Postcolonial Theories: Nation, Postcolonial Theories: Nation, Migration and GlobalizationMigration and Globalization

Fall, 2009Fall, 2009

OutlineOutline

Why nation? Why postcolonialism?Why nation? Why postcolonialism? Nationalism and Postcolonial Studies Nationalism and Postcolonial Studies

– main argument main argument – summarysummary

Example: Example: The City of SadnessThe City of Sadness Course Requirements (please see the Course Requirements (please see the

syllabus, or course site)syllabus, or course site)

Why nation? Why nation? Why postcolonialism?Why postcolonialism?

1.1. Why are you interested in the concept of Why are you interested in the concept of nation and its related issues? When is nation and its related issues? When is “nation” dispensable? And when “nation” dispensable? And when indispensable? indispensable?

2.2. What constitutes a nation?What constitutes a nation?

3.3. Why are you interested in Why are you interested in postcolonialism? What postcolonial issues postcolonialism? What postcolonial issues are you interested in? are you interested in?

Why nation?Why nation?

Nation is indispensable at times of dangers and Nation is indispensable at times of dangers and national conflicts, or when a nation’s or an national conflicts, or when a nation’s or an individual’s national identity gets challenged. individual’s national identity gets challenged.

Nation is challenged by Nation is challenged by

-- corrupt government, wars and international politics -- corrupt government, wars and international politics (nation without state, state without nation); (nation without state, state without nation);

-- flows migrants (dual or flexible citizenship), and -- flows migrants (dual or flexible citizenship), and

-- flows of globalization and multinational capitalism. -- flows of globalization and multinational capitalism.

Why nation & postcolonialism?Why nation & postcolonialism?Related IssuesRelated Issues

什麼是什麼是殖民殖民？？ (‘The West,’ ‘The Orient,’ (‘The West,’ ‘The Orient,’ 種族主義，內部種族主義，內部殖民殖民 internal colonialism) Does it work against the internal colonialism) Does it work against the formation of nation-state, or cause it? formation of nation-state, or cause it?

後殖民主義後殖民主義是是解殖民解殖民後的歷史階段（美國是不是後殖民後的歷史階段（美國是不是後殖民國家）？還是一種抗拒殖民的態度與行動？解殖民可能國家）？還是一種抗拒殖民的態度與行動？解殖民可能嗎？嗎？

Margins vs. Centers Margins vs. Centers (The empire writes back); (The empire writes back); 殖民者殖民者 vs. vs. 被殖民者；被殖民者； The Subaltern, The Subaltern, 離散族群離散族群 , , 第三世界知識份子第三世界知識份子； 抗拒／解殖民策略。 ； 抗拒／解殖民策略。

The other issues The other issues 後殖民理論 後殖民理論 vs. vs. 後殖民文學；後殖民文學後殖民文學；後殖民文學 vs. vs. 典律典律 後殖民主義、後殖民性後殖民主義、後殖民性 (postcoloniality)(postcoloniality) ：後殖民主義與：後殖民主義與

後殖民狀況和殖民後殖民狀況和殖民 // 新殖民／資本主義之間的關係何在新殖民／資本主義之間的關係何在？？

Postcolonialism: Postcolonialism: Critical concepts in Critical concepts in literary and cultural studies literary and cultural studies

Vol. I -- [Definitions and Histories]Vol. I -- [Definitions and Histories]

1 Framing the field 1 Framing the field 2. Marxist liberation and resistance theories 2. Marxist liberation and resistance theories 3. Manifestos3. Manifestos

Vol. II  -- [Vol. II  -- [Nation and ColonialismNation and Colonialism]]4. National, third world and Postcolonial identities 4. National, third world and Postcolonial identities 5. Colonial discourse analysis 5. Colonial discourse analysis

Vol. III. – [Orientalism and Race]Vol. III. – [Orientalism and Race]

6. Orientalisms 6. Orientalisms 7. Thinking/Working through race 7. Thinking/Working through race

Postcolonialism: Postcolonialism: Critical concepts in Critical concepts in literary and cultural studies literary and cultural studies

Vol IV. [Resistant Movements]Vol IV. [Resistant Movements]

8. Feminism and gender analysis 8. Feminism and gender analysis

9. Internal colonialisms and subaltern studies 9. Internal colonialisms and subaltern studies

10. Challenging Eurocentrism 10. Challenging Eurocentrism

Vol V. [Vol V. [Globalization and InstitutionalizationGlobalization and Institutionalization]]

11. Globalization, transculturation and neo-11. Globalization, transculturation and neo-colonialism colonialism 12. Postcolonial theory and the disciplines 12. Postcolonial theory and the disciplines

Nationalism and Nationalism and Postcolonial Studies Postcolonial Studies

[by Laura Chrisman][by Laura Chrisman]

Main Argument: Main Argument: Postcolonial theorists tend to be Postcolonial theorists tend to be negative about nation with some generalizations about negative about nation with some generalizations about its nature (derivative, paradoxical, dominant), its its nature (derivative, paradoxical, dominant), its emphasis (nativism), its formation (mere narrative emphasis (nativism), its formation (mere narrative construction) and consequences (a failed project). construction) and consequences (a failed project). Future postcolonial studies of nation should Future postcolonial studies of nation should be more be more context-specific, while the critics should try to avoid context-specific, while the critics should try to avoid the pitfalls of essentialism and false representation the pitfalls of essentialism and false representation they see in some nationalist projects. they see in some nationalist projects.

Postcolonial Nation: Postcolonial Nation: Major IssuesMajor Issues

Its relations with Its relations with colonialismcolonialism (whether it (whether it borrows the same structure of domination)borrows the same structure of domination)

The logic of its The logic of its formationformation: national race, : national race, exclusion. exclusion.

Its constituent elements: Its constituent elements: – Materialist: boundaries, legal-economic structures, : boundaries, legal-economic structures, – CulturalCultural: history, symbols, narrative, nativism : history, symbols, narrative, nativism

Its past and future (in relation to globalization) Its past and future (in relation to globalization)

Nationalism as Nationalism as a Derivative Discoursea Derivative Discourse

(184)“The concept and political practice of the (184)“The concept and political practice of the nation-state are …seen as ‘Western’ inventions that nation-state are …seen as ‘Western’ inventions that colonialism has imposed on colonized peoples. By colonialism has imposed on colonized peoples. By adopting the nation-state as the object and medium adopting the nation-state as the object and medium of social liberation, anticolonial nationalism dooms of social liberation, anticolonial nationalism dooms itself to conceptual self-contradiction. itself to conceptual self-contradiction.

Not necessarily derivative; Not necessarily derivative; Enlightenment discourse can be “revolutionary, Enlightenment discourse can be “revolutionary,

conservative, and liberal” (185).conservative, and liberal” (185).

Nationalism as Nationalism as a Cultural/Temporal Paradoxa Cultural/Temporal Paradox

(186) “Nationalism is …the paradoxical (186) “Nationalism is …the paradoxical expression of a historical and cultural expression of a historical and cultural rupturerupture that that must assert itself as a historical must assert itself as a historical continuitycontinuity.” (e.g. .” (e.g. Indian bourgeois nationalism – with an “inner” Indian bourgeois nationalism – with an “inner” space of traditional cultural and spiritual essence space of traditional cultural and spiritual essence …and an “outer” space of “Western” progress; …and an “outer” space of “Western” progress; national history vs. national signs) national history vs. national signs)

a range of perspectives with self-determination a range of perspectives with self-determination as their ultimate objective.as their ultimate objective.

Nationalism as Nationalism as a Dominatory Function a Dominatory Function

E.g. neocolonialism (of the neocolonial elites), E.g. neocolonialism (of the neocolonial elites), racism racism

Nationlist ideology – not always dominatory, it Nationlist ideology – not always dominatory, it can “generate a class-conscious critical analysis of can “generate a class-conscious critical analysis of nationalist elites) nationalist elites) – Two related issues: (1) the transformatibility of Two related issues: (1) the transformatibility of

subjects thru’ political action; (against diffsubjects thru’ political action; (against difféérance) rance) (2)the positive value of ‘unification’ (necessary for (2)the positive value of ‘unification’ (necessary for political actions; not to deny difference)political actions; not to deny difference)

Nationalism as Nationalism as a Dominatory Function (2) a Dominatory Function (2)

Nation and gender –Nation and gender –(p. 190) women’s roles in national (p. 190) women’s roles in national movements: movements:

-- As biological reproducer, -- As biological reproducer,

-- as reproducer of boundaries of ethnic/national groups; -- as reproducer of boundaries of ethnic/national groups;

-- as participating in the ideological reproduction of the -- as participating in the ideological reproduction of the collectivity and as transmitters of its culture; collectivity and as transmitters of its culture;

-- as signifiers of ethnic/national difference-- as signifiers of ethnic/national difference

-- as participants in national, economic, political and military -- as participants in national, economic, political and military struggles. struggles.

Nationalism and feminism –not always antagonistic; nationalist Nationalism and feminism –not always antagonistic; nationalist not always patriarchal not always patriarchal

Nationalism as Nationalism as a Nativist Projectiona Nativist Projection

E.g. For Gilroy, “black nationalism E.g. For Gilroy, “black nationalism expresses and exposes the essentialist, expresses and exposes the essentialist, violent basis of all nationalisms.” (192)violent basis of all nationalisms.” (192)

nativism of Aime Cesaire: marked with nativism of Aime Cesaire: marked with strategic provisionality and mutability. strategic provisionality and mutability.

nativism can be progressive or nativism can be progressive or reactionary. reactionary.

Nationalism and Narrative Nationalism and Narrative

From B. Anderson From B. Anderson Homi Bhabha Homi Bhabha ““For Anderson, the practice of nationalism and of For Anderson, the practice of nationalism and of

narratives are narratives are benignbenign; his emphasis falls upon the ; his emphasis falls upon the inclusive community that is imagined thru’ the inclusive community that is imagined thru’ the narrative form of a novel, the synchronized daily narrative form of a novel, the synchronized daily reading of a newspaper, and the idea of reading of a newspaper, and the idea of nationalism itself. However, nationalism itself. However, postcolonial studiespostcolonial studies have demonstrated much more skepticism towards have demonstrated much more skepticism towards

narrative forms.”narrative forms.” (193) (193)

Nationalism and Narrative (2) Nationalism and Narrative (2)

From B. Anderson From B. Anderson Homi Bhabha Homi Bhabha Narrative seeks to banish “difference,” following Narrative seeks to banish “difference,” following

the same narrative laws and “logics” of the same narrative laws and “logics” of domination, identity, exclusion and domination, identity, exclusion and instrumentality. instrumentality.

E.g. Bhabha’s views of boundaries – totalizing vs. E.g. Bhabha’s views of boundaries – totalizing vs. Anderson’s – both open and closed Anderson’s – both open and closed

Nationalism as Nationalism as a Failed Historical Project a Failed Historical Project

The failure of decolonization The failure of decolonization e.g. (1) Alexander’s e.g. (1) Alexander’s class- and gender- specific class- and gender- specific

critique of Trinidad and Tobacritique of Trinidad and Tobago: go:

1) Globalization has caused a crisis in state authority 1) Globalization has caused a crisis in state authority for these independent states, and ‘has destabilized for these independent states, and ‘has destabilized the ideological moorings of nationalism.” (195) the ideological moorings of nationalism.” (195) state criminalization of same-sex sexualities as a state criminalization of same-sex sexualities as a means to reconstitute weakened political authority.means to reconstitute weakened political authority.

The failure of decolonization The failure of decolonization

(2) its narrowness (2) its narrowness

Nationalism and global humanism (or Nationalism and global humanism (or internationalism) are inter-linked. internationalism) are inter-linked.

ConclusionConclusion

(p. 196) Instead of abandoning the nation (p. 196) Instead of abandoning the nation and its discourses to those who dominate and its discourses to those who dominate and exploit them, postcolonial critics might and exploit them, postcolonial critics might provide provide alternative national visions of alternative national visions of collective identity, culture and powercollective identity, culture and power. .

Main argument Main argument

ExampleExample for Analysis: for Analysis: The City of SadnessThe City of Sadness

The City of SadnessThe City of Sadness: Ending: Ending

The City of SadnessThe City of Sadness

Related Issues: Related Issues: – Politics and informal economyPolitics and informal economy: How a gangster : How a gangster

family gets destroyed in and around 228 family gets destroyed in and around 228 incident (the interconnectedness of politics and incident (the interconnectedness of politics and illegal trade) illegal trade)

– Nation, gender and survivalNation, gender and survival: How the : How the marginalized (a mute and a woman) get marginalized (a mute and a woman) get involved in the political incident; how both involved in the political incident; how both manage to record the event. manage to record the event.

Signs of Nation in Signs of Nation in The City of SadnessThe City of Sadness

1.1. National flags; National flags; 流亡三部曲 流亡三部曲 –– chap 4chap 4

2.2. the Other – the Japanese – chap 5the Other – the Japanese – chap 5

3.3. Internal (or linguistic) boundaries –chap 8 Internal (or linguistic) boundaries –chap 8

4.4. State apparatus &State apparatus & languages– the hospital languages– the hospital and the radio chap 9-10 and the radio chap 9-10

5.5. Chap 11 Chap 11 幌馬車之歌 幌馬車之歌