The modern nation state is an extension of the same racist and nationalistic views propelled by past imperial powers. Views along these themes were expressed by speakers at Habib University's fourth Post-Colonial Higher Education Conference. The five-day virtual conference features panel discussions under the theme 'Decolonial Thought in the Global Ruins'.
On Tuesday, the second session titled “Repairing Politics” discussed the idea of the nation state and its legacy of racism. Opening the virtual event HU’s Massimo Ramaioli, introduced his panelists, Professor Mahmood Mamdani from Columbia University and Dr Nandita Sharma from the University of Hawai.
In the first segment, Professor Mamdani discussed the concept of the native and settler and the relevance of these political terms for the creation of nation states. To further explain this, he used the example of America.
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Historically, America is seen as the original pusher of a decolonized world, towards an order of nation states practicing capitalism. If, however, we study the country through the Native American and the African American experience, we learn of the violence perpetrated for the creation of this nationhood. The land of the natives was stolen from them, whereas the African American was stolen from their land, he explained. Genocide of the natives and enslavement of the Africans is in stark contrast to the European settlers. Not called migrants, but settlers, who aimed to establish their own identity in the land. If America was an answer to colonial ills, and if nation states are aimed at liberating people, then how do we explain the societal structures that segregate communities and people, he asked. Giving examples of the Native Americans, he explained how those natives that had lived in the land before, were systemically reduced in number. They were given, as the professor explained, the status of nationals rather than citizens.
Speaking second, Dr Nadita Sharma moved the panel towards discussions on the concept of citizenship and how in modern states the idea is used as a means of societal control. Speaking about her book, Home Rule: National Sovereignty and the Separation of Natives and Migrants (2020), she explained the new age debates, about migrants and natives. A new trend of vilifying migrants is seen throughout the world. For this new wave of anti-migrant sentiment, we must understand nationality.
Nationality matters, almost three quarters of inequality is due to ideas of citizenship and nationality, she said. The claim of the nation state and past colonial powers being different was challenged time and again during the panel. The difference, according to Dr Sharma, was that imperial powers prevented subjects from leaving, whereas nation states prevent people from entering. Nationalism is not an antithesis to imperialism and colonisation,as she explained, the ideas of national identity fueled violent campaign in countries like Burma and India, where those seen as “outsiders” were vilified and persecuted.
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Dr Sharma further explained why states like America encouraged decolonization and moved the world towards a new capitalist order. Using the example of the 1941 Atlantic charter between British prime minister Winston Churchill and United States of America president Franklin D Roosevelt, she explained how a seemingly anti-territorial expansion and pro-economic liberation charter succeeded at shifting the means of exploitation rather than ending the suffering of past colonies. The new order was gave the American capitalist, easy access to these former colonies, she explained. Seconding Prof Mamdani, Dr Sharma concluded by discussing the need to abolish borders of territory and identity.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2021.
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