiration. Niall Ferguson supports a US empire to establish foundations for capitalism and democracy, even through military force. He urges a British Empire-style approach, encouraging a prolonged presence in places like Iraq and sending the best individuals, not immigrants or less privileged, as colonial forces. Supporters of the new American empire both embrace the legacy of past empires and assert a unique exceptionalism for the US empire. This is seen in Robert D. Kaplan's essay 'Supremacy by Stealth' in The Atlantic Monthly. He finds no conflict between global networks as noted by Hardt and Negri and the idea of an American hegemony.

The historian Erich S. Gruen has observed that Rome's expansion throughout the Mediterranean littoral may well have been motivated not by an appetite for conquest per se but because it was thought necessary for the security of the core homeland. The same is true for the United States worldwide, an age of collapsed distances. This American imperium is without colonies, designed for a jet-and-information age in which mass movements of people and capital dilute the traditional meaning of sovereignty.

Further in the article, Kaplan outlines ten rules for the US Empire, drawing from the British Empire and America's past. He suggests invoking male bonding for 'Manliness' (Rule No. 1) and rewriting history openly, like US policy in Latin America, to shape future actions (Rule No. 5). This rewriting, seen in various histories, tries to paint a favorable picture of imperialism, denying racism or justifying colonization. These actions not only distort anti-colonial and postcolonial studies but also directly challenge them. Dinesh D'Souza criticizes these academic fields, associating them with justifications for violence. During medieval times, the idea of translatio imperii was often used to justify European imperialism. 

The Bush administration's rhetoric during the Iraq War echoed Hardt and Negri's concept of Empire, suggesting that the US was acting on behalf of global rights. However, worldwide protests against the war showed that most people and many nations did not support US intervention. This suggests that national interests still play a significant role in shaping global conflicts, even in a world of increasing globalization.

While the power of nations has diminished in some ways, it is premature to dismiss nations and nationalist thinking as solely responsible for imperial activities and opposition. Instead, we should see nations and the new global order as forming alliances and conflicts. Some nations challenge the dominance of powerful countries like the US, while others collaborate with multinational corporations. In recent years, religious, linguistic, or ethnic nationalisms have grown, which can fuel movements against multinationals but can also support regressive anti-US movements. These movements can sometimes blur the lines between opposing forces, as seen in Iraq, where opposing forces with different political and religious views come together in anti-US protests. As Arundhati Roy writes, 

The thing to understand is that modern democracy is safely premised on an almost religious acceptance of the nation state. But corporate globalization is not. Liquid capital is not. So though even capital needs the coercive powers of the nation state to put down revolts in the servants' quarters, this setup ensures that no individual nation can oppose corporate globalization on its own. Radical change cannot and will not be negotiated by governments; it can only be enforced by people. By the public. A public who can link hands across the national borders.

Further this article goes on the topic of Narmada Bachao Andolan that The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) in India protested the Narmada Valley Development project, aiming to construct many large dams across central India. These dams were unsustainable and would displace thousands of tribal people in the Narmada valley. The project received funding from multinational and local sources. After a prolonged struggle led by the NBA, the World Bank withdrew its support in 1993. However, the Indian Supreme Court ultimately decided that the dam construction would proceed.

Chittaroopa Palit, one of the leaders of the movement, says that,

The NBA learnt a lot about the structures and processes of globalization through these struggles-and about the need for global alliances from below, to confront it. But though international political factors, the character of the governments involved, the existence of able support groups in the North-play an important part, they cannot supplant the role of a mass movement struggling on the ground. Soon after the SPD government in Berlin refused a guarantee to Siemens [a German multinational] for Maheshwar, it agreed to underwrite the company's involvement in the Tehri dam in the Himalayas and the catastrophic Three Gorges Dam in China-both just as destructive as the Narmada project; but in neither instance were there strong mass struggles on the ground.

The Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) in India resisted a large dam project using local knowledge and techniques inspired by Gandhi's anti-colonial methods. The movement gained support from women's groups, trade unions, and left-wing parties in India and also received international backing. Even though the NBA couldn't halt the dam construction, it mobilized and raised awareness among millions of people. This highlighted the link between local and global economic and political power.

Postcolonial scholars, aware of historical imperial connections, are well-suited to analyze modern global inequalities in today's complex economic, political, and cultural landscapes. However, the study of pre-colonial history is vital for a deeper understanding of the present. Engaging with these longer histories can enhance postcolonial studies' approach to contemporary issues.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS/INSTITUTES

After all this discussion and debat the focus of this throws light on Educational Institutions. Further, in the article it is noted that New imperialism involves educational institutions, with Niall Ferguson suggesting that the US should send its top students on imperial missions. However, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) claims that universities are failing in this regard because many academics and students criticize US policies. On campuses, there's a common view that Western civilization, despite its contributions to democracy and human rights, is the root of global issues. After 9/11, the ACTA criticized universities for adding courses on Islamic and Asian cultures instead of emphasizing the unique contributions of America and Western civilization. In the context of criticism against Western history and literature education, postcolonial studies are increasingly targeted. Stanley Kurtz from Stanford University's Hoover Institution has advocated linking federal funding to "area studies" centers with training students for national security, defense, intelligence agencies, and the Foreign Service. Kurtz alleges that these centers, influenced by postcolonial scholarship, have become "anti-American," echoing Edward Said's views in Orientalism. Said highlighted the connection between scholarship and state power in the colonial period, emphasizing its continuation in a post-colonial global context with the US as a focal point. To maintain universities as spaces of dissent and free intellectual inquiry, critiques of past and ongoing empires are more crucial than ever.

• Here are the questions - In what ways has 9/11 changed the delivery of higher education in the U.S.?, What was the effect of 9/11 on academic freedom?, In what ways has 9/11 affected international education?, etc. - discussed to understand the impact of 9/11 in higher education in University at Albany a State University of New York. (Click here to read more)

• If we talk about the impact of Globalization on Education, this website is worth referring to, which is titled 'The Impact of Globalization on Education in India 2023' written by Professor Arun C Mehta, Ex. HoD of EMIS Department, NIEPA. (Click here to read more)

• Here is a video available on YouTube on The Myths of Globalizations by Peter Alfandary.

WORKS CITED:-

• Hardt, Michael, and Antonio Negri. Empire. Harvard University Press, 2001.
• Open AI. "Chat GPT-3.5". https://chat.openai.com/c/7cc09323-f6d5-452c-9199-077db7ed1001

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Note:- I took help from the Chat GPT for certain points and mostly to make my blog Grammar error free and If you have any questions or doubts comment it down or contact me on my Social Media.