Name :
Student Number:
Stream: ES4
Resit Yes
Resit: Academic year 2017-2018 Semester 2
Module IR, Semester 2
Module Code : ES-2PPAES3-15
Question: What are the main ideas of post-colonial IR theorists?
Question Block : 6.
Question Number : 2.
Part Mark: Part B
, MAIN IDEAS OF POST-COLONIAL IR THEORISTS
Realism, Liberalism and Marxism have largely been at the forefront of International
Relations theory. Since the 1990’s, a slight shift could be identified in IR and more
alternative theories started to appear. One of these theories being post-colonialism. As of
now, post-colonialism has not been adapted properly into IR theory. Therefore, it rather
challenges the existing key theories of IR (Sylvester, p.184). This essay will look into the main
ideas of post-colonial IR theorists. Three main ideas have been identified within post-
colonialist theory. These ideas include; the need for IR studies to include the history
between colonial powers and colonies, introducing theories through the perspective of the
colonized people and recognizing novels, poetry, diaries and testimonials as legitimate
sources of knowledge for post-colonialist studies ( Sylvester, 2016, p.175).
Inclusion of history relations colonial powers and colonies in IR studies
Firstly, post-colonial theorists identify a need for IR studies to include the history between
colonial powers and colonies in order to create a broader and more inclusive spectrum of IR
theories. Although not being completely unique to just this theory, post-colonialism strongly
disagrees with the idea that the nation states are the key actor of International Relations.
Their concept of IR starts from the subalterns and from there on goes up in the hierarchy,
whereas most IR theories start with the power state and trickles down. Post-colonialism
carries the believe that IR is analyzed through a very biased history from a perspective of the
west (Sylvester, 2017, pp.175-177).
According to Fanon (1963), the colonial powers became powerful merely through the
colonial system. The colonized have been exploited for their profits, yet viewed by the
colonizers as an insignificance in history . The native experience has been left out of IR
history. Violent ruling has altered native cultural, social and political forms. When
decolonization started, natives abandoned parts of the identity forced upon them by colonial
powers. As a result, the colonizers depicted them as lacking proper ethics. In the history of
Student Number:
Stream: ES4
Resit Yes
Resit: Academic year 2017-2018 Semester 2
Module IR, Semester 2
Module Code : ES-2PPAES3-15
Question: What are the main ideas of post-colonial IR theorists?
Question Block : 6.
Question Number : 2.
Part Mark: Part B
, MAIN IDEAS OF POST-COLONIAL IR THEORISTS
Realism, Liberalism and Marxism have largely been at the forefront of International
Relations theory. Since the 1990’s, a slight shift could be identified in IR and more
alternative theories started to appear. One of these theories being post-colonialism. As of
now, post-colonialism has not been adapted properly into IR theory. Therefore, it rather
challenges the existing key theories of IR (Sylvester, p.184). This essay will look into the main
ideas of post-colonial IR theorists. Three main ideas have been identified within post-
colonialist theory. These ideas include; the need for IR studies to include the history
between colonial powers and colonies, introducing theories through the perspective of the
colonized people and recognizing novels, poetry, diaries and testimonials as legitimate
sources of knowledge for post-colonialist studies ( Sylvester, 2016, p.175).
Inclusion of history relations colonial powers and colonies in IR studies
Firstly, post-colonial theorists identify a need for IR studies to include the history between
colonial powers and colonies in order to create a broader and more inclusive spectrum of IR
theories. Although not being completely unique to just this theory, post-colonialism strongly
disagrees with the idea that the nation states are the key actor of International Relations.
Their concept of IR starts from the subalterns and from there on goes up in the hierarchy,
whereas most IR theories start with the power state and trickles down. Post-colonialism
carries the believe that IR is analyzed through a very biased history from a perspective of the
west (Sylvester, 2017, pp.175-177).
According to Fanon (1963), the colonial powers became powerful merely through the
colonial system. The colonized have been exploited for their profits, yet viewed by the
colonizers as an insignificance in history . The native experience has been left out of IR
history. Violent ruling has altered native cultural, social and political forms. When
decolonization started, natives abandoned parts of the identity forced upon them by colonial
powers. As a result, the colonizers depicted them as lacking proper ethics. In the history of
