Does International Relations Theory Privelege Western Ways Of Thinking And Acting Free Essay Example, 2250 words

G. C. Spivak developed her conception of what constituted a post-colonial critique of oppression after growing up in British India. Importantly, Dr. Spivak devised the term subaltern to refer to the most marginalized and oppressed people of the world who expressed various forms of resistance to Western political hegemony. Importantly, much of the world fell under the influence of colonial powers who created an international community in which the newly independent and formerly colonial countries were at a disadvantage, both economically, politically and socially. Whether it was British colonialism in Palestine or India, French colonialism in Lebanon or Algeria or Portuguese colonialism in Angola, the majority of the international community has developed with a legacy of colonialism (Said 3-13; see Spivak, 1990). The colonization of the African continent began rather late but the Scramble for Africa has had tremendous consequences for the continued stagnation of this continent. Many of the problems in Africa today were caused by colonization and a legacy of exploitation, brutality, and discrimination. In the South African context, democracy during the colonial period was a vestige of the few and the native non-white population was summarily excluded from the benefits of democratic governance. We will write a custom essay sample on Does International Relations Theory Privelege Western Ways Of Thinking And Acting or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Despite some positive attributes of British colonialism, the colonial enterprise has left a long-lasting and generally quite a negative imprint on the countries of the former British Empire in Africa. South Africa herself has a deplorable history of racial discrimination and intolerance and the Apartheid system (1948-1990) represents this shameful legacy. Another important legacy, which deserves just as much attention, is the British legacy with respect to race relations in the Cape Colony and the linkages between discriminatory practices in the 19th century and the future establishment of state-sponsored racism in the form of Apartheid.