Post-colonial theory of State

Comment on the Post-colonial theory of State. UPSC 2020 Paper 1A Qn 1a

West European nations by the seventeenth century consolidated their nations and set out to achieve their modernization through industrialization and urbanization.

Colonial countries dominated the vast areas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, exploited the differences among people, and created elites to serve their purpose.

Efforts of colonial masters to promote education, industry, transport, etc later only contributed to establishing their power and stabilizing their rule. To exploit the resources they claimed to civilize the uncivilized people.

The post-colonial perspective of the state attempts to analyze the problems of the newly independent nations. It analyses the general pattern of domination in the international sphere, which is crucial to understanding the state system. The colonial economic, political, and cultural values remain in post-colonial societies.

Nation building and state in post-colonial states - Nation building and state building complement each other. Nation-building provides a sense of identification and social solidarity. During the process of nation building people transfer their commitment and loyalty from tribes and principalities to the larger central political system. It develops a sense of community among the people within the jurisdiction of a political system. State building establishes law and order.

Masses mobilized during the independence movement were united by national symbols, and independence is expected to provide the needs and aspirations of the masses.

But the multiplication of demands, bureaucratic apathy, and police oppression were quite evident, which resulted in an overall deterioration of national life. Post-colonial societies are still struck with social, economic, and political disparities that stem from the discriminatory practices implemented during colonial rule like, land ownership disparities, caste system, religious disparities, etc.

 

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