Colonialism’s Shadow: Unpacking Its Modern Impact

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Colonialism, a relic of the past? Far from it. Today we’re exploring how this centuries-old system continues to shape our modern world in ways that might surprise you.

Image courtesy of interviewee. January 2, 2025

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In this episode of the Faculty Law Podcast, hosts Lily and David discuss the relevance of colonialism in the modern world, asserting that its impacts are far from being relics of the past. They highlight how colonial legacies shape current social inequalities, using examples like the concentration of quality healthcare in areas historically occupied by colonizers.

The conversation explores three academic approaches to understanding colonialism: the **utilitarian view**, which controversially weighs colonialism's costs and benefits; the **decolonial perspective**, which focuses on dismantling colonial legacies; and the **analytic philosophy approach**, which examines the concept of epistemic injustice—the erasure of the knowledge systems of colonized peoples.

David and Lily emphasize the need for education and awareness to confront the pervasive influence of colonialism, encouraging listeners to engage in meaningful conversations and challenge these issues in their own lives. They conclude with the idea that addressing these matters is essential for creating a just and equitable future, quoting James Baldwin on the importance of confronting challenges to drive change.

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Here are five key points from the video of the Faculty Law Podcast discussion on colonialism:

1. **Ongoing Influence of Colonialism**: The podcast highlights that colonialism is not merely a historical event; its legacy continues to shape modern society through race, socioeconomic status, and systemic inequalities. These enduring impacts demonstrate that understanding colonialism is crucial for grasping contemporary social issues.

2. **Three Academic Approaches**: The discussion outlines three scholarly perspectives on the legacy of colonialism: the **utilitarian view**, which attempts to weigh the costs and benefits of colonialism; the **decolonial perspective**, which seeks to dismantle colonial structures without debating potential benefits; and the **analytic philosophy approach**, which focuses on understanding core injustices, particularly epistemic injustice.

3. **Epistemic Injustice**: A key concept explored is epistemic injustice, which refers to the wrongs committed against colonized peoples by undermining their knowledge systems and cultural practices. This intellectual theft was an integral part of the colonial project, with long-lasting effects on how colonized populations view themselves and their histories.

4. **Need for Education and Awareness**: The podcast emphasizes the importance of education and awareness as starting points for addressing the pervasive effects of colonialism. Engaging in critical conversations about its historical and current impacts is essential for fostering understanding and promoting societal change.

5. **Call to Action**: The hosts encourage listeners to actively engage with these issues, suggesting that questioning, learning, and having discussions can lead to greater awareness and potentially drive social change. They reinforce that confronting colonial legacies is necessary for creating a more just and equitable world.

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Here are some key quotes and concepts from the video of the Faculty Law Podcast exploring the impacts of colonialism:

1. **Opening Statement on Colonialism**:
- "Colonialism a relic of the past? Far from it."

2. **Foundation Analogy**:
- "It's like trying to renovate a house with a cracked foundation. You can paint the walls and change the furniture, but those underlying issues will keep causing problems until you address them directly."

3. **Cracks in the Foundation**:
- "We are talking about generations of racial, socioeconomic, and geographical inequalities that have been baked into the very structures of our societies."

4. **Monuments to Colonialism**:
- "We've seen widespread protests demanding racial equality, heated debates about historical monuments..."

5. **Three Main Approaches to Colonialism**:
- "There are three main approaches that have emerged in academic circles: the utilitarian view, the decolonial perspective, and the analytic philosophy approach."

6. **Utilitarian Justification**:
- "Some proponents of this view have tried to justify colonialism by pointing to supposed benefits like infrastructure development."

7. **Decolonial Perspective**:
- "The decolonial approach takes a much more critical stance. It doesn't even entertain debates about potential benefits of colonialism."

8. **Epistemic Injustice**:
- "Epistemic injustice refers to wrongs done to someone in their capacity as a knower in the convideo of colonialism."

9. **Impacts of Colonial Mindset**:
- "If you convince people that their entire way of understanding the world is wrong or inferior, that's going to impact generations."

10. **Need for Education**:
- "A good starting point is education and awareness. Understanding colonialism's impact is the first step towards addressing it."

11. **Quote by James Baldwin**:
- "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."

12. **Call to Action**:
- "I'd encourage them to keep questioning, keep learning, and keep having these important conversations."

These quotes encapsulate the essence of the podcast's discussion on the legacy of colonialism, its ongoing impacts, and the importance of educational engagement with these issues.

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Welcome to the Faculty Law Podcast,

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where we explore groundbreaking legal ideas

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and their societal impacts.

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I'm Lily colonialism a relic

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of the past far from it.

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Today we're exploring how this centuries old system

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continues to shape our modern world in ways

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that might surprise you.

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Hmm. That's quite a bold statement to start with, Lily.

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Hi guys. I am David.

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So Lily, what makes you say

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colonialism is still relevant today?

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Well, recent events have really brought this

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issue to the forefront.

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We've seen widespread protests demanding racial equality,

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heated debates about historical monuments,

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and a growing recognition

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that colonialisms long shadow continues

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to influence our present in profound ways.

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I see what you mean. But isn't colonialism something

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that happened in the past?

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How exactly is it still affecting us?

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That's a common misconception.

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While the era of formal colonialism may be over,

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its effects are far from historical.

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It's like trying to renovate a house

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with a cracked foundation.

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You can paint the walls and change the furniture,

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but those underlying issues will keep causing problems

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until you address them directly.

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That's an interesting analogy.

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So what are some of these cracks?

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In the foundation that we're dealing with,

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We are talking about generations of racial, socioeconomic,

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and geographical inequalities

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that have been baked into the very structures

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of our societies.

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For example, did you know

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that in many post-colonial countries, the best hospitals

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and medical facilities are still concentrated in areas

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that were historically occupied by colonizers?

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Wow, I hadn't thought about it that way before.

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It really shows how deep these issues go.

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Exactly, and that's why it's so crucial

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to examine what's distinctively wrong about colonialism.

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It's not just about acknowledging

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that bad things happened in the past.

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It's about understanding the complex

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and far reaching consequences that continue

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to shape our world.

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So how do scholars approach this question?

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It seems like a pretty daunting task to unpack all of that.

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Well, there are three main approaches

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that have emerged in academic circles, the utilitarian view,

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the decolonial perspective,

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and the analytic philosophy approach.

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Each of these offers a different lens through which

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to examine the legacy of colonialism.

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Interesting. Can you break those down for us?

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Sure thing. Let's start with the utilitarian view.

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This approach essentially tries to weigh the costs

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and benefits of colonialism.

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It's quite controversial

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because it attempts to quantify something

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that many argue is unquantifiable.

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I can see why that would be contentious.

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How does this play out in practice?

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Well, some proponents of this view have tried

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to justify colonialism by pointing

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to supposed benefits like infrastructure development.

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You'll hear arguments like, but we built them railways,

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or we introduced modern agriculture.

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It's like saying, sure, we stole your land,

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erased your culture and exploited your people.

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But hey, look at these nice roads we built.

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When you put it that way, it does sound pretty absurd.

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What about the decolonial perspective?

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The decolonial approach takes a much more critical stance.

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It doesn't even entertain debates about potential benefits

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of colonialism.

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Instead, it focuses on dismantling colonial legacies

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in all their forms.

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This could involve revising educational curricular

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to include marginalized perspectives

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or challenging institutional structures

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that perpetuate colonial power dynamics.

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That sounds like it could lead

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to some significant changes,

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but I imagine it's not always well received.

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You're right about that. It's a complex issue

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that touches on questions of identity, history, and power.

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But proponents argue that these difficult conversations

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and actions are necessary to address the ongoing impacts

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of colonialism.

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And what about the third approach, analytic philosophy?

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The analytic philosophy approach tries

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to identify the core wrong of colonialism,

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and what many philosophers have zeroed in on is the concept

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of epistemic injustice.

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Epistemic injustice. That's quite a mouthful.

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Can you break that down for us?

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Of course. Epistemic injustice refers to wrongs done

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to someone in their capacity

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as a knower in the context of colonialism.

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It's about how colonizers didn't just take physical

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resources or land.

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They also attempted to erase the very being

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and knowledge systems of the colonized peoples.

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So it's not just about material theft,

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but a kind of intellectual or cultural theft as well.

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Exactly. Colonizers often framed the knowledge, beliefs,

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and practices of colonized peoples as inferior or primitive.

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This wasn't just a side effect of colonialism.

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It was a fundamental part of how colonialism operated.

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That's fascinating, and I can see how that kind

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of thinking would have long lasting effects.

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Absolutely. If you convince people that their entire way

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of understanding the world is wrong

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or inferior, that's going to impact generations.

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We can see those impacts reverberating today in inequalities

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across various systems, governance, healthcare,

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global justice, you name it.

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It's like a domino effect that just keeps going, isn't it?

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That's a great way to put it.

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Colonialism wasn't just about physical violence

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or economic exploitation.

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It created a framework

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that fundamentally dehumanized entire populations,

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and that dehumanization made it easier

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to justify other forms of exploitation and violence.

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So given all of this, how do we even begin

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to address something so pervasive?

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That's the million dollar question, isn't it?

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I think a good starting point is education and awareness.

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Understanding the full scope

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of colonialisms impact is the first step

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towards addressing it.

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Let's pause for a moment and think about this.

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What are three ways colonialism might be impacting your

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daily life that you hadn't considered before?

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Hmm. That's a thought provoking question.

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It really makes you realize

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how deeply ingrained these issues are.

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Exactly. And it's important to remember

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that this isn't just an academic exercise.

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These are real issues affecting real people's

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lives every day.

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It's about recognizing

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that colonialism isn't just a chapter in a history book.

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It's an ongoing reality that we are all living with,

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whether we realize it or not.

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When you put it that way, it really drives home

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how important these discussions are.

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It's not just about looking back at history, is it?

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Not at all. It's about understanding how

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that history shapes our present and influences our future.

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By recognizing this, we can start

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to challenge those colonial legacies in our own

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lives and communities.

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That's quite a journey to embark on.

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It can't be easy to confront these issues head on.

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You are right. It's not always easy,

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but it's necessary if we want

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to create a more just and equitable world.

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There's a quote by James Baldwin

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that I think captures this perfectly.

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He said, not everything that is faced can be changed,

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but nothing can be changed until it is faced.

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That's a powerful quote.

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It really encapsulates the importance of these discussions.

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Absolutely. We might not have all the answers,

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but by facing these issues head on,

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we are taking the first crucial steps towards change.

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It's a journey, and it's not always an easy one,

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but it's necessary if we want to create a more just

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and equitable world.

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As we wrap up this discussion, I'm struck by

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how much there is still to explore on this topic.

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We've really only scratched the surface, haven't we?

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That's very true. But hopefully we've given our listeners

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a starting point for their own explorations and discussions.

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There's so much more to learn

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and understand about the legacy of colonialism

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and its impacts on our world today.

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So what would you say to our listeners who want

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to engage more with these issues?

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I'd encourage them to keep questioning, keep learning,

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and keep having these important conversations.

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Whether it's through reading, discussing with friends

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and family, or getting involved in your community.

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There are so many ways to engage with these issues

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and work towards positive change.

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That's great advice. It's been quite a journey exploring

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this topic with you today.

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Likewise, and to our listeners, thank you

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for joining us on this exploration.

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Remember, understanding is the first step towards change.

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Until next time, keep questioning, keep learning,

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and keep striving for a more just world.

Colonialism's Lasting Impact: Unraveling Modern Inequalities

00:00:02 - Welcome to the Faculty Law Podcast, where we explore groundbreaking legal ideas and their societal impacts. I'm Lily colonialism a relic of the past far from it. Today we're exploring how this centuries old system continues to shape our modern world in ways that might surprise you. Hmm. That's quite a bold statement to start with, Lily. Hi guys. I am David. So Lily, what makes you say

00:00:35 - Well, recent events have really brought this issue to the forefront. We've seen widespread protests demanding racial equality, heated debates about historical monuments, and a growing recognition that colonialisms long shadow continues to influence our present in profound ways. I see what you mean. But isn't colonialism something that happened in the past? How exactly is it still affecting us? That's a common misconception. While the era of formal colonialism may be over,

00:01:08 - It's like trying to renovate a house with a cracked foundation. You can paint the walls and change the furniture, but those underlying issues will keep causing problems until you address them directly. That's an interesting analogy. So what are some of these cracks? In the foundation that we're dealing with, We are talking about generations of racial, socioeconomic, and geographical inequalities that have been baked into the very structures of our societies.

Understanding Colonialism's Lasting Impact: Approaches to Its Legacy

00:01:38 - that in many post-colonial countries, the best hospitals and medical facilities are still concentrated in areas that were historically occupied by colonizers? Wow, I hadn't thought about it that way before. It really shows how deep these issues go. Exactly, and that's why it's so crucial to examine what's distinctively wrong about colonialism. It's not just about acknowledging that bad things happened in the past. It's about understanding the complex

00:02:10 - to shape our world. So how do scholars approach this question? It seems like a pretty daunting task to unpack all of that. Well, there are three main approaches that have emerged in academic circles, the utilitarian view, the decolonial perspective, and the analytic philosophy approach. Each of these offers a different lens through which to examine the legacy of colonialism. Interesting. Can you break those down for us?

00:02:45 - This approach essentially tries to weigh the costs and benefits of colonialism. It's quite controversial because it attempts to quantify something that many argue is unquantifiable. I can see why that would be contentious. How does this play out in practice? Well, some proponents of this view have tried to justify colonialism by pointing to supposed benefits like infrastructure development. You'll hear arguments like, but we built them railways,

Confronting Colonialism: Decolonial Perspectives and Epistemic Injustice

00:03:16 - It's like saying, sure, we stole your land, erased your culture and exploited your people. But hey, look at these nice roads we built. When you put it that way, it does sound pretty absurd. What about the decolonial perspective? The decolonial approach takes a much more critical stance. It doesn't even entertain debates about potential benefits of colonialism. Instead, it focuses on dismantling colonial legacies in all their forms.

00:03:48 - to include marginalized perspectives or challenging institutional structures that perpetuate colonial power dynamics. That sounds like it could lead to some significant changes, but I imagine it's not always well received. You're right about that. It's a complex issue that touches on questions of identity, history, and power. But proponents argue that these difficult conversations and actions are necessary to address the ongoing impacts

00:04:18 - And what about the third approach, analytic philosophy? The analytic philosophy approach tries to identify the core wrong of colonialism, and what many philosophers have zeroed in on is the concept of epistemic injustice. Epistemic injustice. That's quite a mouthful. Can you break that down for us? Of course. Epistemic injustice refers to wrongs done to someone in their capacity as a knower in the context of colonialism.

Cultural Erasure and Lasting Impact of Colonialism

00:04:52 - resources or land. They also attempted to erase the very being and knowledge systems of the colonized peoples. So it's not just about material theft, but a kind of intellectual or cultural theft as well. Exactly. Colonizers often framed the knowledge, beliefs, and practices of colonized peoples as inferior or primitive. This wasn't just a side effect of colonialism. It was a fundamental part of how colonialism operated.

00:05:24 - of thinking would have long lasting effects. Absolutely. If you convince people that their entire way of understanding the world is wrong or inferior, that's going to impact generations. We can see those impacts reverberating today in inequalities across various systems, governance, healthcare, global justice, you name it. It's like a domino effect that just keeps going, isn't it?

00:05:54 - Colonialism wasn't just about physical violence or economic exploitation. It created a framework that fundamentally dehumanized entire populations, and that dehumanization made it easier to justify other forms of exploitation and violence. So given all of this, how do we even begin to address something so pervasive? That's the million dollar question, isn't it? I think a good starting point is education and awareness.

Confronting Colonialism: A Call to Awareness and Action

00:06:26 - of colonialisms impact is the first step towards addressing it. Let's pause for a moment and think about this. What are three ways colonialism might be impacting your daily life that you hadn't considered before? Hmm. That's a thought provoking question. It really makes you realize how deeply ingrained these issues are. Exactly. And it's important to remember that this isn't just an academic exercise.

00:06:59 - lives every day. It's about recognizing that colonialism isn't just a chapter in a history book. It's an ongoing reality that we are all living with, whether we realize it or not. When you put it that way, it really drives home how important these discussions are. It's not just about looking back at history, is it? Not at all. It's about understanding how that history shapes our present and influences our future.

00:07:31 - to challenge those colonial legacies in our own lives and communities. That's quite a journey to embark on. It can't be easy to confront these issues head on. You are right. It's not always easy, but it's necessary if we want to create a more just and equitable world. There's a quote by James Baldwin that I think captures this perfectly. He said, not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.

Embracing the Journey of Understanding Colonialism

00:08:03 - It really encapsulates the importance of these discussions. Absolutely. We might not have all the answers, but by facing these issues head on, we are taking the first crucial steps towards change. It's a journey, and it's not always an easy one, but it's necessary if we want to create a more just and equitable world. As we wrap up this discussion, I'm struck by how much there is still to explore on this topic.

00:08:35 - That's very true. But hopefully we've given our listeners a starting point for their own explorations and discussions. There's so much more to learn and understand about the legacy of colonialism and its impacts on our world today. So what would you say to our listeners who want to engage more with these issues? I'd encourage them to keep questioning, keep learning, and keep having these important conversations. Whether it's through reading, discussing with friends

00:09:06 - There are so many ways to engage with these issues and work towards positive change. That's great advice. It's been quite a journey exploring this topic with you today. Likewise, and to our listeners, thank you for joining us on this exploration. Remember, understanding is the first step towards change. Until next time, keep questioning, keep learning,

Confronting Colonial Legacies: A Path to Change

00:09:33 -

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