Colonialism
Aims of Colonialism
- extract resources, especially natural resources and human labor - create trade and transportation networks - establish government control and military presence - compete with other colonial powers - spread one's culture and religion
What are the Effects?
- industrialization and rationing of food supply leads to malnutrition and poor health - confinement leads to rise in communicable disease incidence and death (nearly 1/3 of people infected with TB live in souther Africa - Inequality leads to social conflict
Legacies of British
- racialized systems of social of social stratification - english as official language - british influence in educational and political systems - ongoing migration and trade between Great Britain and former colonies - Extraction-based (export) economies and high unemployment
White Man's Burden
- racist and paternalist mission to civilize and bring Christianity to native populations - idea that native peoples could not govern themselves and were unable to "advance" without British assistance - served to justify colonialism to British people and the people of the regions that were colonized
Cultural Imperialism
- the practice of promoting one culture over another - using political and economic power to spread the values and habits of a foreign culture over those of a native culture
british empire, phase I
1600s to 1770s exploration and colonization of the "New World" end point is American Revolution
Namibia's Colonial Past
1652: Dutch East Indea Co. establishes colonial outposts in southern Africa Mining for diamonds and gold Series of wars between Dutch/German settlers and British army (Boer wars) British control of region during 18th century 1884: South West Africa established as German colony 1904-07: genocide against Black South West Africans 1931: independence for southern African territories from British and Germans; South Africa controls South West Africa 1948: apartheid institutionalized 1966: South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) rises up aainst South African control
british empire, phase II
1800 to 1950s Australia, India, Africa One fifth of the world's land surface One-fourth of the world's population Built on slave and trade interests, ends with global independence movements
Namibia's Postcolonial Present
1990: Namibian independence from South Africa - 30% unemployment - 25% of GDP from mining (diamonds, gold) - 50% live in poverty - 94% of population: Black Namibians - 4,000 white farmers own 50% of land
Cultural Imperialism2
Based on ethnocentric iew of the world Ignorance of !Kung culture Imposition of Euro-African values - Institutionalization of "white man's burden" in system of payments, housing, and education
Aestheticizing Culture
N!ai and other San make money from tourists and film crews taking their pictures
N!ai's Story
Were the !Kung San poor before the colonial government moves them to the reservation? Poverty is RELATIVE (remember Sahlins' argument...no?) What are the cultural effects of the colonization of !Kung San territories? Changes in: - Education - Religion - Medicine - Economy
Imperialism
a policy of extending the rule of a country or empire over foreign nations and of taking and holding foreign colonies (Kottak)
Concepts for understanding culture change
diffusion acculturation assimilation cultural imperialism
Colonialism
the political, social, economic, and cultural domination of a territory and its people by a foreign power for an extended time (Kottak) involves process of colonization: sending administrators and settlers to inhabit and control the colonized territory
