Contemporary Political Studies

Contemporary Political Studies

Colonialism: construct Historical understanding, shaping new order and formulating action

Document Type : .

Author
Researcher of Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies
Abstract
Abstract
Colonialism is a phenomenon that begins with the slogan of construction and development and eventually leads to political domination and economic exploitation. This phenomenon took a self-centered approach and was based on the exercise of power and the creation of a new order. Therefore, the phenomenon of colonialism sought to institutionalize object-subject relations in the form of colonizing and colonized societies. This phenomenon has been investigated from different aspects, but the process of becoming the objective process of colonization, the pattern of ideas and its placement in information and its effect on the activities of societies has not been formulated. Therefore, this research seeks to answer the question of what historical foundations the colonial process is based on, how it has shaped historical information and shaped human actions. So it can be pointed out that the colonists by explaining the historical identity of the colonial societies based on specific historical components, deprived them of the possibility of creating an identity. This causes the colonized societies to act against it because they were looking for their identity and position based on the historical formations by the colonizers, but with this process and the explanation of the independent identity and the construction of historical recognition, they shape their actions.
Keywords: Colonialism, Historical Understanding, Epistemic System, New Order, Activism.
 
Introduction
The concept of colonialism is the one on which no consensus has been formed. The semantic contradiction of the concept of colonialism has caused various theories to be presented about this phenomenon (Momsen 1363: 89-130). The presented ideas about colonialism often refer to the concept of the other and dominating the other and have challenged unequal political, economic and cultural relations, but these narratives often do not pay attention to how the idea of ​​colonialism is transformed into a historical matter. Because this concept becomes an objective perception in the theoretical field in a historical context and forms a historical understanding that is the basis of action. Therefore, the current research seeks to answer the question of on which historical foundations the colonial process relies, how it shapes historical awareness, and how it structures human actions. In this sense, by examining the historical process, the semantic change of this concept of observation and its epistemological formulation will be searched in the historical context, and its impact on the actions of colonized societies will be discussed.
 
Materials & Methods
The process of finding the meaning of concepts is based on historical understanding. The historical understanding of one's own existence and the relationship with the surrounding environment is often the basis of the activities of human societies that rely on worldviews and knowledge systems. For example, the ancient Egyptians had a static tendency for present and past life. Therefore, in their view, the gods ruled over the conditions of existence. In Greece, however, the concept of history included the past and the future of mankind, and had serious discussions about physical sciences and mechanics. In the new era, with the formation of the idea that historical knowledge is the knowledge of the past in the present, and the knowledge that is formed in the historian's mind is objectively realized by reviving and passing the limitations of past experiences, the role of presented images of history became more important (See, Duntan, 2017)
The role of images in the construction of human perceptions in the contemporary world is a subjet of serious thought. For example, Heidegger believes that it is possible to understand the world in the form of an image (Heidegger, 2002: 67-68). He introduces creaters or beings as the owner of existence if they are called forward by a human being. In other words, abstract categories draw a picture of phenomena in a historical context and give them meaning. This shapes historical narratives. In this framework, the historical narrative is linked with the value perceptions (cf. Weber, 1382: 169). In other words, in this epistemic system, phenomena are classified and enter the field of consciousness in a preferred pattern. Mastering these narratives is also depicted as mastering the society. Because it forms the basis of action.
 
Discussion & Result
The process of colonization is based on an essentialist perspective. In the sense that the colonists considered other societies uncivilized and believed that they should be guided towards civilization. On this basis, colonialism organized a certain system of thought and ideology that sought to apply a specific order and ultimately sought to exploit the resources of other societies. To justify this relationship, the colonialists sought to place this process in the conceptual system so that the process of colonization becomes believable and understandable. Clarifying the identity of the colonized was very important in the process of colonization, because it became an internal matter. Therefore, in the colonial era, in the historical conflict, the colonialists were able to form historical consciousness, which provided them with greater superiority.
Meanwhile, the creation of a new order required a new classification. Because, in order to disrupt the established order, a new category must be formed in people's understanding and awareness. Based on this, the colonialists excluded other societies from the scope of the historical awareness system by classifying and ordering the phenomena. In other words, they emptied the colonized societies of historical identity and consciousness. The loss of the previous tradition and identity caused the colonized societies to lose the possibility of relying on concrete foundations for action against colonialism. In the meantime, the reproduction of racial and social distinctions in the process of colonization strengthened the idea of ​​colonization. Because as a result of this process, the members of the society were confronted with each other.
 
Conclusion
The phenomenon of colonialism continued from the 16th and 17th centuries to the 20th century, but finally ended with the anti-colonial movements after 1945. This phenomenon was created with the dual conceptualization of civilized countries and backward countries. In this way, European countries presented themselves as symbols of thinking and progress and portrayed other countries as backward and savage. For this reason, the Europeans claimed an order that sought to bring all societies closer to the wisdom and civilization of the Europeans. The self-centered approach of colonialism caused the colonizing countries to seek exploitation of the colonized societies. This also facilitated the process of exploitation, because it spread an idea based on which exploitation of other societies was not seen as ugly and reprehensible.
The depiction of civilized and uncivilized by the colonialists in this period led to the dominance of the discourse in which the colonized societies found an object-like form and did not have the possibility of subject actions. Because these societies were empty of identity and history and lost the possibility of explaining the action components. Because, actions are formed based on common will, beliefs, and values, which have been shaped throughout history and based on common identity, and with the loss of these components, the possibility of formulating common will and goal is lost. Colonized societies, however, by recovering their identity and defining identity components over time, were able to form an anti-colonial movement that led to the end of the political domination of the colonial countries.
Keywords

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