321
See also: Frantz Fanon 300–01 ■ Michel Foucault 302–03 ■ Noam Chomsky 304–05T
he Palestinian writer
Edward Said was one of
the 20th century’s foremost
critics of imperialism. In 1978 he
published Orientalism, which
explored how the depictions of
Islamic societies by 19th-century
European scholars were closely
related to the imperialist ideologies
of European states.
In his later work, Said remained
critical of all forms of imperialism,
past and present. He points out that
although we may be critical of
empires of the past, these empires
saw themselves as bringingcivilization to the world—a view
not shared by the people they
claimed to be helping. Empires
plunder and control, while masking
their abuses of power by talking
about their “civilizing” missions.
If this is the case, Said warns, we
should be wary of present-day
claims by any state undertaking
foreign interventions. ■IN CONTEXT
BRANCH
Political philosophy
APPROACH
Post-colonialism
BEFORE
19th century European
scholars research the histories
of their colonial subjects.
1940 S In the aftermath of
World War II, the European
colonial empires begin to
fragment and collapse.
1952 Frantz Fanon writes
Black Skin, White Masks, an
early study of the damage
caused by colonialism.
AFTER
1988 Indian philosopher
Gayatri Spivak publishes
Can the Subaltern Speak?
examining post-colonialism.
From 2000 Scholars such as
Noam Chomsky increasingly
interpret American global
power according to a model
of imperialism.
EVERY EMPIRE TELLS
ITSELF AND THE WORLD
THAT IT IS UNLIKE ALL
OTHER EMPIRES
EDWARD SAID (1935–2003)
The British Empire was one of many
19th-century empires that claimed
to believe it was bringing the benefits
of civilization to the countries it
colonized, such as India.CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY