Chapter 6: Changing Words, Changing Rules

Sometimes, English-speaking societies stay powerful by using words in tricky ways. They might use mild words for their own bad actions but harsh words when others do the same thing. They change what words mean, change the rules about right and wrong, and pretend that the bad things they did in the past are completely over.

The Idea That Colonialism Is Over

Many people believe that colonialism—when powerful countries ruled over others—ended completely after World War II. This isn’t quite true.

It’s more complicated than that. Countries gave up their official empires, but they still find ways to control or take advantage of others. They just use different names for it now. English-speaking countries, especially the United States, still control places and people but don’t call them colonies.

• Imperial Euphemisms (“The Empire that Dare Not Speak Its Name”): The United States specifically has mastered the art of doing colonial things without using colonial labels. It avoids the vocabulary of empire while meticulously maintaining its mechanics.
  • Colony $\rightarrow$ Territory / Commonwealth: The U.S. controls Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It calls them “territories” or “commonwealths.” In a “colony,” you are a subject; in a “territory,” you are a… what, exactly? You follow U.S. laws and often pay taxes, but cannot vote for the President or have voting representation in Congress. It is taxation without representation—the very grievance that sparked the American Revolution—rebranded as administrative classification.
  • Decree $\rightarrow$ Executive Order: When a European monarch or a dictator issues a command that becomes law without a vote, it is called a “decree.” When an American President does the exact same thing, it is an “executive order.” The function is identical—unilateral power—but the American term sounds like office management rather than autocracy.
  • Invasion $\rightarrow$ Intervention / Police Action: The U.S. rarely “invades”; it “intervenes” or conducts a “police action” to “restore order.” This language frames the aggressor not as a conqueror, but as a reluctant constable doing a necessary duty.
  • Empire $\rightarrow$ Global Leadership: The U.S. does not claim an “empire”; it claims “global leadership” or the role of “superpower.” This linguistic shift allows it to maintain over 750 military bases in 80 countries without ever admitting to being an imperial power.
• Hiding Today’s Wrongs: When people say colonialism is only history, it makes it easier to hide how powerful countries still take advantage of others today. They might call it “aid,” “helping with security,” “nation-building,” or “promoting democracy.” These labels hide the unfairness and harm involved.

Different Words for Similar Unfairness

When English speakers talk about unfairness in the world (especially in universities or the news), you might notice something. They often use specific, sometimes foreign-sounding words for problems in non-English speaking countries. But they use different, more familiar words for similar problems in their own countries, past or present.

• “Caste”: Think about the word “caste.” People almost always use it to talk about India and South Asia. India’s system has its own history. But when Westerners focus so much on “caste” there, they often overlook similar problems closer to home. English-speaking countries have also had, and maybe still have, strict social divisions, disadvantages passed down through families, and unfairness based on birth – like racism. Isn’t racism a kind of caste system, where one group is treated as lower based on birth? Why is the word “caste” mostly used only for places outside the West?
• Apartheid: “Apartheid” is the right word for the cruel system of legal racism in South Africa. But when similar things happen elsewhere – like separating groups, treating them unfairly, or denying them rights – English speakers often hesitate to use the word “apartheid.” This happened in parts of U.S. history, and some argue it applies to situations like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict today. Yet, using the label “apartheid” in these cases causes big arguments. Why use the word easily for South Africa but fight against using it for other places with similar features? Is it called “casteism” if the people are brown, but “racism” if it happens in the West? When does separating people become bad enough to be called “apartheid”? Using these words differently suggests that maybe English-speaking countries or their allies want to avoid using such a strong, negative word like “apartheid” to describe themselves or their friends.

Using different words like this makes it seem like unfairness outside the English-speaking world is worse, maybe impossible to fix, compared to “just” racism or discrimination inside it.

Changing the Rules of Right and Wrong

English-speaking powers often explain away their past or present actions by changing the rules of right and wrong later on, or by not applying the same rules to everyone.

• Justifying Actions: They might invade or interfere in another country and say it’s for a good reason now, like “fighting terrorism” or “promoting democracy.” But if a country they don’t like does the same thing, they condemn it strongly as breaking international law.
• Minimizing Past Wrongs: They are often quick to point out the terrible things others have done. But they tend to downplay or make excuses for their own historical wrongs. Think about the violence during colonization, the slave trade, forcing native people off their lands, or questionable actions during wars.

So, what should you do if you’re not from an English-speaking country? It means you need to question the words you hear in global discussions all the time. Don’t just accept the labels people use for your society or others. Don’t believe colonialism is finished if your people still aren’t fully in charge of their own affairs. Understand that the words used to talk about unfairness are often tools used by the powerful. These words shape how people see things and help keep the current world order in place. If you fall for these word tricks, you’re falling for propaganda.