Political Science: Decolonial theory

Name Instructors’ name Course Date Analyzing the Role of Western Governments and Corporations in the Genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Decolonial Framing The crisis of Congo is one of the untold stories of humanitarian tragedies in the modern world caused by colonial ravages and continued exploitation through the extraction of minerals available in Congo. Nevertheless, the violence persists, and the international community remains indifferent to the suffering, while the Western governments and multinational companies are more concerned with profits. Thus, this essay insists that the genocide in the Congo is not merely a local problem but is a new chapter in modern settler colonialism, with Western actors perpetuating violent dispossession to get their hands on valuable resources. In this case, analyzing the decolonial theories of Kevin Okoth and Anibal Quijano will highlight how these paradigms expose the implication of the West in the suffering of the Congo. Overall, this essay aims to argue that the genocide must be considered and analyzed through the decolonial framework to learn how to eradicate this system that perpetuates genocide and how the change can be begun and sustained. Theoretical Framework Decolonial Theory Overview Decolonial theory can be defined as the outcomes of academicians' critical engagement with colonialism's ongoing impacts, particularly concerning how colonialist thinking still proliferates today and produces discursive violence. It aims to disrupt the epistemologies constructed by colonial thinking and call for the legitimation and accreditation of other ways of knowing from oppressed cultures (Quijano). This framework is more applicable to modern concerns because it has the tools to understand the current exploitation and violence committed against formerly colonized nations like the Congo. Okoth has coined some important notions on “decolonization " referring to the argument that the West colonized the production and distribution of knowledge by suppressing other voices (Okoth). Adding to such views, Anibal Quijano expanded the analysis of coloniality by pointing out that race, in combination with class, structured power relations in postcolonial societies and beyond formal colonialism. These ideas together create a sound framework for comprehending the multi-dimensional aspects of contemporary colonialism and its impacts on the genocide in Congo. Settler Colonialism Wolfe writes that settler colonialism is a subcategory of colonialism that involves colonization through the formation of colonies to control land and resources for the white settlers to the detriment of the native people. In the context of resource extraction, settler colonialism involves the appropriation of Indigenous land through the organized exploitation of resources to generate profit with little regard for the well-being of Indigenous peoples or the land (Wolfe). This is a factor highlighted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where multinational corporations and governments indulge in the mining of coltan, diamonds, and gold in a way that is exploitative of local people. According to Wolfe, settler colonialism rationalizes displacement and Indigenous people's exclusion by presenting them as hindrances to progress and prosperity. This exploitation is supported by political and economic connections that promote profit at the expense of the oppressed rights and freedom (Wolfe). Therefore, settler colonialism not only determines the economic structure but also perpetuates the genocidal structures that continue to occur in the Congo. Historical Context of the Congo Genocide Colonial Legacy The Belgian colonization brought a negative influence on the Congo's socio-political system and also a marked contribution to violence and exploitation that is still being experienced. During the rule of King Leopold II, the Congo Free State experienced a significant level of exploitation whereby millions of the Congolese were reduced to slavery to produce rubber and other products for the Western market (Okoth). During this period, there were cases of killings and mutilation of many people from the local population, which led to massive causalities and also the formation of a culture of fear and oppression. Okoth writes that this exploitation set the stage for perpetuating a system that still values the exploitation of the Congo for its natural resources more than its citizens' welfare. The coloniality of power developed by Anibal Quijano helps explain how these historical injustices linger today. Quijano notes that colonialism did not cease when formal political independence was granted to states; instead, it took a different form, perpetuating racial and economic power structures (Quijano). This is evident in Congo, where global companies continue to exploit the natural resources base with the backing of Western powers. The coloniality of power emphasizes how these entities maintain a neocolonial system that awards money over the rights of people in America and perpetuates the cycle of violence and genocide witnessed in the Congo (Quijano). Thus, looking at the colonial history of Nigeria through this lens provides a de...