Legitimizing Empire: Critique of and Advocacy for the Colonial Project

DANĚK, Petr. Legitimizing Empire: Critique of and Advocacy for the Colonial Project. In Approaching the Other: the Four Projects of Western Domination. Olomouc: Palacký University, 2008, p. 45-58, 13 pp. Monographs. ISBN 978-80-244-2046-2.

Basic information

• Original name: Legitimizing Empire: Critique of and Advocacy for the Colonial Project
• Name in Czech: Legitimizování impéria: kritika a obhajoba koloniálního projektu
• Authors: DANĚK, Petr (203 Czech Republic, guarantor).
• Edition: Olomouc, Approaching the Other: the Four Projects of Western Domination, p. 45-58, 13 pp. Monographs, 2008.
• Publisher: Palacký University

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Chapter(s) of a specialized book
• Field of Study: 50000 5. Social Sciences
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14310/08:00025398
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• ISBN: 978-80-244-2046-2
• Keywords in English: colonialism; civilising mission; the idea of progress; representation of the Other; enlightenment; modernity; nationalism
• Tags: civilising mission, colonialism, enlightenment, modernity, Nationalism, representation of the Other, the idea of progress
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Chapter 3 of the book Approaching the Other: the Four Projects of Western Domination. The systematic endeavour of colonialism was criticised since the 15th century. The chapter charts some of the ways of the critique, and discusses the reasonings through which the critique has usually turned into advocacy for the colonial project. Evolution of the idea of progress is traced and its implication for legitimacy of colonial rule is stressed. inspired by the critical analyses of the colonial discourse, provides the discusion of ideas, emanating from Europe, that inspired the ambitious and concerned effort to change the non-European spaces and their societies. Introductory discussion of the terms colonization, colonialism, and imperialism is followed by a discussion of the motives for voyages of exploration. Then several attempts at typology of colonies are presented to support the claim that colonialism was informed beside common assumptions also by politically different discourses. It is illustrated on the example of the British and the French colonial projects. Impact of the European perception of colonized peoples on the evolution of European and Western identity is discussed in the final section of the chapter.

Abstract (in Czech)

Kapitola 3 v knize Approaching the Other: the Four Projects of Western Domination. Systematické úsilí Evropanů kolonizovat cizí společnosti bylo terčem kritiky nejméně od 15. století. Kapitola ukazuje některé směry této kritiky a diskutuje důvody, proč se tato kritika obvykle proměnila v obhajobu koloniálního projektu. Za zvláště významnou je považována myšlenka pokroku, jejíž vznik a význam pro legitimizování kolonialismu je diskutován.

Links

• WA-005-05-Z10, research and development project: Name: Dopady populačního vývoje pro strategii rozvoje regionů