Colonialism and Decolonization

Colonialism

when one country takes over and controls another territory and its people for economic and political gain.

Imperialism

the goal/desire to dominate and control other places

Core

The richest/powerful of a structure. Ex: Wealthy class

Semiperiphery

The Middle Class

Periphery

The poor Class

Benin Bronzes

the name for thousands of metal artworks from the Kingdom of Benin.

British Museum Act of 1963

A law that states that they can return an artifact if:

• It's a duplicate

• Made after 1850 and is printed matter

• Unfit to be in the collection

Congo Free State

Leopold II's personal territory in Central Africa (1885-1908) where millions of Congolese died from forced rubber extraction through extreme violence, quotas, mutilation, and terror - exemplifying colonial extraction and the brutal "tools of empire."

Postcolonialism

The time period after colonialism and the study of its effects, etc.

ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE

• Acknowledge colonial histories

• Refute knowledge systems producing inequality

• Rethink methodologies

• Rethink teaching

• Reckon with goals/procedures

• Embrace collaboration

DECOLONIZING ANTHROPOLOGICAL METHODS

• Subordinate researcher goals to interlocutors' goals

• De-center researcher

• Accept interlocutors' methods/theories

• Respect emic data/lived experience

• Learn FROM not about

• Focus on mutuality

• Don't hold tight to disciplinary tools

• Focus on collaboration