Patrick Wolfe - week 4

Patrick Wolfe's seminal 2006 article, "Settler Colonialism and the Elimination of the Native," examines the inherent structure of settler colonialism and its persistent drive to eliminate Indigenous populations to secure land for settlers. Wolfe introduces the "logic of elimination," asserting that settler colonialism is not a singular event but an ongoing process aimed at the dissolution of native societies.

Unlike other colonial forms primarily focused on resource extraction, settler colonialism seeks to replace Indigenous peoples with a new society of settlers. This replacement necessitates various strategies, including physical removal, assimilation policies, and cultural erasure, all designed to gain unencumbered access to territory. Wolfe emphasizes that the primary motive behind these actions is territorial acquisition rather than racial or religious differences.

Furthermore, Wolfe argues that settler colonialism is a structure embedded within societal systems, persisting over time through legal, political, and social mechanisms that marginalize Indigenous populations. This structural nature means that the elimination of Indigenous peoples is not confined to historical events but continues to influence contemporary policies and societal attitudes.

In summary, Wolfe's article provides a critical framework for understanding how settler colonialism operates as an enduring system aimed at the elimination and replacement of Indigenous societies to facilitate settler expansion and control over land