Studying at York
The Politics of (Post-)Colonialism - POL00060H
Module summary
This module traverses through the politics of colonialism across different regions and considers the implications for contemporary post-colonial politics and international relations, including conflict, development, and migration.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
Students will develop an in-depth understanding of how the politics of colonialism across different regions continues to shape the contemporary order and be equipped with a range of conceptual tools drawing from postcolonial and decolonial theories.
This module challenges colonial amnesia and traverses through the politics of colonialism across different regions, considering the implications for contemporary post-colonial politics and international relations. This module will equip students with an advanced understanding of how the politics in the colonial metropole and the periphery are intertwined. We will discuss the enduring legacies of colonialism for international and domestic politics in relation to international development, migration, climate (in)justice, war and violence, racism, and European integration.
Module learning outcomes
|
Demonstrate specialist knowledge of the relations between historical dynamics rooted in colonialism and the contemporary global political order (PLO1) |
|
Independently apply and critically evaluate advanced theoretical approaches in relation to colonial politics and its postcolonial continuities (PLO2) |
|
Communicate arguments that draw on advanced theories on post-colonial politics (PLO5) |
|
Demonstrate a reflective approach to knowledge production and the use of alternative epistemologies from the South; and to show awareness of the relation between colonial power and knowledge production (PLO6) |
Module content
Likely structure to include:
1 Introduction: Colonialism, Postcolonialism and Decolonisation
2 Colonial Amnesia: The politics of forgetting
3 Anti-colonial, postcolonial and decolonial theories
4 Undoing Europe
5 Migration and borders
6 Race and racism
7 The civilising mission and international development
8 Resource extraction and climate injustice
9 Violence and resistance
10 Decolonising politics and IR
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 90 |
| Groupwork | 10 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Students will receive written timely feedback on their formative assessment. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s feedback and guidance hours.
Students will receive written feedback on their summative assessment no later than 25 working days; and the module tutor will hold a specific session to discuss feedback, which students can also opt to attend. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their feedback during the module tutor’s regular feedback and guidance hours.
Indicative reading
Barkawi, Tarak. "Decolonizing war." European Journal of International Security 1.2 (2016): 199-214.
Gildea, R. (2019). Empires of the mind: The colonial past and the politics of the present. Cambridge University Press.
Loomba, A. (2015). Colonialism/postcolonialism. Routledge.
Rutazibwa, O. U., & Shilliam, R. (Eds.). (2018). Routledge handbook of postcolonial politics. Routledge.
Whyte, K. P. (2016). 7 Is it colonial déjà vu?. Indigenous Peoples and Climate Injustice.” Humanities for the Environment: Integrating Knowledge, Forging New Constellations of Practice, 88-104.