Week 7: Race, Identity, and Postcolonialism

What is Wahhabism?

A school of Islamic thought and jurisprudence associated with the House of Saud, representing one interpretation of Sharia Law.

How does class influence women's power in Islamic societies?

Class often serves as a better determinant of what is permitted for women than gender alone, as seen in the political representation of women in Pakistan and Iran.

What is the legal status of child marriage in the US and Saudi Arabia?

Child marriage is still legal in 35 out of 50 states in the US, but it has been illegal in Saudi Arabia since 2020.

What factors contribute to women's issues in Saudi Arabia?

Many women's issues do not stem directly from Islamic scripture but arise from local traditions, power dynamics, and class-based inequalities.

What does racialized violence refer to?

Acts of violence rooted in or perpetuating racial hierarchies, targeting individuals based on racial or ethnic identity to maintain control or suppress dissent.

How did imperial powers use racialized violence?

Imperial powers used both physical violence (e.g., police brutality) and structural violence (e.g., land dispossession) to dominate Indigenous populations.

What was the role of racialized violence in Algeria under French colonial rule?

The French colonial regime used racialized violence to assert European supremacy through surveillance, arrests, and torture against the Arab and Berber populations.

What is national liberation?

The struggle of colonized or oppressed people to gain political independence and reclaim control over their land, institutions, and identity.

What characterized national liberation movements in the 20th century?

They emerged in response to centuries of colonial rule, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

What was the Front de Libération Nationale (FLN)?

A group that led Algeria's national liberation movement against French colonial rule from 1954 to 1962.

What is cultural identity?

Shared customs, beliefs, language, and values that connect individuals to a larger community or heritage.

How did colonial powers affect Indigenous cultural identities?

Colonial powers sought to erase or marginalize Indigenous identities by imposing their own language, religion, and norms.

What was a significant part of the liberation struggle in Algeria?

Reclaiming Arabic and Berber languages, Islamic faith, and Algerian traditions that were suppressed under French rule.

What does resistance encompass?

All acts—violent or nonviolent—that challenge and undermine systems of oppression, domination, or occupation.

What are the types of resistance?

Armed resistance (e.g., guerrilla warfare), civil disobedience (e.g., protests), and cultural resistance (e.g., music, literature).

What is decolonization?

The process by which colonies achieve independence from colonial rule, both politically and culturally.

What dimensions does decolonization encompass?

Political (formal sovereignty), cultural (reclaiming Indigenous knowledge), and psychological (healing from colonial trauma).

What was Algeria's experience of decolonization?

Algeria gained political independence from France in 1962 but continued the process of decolonization by rebuilding its institutions and identity.

What tactics did the FLN use in their struggle for independence?

The FLN launched a guerrilla campaign using both rural and urban tactics, targeting French military and settler infrastructure.

How did the French military respond to the FLN's actions?

The French military imposed brutal tactics including mass arrests, torture, curfews, and house demolitions.

What ethical questions arise from the use of violence in liberation struggles?

The legitimacy of armed resistance and the moral implications of using violence against colonial repression.

What role did women play in the Algerian struggle depicted in The Battle of Algiers?

Women participated significantly, including smuggling bombs into European spaces, using their perceived harmlessness to their advantage.

How does Fanon view the relationship between violence and decolonization?

Fanon argues that decolonization must be violent, suggesting that historical examples support this view.

What psychological impacts does colonization have on the colonized?

Colonization can lead to internalized inferiority, affecting mental health and identity.

How does the film The Battle of Algiers portray the psychological effects of conflict?

It shows moral ambiguity and internal conflict among characters, including both Algerians and French soldiers.

What does the ending of The Battle of Algiers suggest about colonial violence?

It indicates that colonial violence has long-term consequences, leading to spontaneous uprisings even after military defeat.

How does the film's documentary style affect viewer experience?

The quasi-documentary style with non-professional actors and hand-held cameras creates a sense of realism and immediacy.