Chapter 7: Colonial Thinking – Past Harms and Modern Shapes

Many people talk as if colonialism ended completely after World War II. They say the world has stopped seeing powerful countries openly rule and exploit weaker ones. But the truth is more complicated, and less comfortable. Colonialism didn’t disappear. It just changed its shape. It often hides behind new words and uses quieter ways to control others. Meanwhile, the deep harm caused by past colonialism still affects people today.

The Lingering Effects of Past Colonialism

Many countries still struggle with the lasting effects of being colonies. Take India, for example. English, often used to unite the country, came from the British Empire. So did the basic structure of its laws. The British Empire’s main goal was to rule India and take its resources. Getting these things from Britain wasn’t a neutral event; it came with the heavy burden of how power worked back then.

A harmful result in many places that were once colonies is that people start to feel their own culture is inferior. In India, for example, the colonial past left behind the idea that local culture, traditions (like some linked to Hinduism), and knowledge are backward. People might automatically think foreign things, especially from the West, are better. This way of thinking is a direct result of how colonial rulers trained people to accept foreign rule.

Also, history books written from an English-speaking viewpoint often repeat self-serving stories, like the idea of a “civilizing mission.” This was the claim that colonizers brought progress to people they called “savage” in Africa or Asia. Or they might say Britain gave railways to India as a gift, ignoring that these railways mainly served British interests and ignoring what India already had or could build. Such stories cover up the violence, theft, and destruction that were central to colonialism.

Modern Colonialism: New Names, Same Game?

Saying colonialism is only in the past ignores what is happening today. Powerful countries still control others, often using different names for it:

• “Territories,” not Colonies: The United States, for instance, controls places like Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa, calling them “unincorporated territories.” People living there must follow US laws and often pay US taxes. Yet, they cannot fully vote for the leaders in the US government that makes these laws. This sounds very much like the old definition of a colony: people being taxed without having a real say in the government. Calling these places “territories” makes the situation sound like simple administration, not like the colonial control it resembles.
• Money and Politics: Today, control often works through money and politics. Powerful countries might use economic influence, international banks (often led by English-speaking countries) might set debt traps, or countries might interfere in others’ politics, claiming they are promoting democracy or stability.
• Military Dependence: Security agreements, like NATO (discussed later), can make countries depend on others for protection. This dependence can reduce their ability to make their own decisions. They might feel forced to follow the lead of the dominant power, much like old colonial protectorates relied on the colonizer.

People often talk as if colonialism is over. But powerful countries haven’t stopped controlling weaker ones. They just often don’t call it “colonization” anymore.

Anglo Societies: The Most Successful Colonizers

We need to recognize how vast and effective past colonialism by English-speaking powers (mainly Britain, then America) really was. They took over huge parts of the world, occupied lands, and took wealth, resources, and dignity from millions. The scale and effects were enormous. This history is the foundation of the global influence these English-speaking countries have today.

Crimes and Whitewashing

The colonial way of thinking often leads people to excuse or minimize terrible things done to achieve empire goals. Examples include:

• Forcing the Chagossian people off their island, Diego Garcia, so the US could build a military base.¹

• The UK testing nuclear bombs on indigenous Gilbertese (i-Kiribati) people living on islands like Kiritimati (Christmas Island), who suffered from radiation exposure with minimal protection.²

• Many cases of mass killing, stealing resources, and crushing movements for independence in former colonies. For example, during the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya (1952-1960), the British colonial administration responded with systematic brutality, including the detention of up to 1.5 million Kikuyu people in camps where torture and summary executions were common.³ These events are often treated as minor details in history books from English-speaking countries.

• Mass killings and genocides carried out or allowed by English-speaking powers. For instance, up to three million people died in the Bengal Famine of 1943, a catastrophe that recent studies have argued was a result of British policy failures rather than natural causes.⁴ These events are often downplayed compared to similar crimes committed by official enemies.

Forgetting this history, or deliberately cleaning it up, helps these countries maintain their modern image as moral leaders. When people question actions like the US invasion of Iraq, it highlights contradictions. For example, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was a key architect of the Iraq War, said of another country’s invasion, “This is not 1968 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia, where Russia can threaten its neighbors, occupy a capital, overthrow a government, and get away with it.”⁵ This quote starkly contrasts with the justification she and others gave for the invasion of Iraq.

This colonial way of thinking, both old and new, uses stories about being special and always right. These stories are used to justify controlling others and to ignore or downplay the great harm done. If you don’t come from an English-speaking country, understanding this past legacy and its modern shapes is key to finding your own way in the world.