ANTH 100 - Lecture 6

Histories and Types of Colonialism

Introduction to Colonialism

Colonialism is a central concept in cultural anthropology, referring to the practice by which a state extends its political, economic, and military control beyond its own borders, often for an extended period, to secure access to raw materials, cheap labor, and markets in other countries or regions.

• Definition: Colonialism involves the domination and exploitation of one territory by another, typically resulting in significant social, economic, and cultural changes.

• Historical Roots: Colonialism has a long history, affecting many regions and peoples over thousands of years.

• Motivations: Access to valuable resources, expansion of markets, and strategic military advantages.

• Examples: European colonialism in the Americas, Africa, and Asia; Japanese colonialism in Korea and Taiwan.

Global Commodity Chains and Economic Disparities

Colonialism has shaped global economic systems, creating disparities in wealth and access to resources. The concept of the commodity chain illustrates how benefits and profits are distributed unevenly across different regions.

• Core, Periphery, and Semiperiphery:

  • Core: Wealthy, industrialized nations that control global markets (e.g., Canada).

  • Periphery: Less developed regions that supply raw materials (e.g., Democratic Republic of Congo).

  • Semiperiphery: Intermediate regions with developing economies (e.g., Vietnam).

• Example: The cost of a Pixel smartphone compared to average incomes in different countries demonstrates economic inequality:

  • Canada (Core): CA$1,800 for a Pixel smartphone, 2 weeks' income.

  • Vietnam (Semiperiphery): CA$6,000 GDP per capita, 5 months' income for the same phone.

  • DR Congo (Periphery): CA$880 GDP per capita, over a year’s income for the same phone.

Major Historical Events in Colonialism

Colonialism has led to significant historical events, including the decimation of indigenous populations, forced labor, and genocide.

• Examples:

  • Plundering of Aztec, Inca, and Mayan civilizations.

  • European silver mines in Peru.

  • Enslavement of Africans for plantation labor.

  • Genocides: Nazi Holocaust, German genocide of Nama people in Namibia.

• Impact: Loss of life, cultural destruction, and long-term social trauma.

Types of Colonialism

Anthropologists classify colonialism into several types based on the nature of settlement, control, and interaction with indigenous populations.

• Administrative Colonialism:

  • No large movement of people from colonizing country to colony.

  • Functioned through local authorities and existing power structures.

  • Examples: British in India, French in West Africa, Dutch in Indonesia.

• Settler Colonialism:

  • Large numbers of settlers move in, often displacing indigenous populations.

  • Examples: North America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.

  • Recent examples: Jewish settlements in Palestine, Han Chinese in Tibet and Xinjiang.

• Mestizo Colonialism:

  • Colonizers mix with indigenous populations, creating new cultural and racial hierarchies.

  • Examples: Spanish colonies in the Americas (e.g., Mexico).

• Plantation Colonialism:

  • Few settlers; imported enslaved or indentured labor from other regions.

  • Examples: Brazil, Caribbean (Haiti, Jamaica), southern United States (South Carolina).

End of Formal Colonialism and Neo-Colonialism

While many former colonies have gained independence, the legacy of colonialism persists through economic and political structures known as neo-colonialism.

• Post-Colonial States: Countries like India, Nigeria, and Vietnam now govern themselves but face ongoing challenges related to colonial legacies.

• Neo-Colonialism: Continued economic dependence and exploitation, often through multinational corporations and global trade systems.

• Indigenous Territories: Many indigenous lands remain under threat or occupation (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Palestine, Xinjiang).

Case Study: Residential Schools in Canada

The Canadian government established residential schools with the stated goal of educating Indigenous children, but the underlying objective was to assimilate them into Euro-Christian ways of living.

• Operation: From the 1880s to 1996, children were forcibly separated from their families and forbidden to practice their culture or speak their languages.

• Abuse: Widespread physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse occurred.

• Outcomes: High death rates, long-term trauma, and cultural loss among Indigenous communities.

• Commemoration: Orange Shirt Day honors survivors and raises awareness of the residential school system’s impact.

Summary Table: Types of Colonialism

Type	Key Features	Examples
Administrative	Local authorities, minimal settler movement	British in India, French in West Africa
Settler	Large settler population, displacement of indigenous peoples	Canada, Australia, New Zealand
Mestizo	Mixing of colonizers and indigenous populations	Spanish colonies in Americas
Plantation	Imported labor, few settlers	Brazil, Caribbean, South Carolina

Key Terms and Concepts

• Colonialism: The control and exploitation of one territory by another.

• Neo-Colonialism: Indirect forms of control and economic dependence after formal colonial rule ends.

• Commodity Chain: The sequence of processes involved in the production and distribution of a commodity.

• Core, Periphery, Semiperiphery: Terms used to describe the global economic hierarchy.

Additional info:

• Orange Shirt Day is a community-created day of commemoration for those impacted by the residential school system, symbolized by the orange shirt in honor of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad.

• Support resources are available for survivors and their families, including counseling and crisis lines.