@krisnelsonMay 20, 2023

I’m seeing “settler colonialism” as a phrase used a lot lately, and I get it but am not sure of its analytic origins nor scope—e.g., how much does its formulation include the racism of American slavery? Is capitalism necessarily part of it, or could the expansionism of communism in some instantiations fit in there too?

In other words, what is included & what is missed by this phrase, which tbf is sounding increasingly rote and rather glib at times in more leftist discourse?

Show threadJamie Baker Roskie
@krisnelson hmmm. As the descendant of white settlers in the mountain West and the DIL of American missionaries to Africa those terms have specific and somewhat distinct meanings to me. Although I agree they can overlap.
May 20, 2023 at 10:58pmWeb
Show thread@krisnelsonMay 20, 2023

@WhenISayJ there’s a decent summary here that helps explain the starting definition (and of colonialism versus settler colonialism): https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780199766567/obo-9780199766567-0125.xml

But I’m wondering if it’s being used even more expansively these days?

Show threadJamie Baker RoskieMay 21, 2023
@krisnelson so the first part of that made sense to me - Australia and the US being "settler colonial" states in that the indigenous population was mostly eradicated. Especially since I've had white South Africans tell me, "you want to critique us, but we didn't kill off the natives." But as the description goes on the definition almost seems to swallow itself. Maybe it's sort of like "white supremacy," everyone says it, but also everyone defines it differently.
Show threadEran ZelnikMay 21, 2023
@WhenISayJ @krisnelson settler colonialism can also lead to apartheid as in South Africa and Israel/Palestine. Usually when the indigenous population is larger and not easily exterminated or when the international community won’t allow it