Page 4 - Colonization and Decolonization: A Manual for Indigenous Liberation in the 21st Century

Colonization &. Decolonization
by Zig-Zag
Spring 2006
"Liberation is the task imposed upon us by our conquest and colonization."
(Chtnweizu, The WestandtheRestofUs, p.33)
Introduction'
Colonialism: the practise of invading other lands & territories, for the purpose of
. settlement and/or resource exploitation.
When an invading force confronts an Indigenous population already occupying a territory, colonialism becomes a violent conflict between two hostile and opposing ways of life, with one attempting to impose its will on the other. This is a standard definition of war, and colonization itself can be considered a war for territory involving all the means used to carry out wars: military, political, economic, psychological, diplomatic, cultural, etc.
Cecil Rhodes, a British colonial official for which Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was named,
th articulated the motives and goals of European colonialism in the 19 century:
"We must find new lands from which we can easily obtain raw materials and at the same time exploit the cheap slave labour that is available from the natives of the colonies. The colonies would also provide a dumping ground for the surplus goods
produced in our factories."
Due to its history and culture, European colonialism is characterized by genocidal practices, including wars of extermination, massacres of non-combatants, biological warfare, and scorched earth policies (destroying food & shelter). Other atrocities include the torture of prisoners, rape,andenslavementofIndigenouspopulations. Theseacts are fueled by racist & patriarchal ideology (i.e., Christianity & whitesupremacy), greed, and a psychopathic desire to kill
and inflict violence and suffering on others.
Psychopath n. A person with an antisocial personality
disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behavior without empathy or remorse.
(The American Heritage Dictionary, p, 1415)
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