Postcolonialism

[Page 779]Postcolonialism refers to the diffuse body of work that takes as its central concern the impacts of colonialism (occupation of land by settlers) and imperialism (conquest of territory). Postcolonial studies broadly examine how control of colonial physical territory and/or racialized bodies has been orchestrated through zoning, cultural representation, the colonial gaze, and economic structures. Since its emergence in the period of mass decolonization from 1818 to 1965, postcolonial studies have examined a variety of issues including migration, refugee policy, war, and civil rights. Critically, surveillance is central to the colonial and neocolonial world. Postcolonialism assumes that colonial narratives still inform security agents and transnational structures such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and/or the European Union. Hence, postcolonial studies attempt to examine ...