Question 1

Postcolonial approaches involve retrieving indigenous epistemologies and cosmologies with which to think about relations among humans and, often, non-humans.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 2

'Modernity/colonialty' is a term developed among Latin American thinkers, which argues that, contrary to the conventional view of modernity as progressive, equalizing, and democratic, the philosophical and political project of modernity is foundationally premised on coloniality.

Accepted Answer

The term 'modernity/coloniality' indeed originates from Latin American scholars who critique the conventional positive view of modernity, arguing that modernity inherently involves and perpetuates coloniality, highlighting the darker, oppressive aspects of modernity's global spread and impact.

Question 3

Who argued that, as a system, colonialism represents a totalizing form of violence?

Accepted Answer

Frantz Fanon argued that colonialism is a totalizing form of violence, emphasizing its dehumanizing effects on both the colonizer and the colonized in his works, particularly in "The Wretched of the Earth."

Question 4

Which of the following statements does not describe the common patterns of imperial or colonial control exercised by European powers?

Accepted Answer

Culturally, European powers often imposed their own languages, laws, and religions on colonized peoples, rather than promoting indigenous ones.

Question 5

In 1902, W.B. Du Bois argued that the 'global colour line' was the major problem of the twentieth century, but his work, though prominent at the time, was not retained as part of the canon of International Relations.

Accepted Answer

W.B. Du Bois was a pioneering African-American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist who indeed argued about the significance of the "global color line" in the early 20th century. However, despite his contributions to understanding race relations and global inequalities, his work has not been traditionally included or retained as a central part of the canon of International Relations, which has often been critiqued for its Eurocentric focus and neglect of race and racism as fundamental aspects of global politics.

Question 6

Decolonialism is more commonly associated with thinkers of Asian and African descent, while postcolonialism has been principally cultivated by Latin American thinkers.

Accepted Answer

Decolonialism is more commonly associated with Latin American thinkers, focusing on the enduring impact of colonial structures, while postcolonialism is often linked to Asian and African scholars, examining the aftermath of colonial rule and its influence on society and culture.

Question 7

Which of the following is not a way in which the Sumac Kawsay/Buen Vivir movement differs from conventional understandings of capitalist development?

Accepted Answer

The Sumac Kawsay/Buen Vivir movement does emphasize community well-being, ecological balance, and cultural sensitivity, but the assertion that Spanish colonialism left a legacy of recognizing ecosystem rights is incorrect. This movement is rooted in Indigenous philosophies that predate colonialism and are in opposition to the exploitative nature of colonial practices.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of a normative concern raised by postcolonial and decolonial approaches?

Accepted Answer

C) highlights a normative concern by critiquing the attitudes, practices, and structures that support Western supremacy, suggesting a moral or ethical judgment about the value and significance attributed to different cultures and peoples.

Question 9

Which of the following is not true of the Haitian Revolution?

Accepted Answer

The Haitian Revolution, which began in 1791, was successful in both ousting French troops and abolishing slavery, making it the first successful slave rebellion that led to the establishment of a free state governed by non-whites and former captives.

Question 10

Postcolonial and decolonial international relations are similar to Marxist approaches because they all agree that capitalism is a major organizing structure in world politics and that its tendencies are exploitative and immiserating. However, they differ because postcolonial and decolonial approaches emphasize the roles of racialization and colonial expansion in determining the character and pattern of exploitation.

Accepted Answer

While Marxist approaches focus on capitalism as a central organizing structure in world politics, highlighting its exploitative nature, postcolonial and decolonial approaches extend this critique by emphasizing the significance of racialization and colonial expansion in shaping the patterns and character of exploitation. This adds a layer of analysis that considers the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism and race in the global order.

Question 11

According to Robert Jackson, 'quasi-states', often created by processes of decolonization, have legal or 'juridicial' sovereignty that is recognized by other countries, but not 'empirical' sovereignty, understood as control over their internal affairs.

Accepted Answer

Robert Jackson introduced the concept of 'quasi-states' to describe entities that possess international legal sovereignty recognized by other states but lack empirical sovereignty, meaning they do not have effective control over their territories or the ability to govern their internal affairs effectively. This distinction highlights the discrepancy between the legal status and the actual governance capabilities of some states, particularly those emerging from decolonization processes.

Question 12

Which author's examination of the political thought and practices of enslaved Africans around the world reveals alternative forms of sovereignty, rights, solidarity, and justice, which are attentive to histories of colonial violence and which serve as a counterpoint to liberal narratives that see many of these ideas as fundamentally Western in their origins and orientations?

Accepted Answer

Robbie Shilliam's work focuses on the political thought and practices of enslaved Africans, highlighting alternative forms of sovereignty, rights, solidarity, and justice that challenge the notion of these ideas being primarily Western.

Question 13

'Settler colonialism' involves which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Settler colonialism is characterized by the acquisition of land through force and agreements, the claim that land is unoccupied to justify mass European immigration, and the marginalization of native rulers, languages, and laws.

Question 14

Neo-colonialism, as defined by Kwame Nkrumah, refers to…

Accepted Answer

Neo-colonialism, according to Kwame Nkrumah, is the practice where a state is officially independent but its economic and political policies are controlled by an external power.

Question 15

In The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon described the struggle against colonialism based on his experiences in India in the years immediately preceding partition.

Accepted Answer

Frantz Fanon focused on the decolonization process and struggles in Algeria and other parts of Africa, not India.

Quiz 10: Postcolonial and Decolonial Approaches