The Politics of Postcolonialism: Empire, Nation and Resistance PDF
Preview The Politics of Postcolonialism: Empire, Nation and Resistance
The Politics of Postcolonialism Sethi T01350 00 pre 1 23/02/2011 11:24 ‘“If postcolonial studies is to be relevant today,” Rumina Sethi argues, “it must become the voice of the people and theorize about movements against globalization, not become part of its grand design.” Her critical analysis of the “politics of postcolonialism” and the lack of constructive dialogue with the Marxist perspective, interweaving with analysis of globalization and the state of “postcoloniality,” seeks to overcome the academic ossification of concepts that should be integrated with social change and activism.’ (Noam Chomsky, Emeritus Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology) ‘In The Politics of Postcolonialism, Postcolonialism and Marxism, too often set in opposition to each other as if they were antagonists or rivals, are joined together in order to forge an activist postcolonial politics. Rumina Sethi challenges postcolonial critics to put their feet back on the ground and to link the postcolonial once again to the political activism by which it has always been inspired. Too often, she suggests, postcolonial studies has advanced as an academic discipline while remaining deaf to the roaring turmoil of global resistance to domination and exploitation. That struggle must continue, and if postcolonial critics are to align themselves with it, Sethi forcefully argues, they must begin by returning to the place where the people dwell.’ (Robert J.C. Young, Julius Silver Professor of English and Comparative Literature, New York University) ‘This book develops an argument that is both even-handed and radical. Rumina Sethi explores the history and the difficulties of post-colonial theory and without jettisoning its value she urges quite fresh thinking about its political and social implications.’ (Dame Gillian Beer, Emeritus Professor of Eng lish Literature, University of Cambridge) Sethi T01350 00 pre 2 23/02/2011 11:24 The Politics of Postcolonialism Empire, Nation and Resistance RUMINa SETHI Sethi T01350 00 pre 3 23/02/2011 11:24 First published 2011 by Pluto Press 345 archway Road, London N6 5aa www.plutobooks.com Distributed in the United States of america exclusively by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of St. Martin’s Press LLC, 175 Fifth avenue, New York, NY 10010 Copyright © Rumina Sethi 2011 The right of Rumina Sethi to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents act 1988. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978 0 7453 2364 0 Hardback ISBN 978 0 7453 2363 3 Paperback Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data applied for This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. Logging, pulping and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental standards of the country of origin. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Designed and produced for Pluto Press by Chase Publishing Services Ltd, 33 Livonia Road, Sidmouth, EX10 9JB, England Typeset from disk by Stanford DTP Services, Northampton, England Simultaneously printed digitally by CPI antony Rowe, Chippenham, UK and Edwards Bros in the United States of america Sethi T01350 00 pre 4 23/02/2011 11:24 In loving memory of my mother Sethi T01350 00 pre 5 23/02/2011 11:24 Sethi T01350 00 pre 6 23/02/2011 11:24 ConTenTs Acknowledgements viii 1 Postcolonialism and its Discontents: an Introduction 1 2 The End of the Nation? 30 3 Globalization and Protest 59 4 The United States and Postcolonialism 87 5 Conclusion: New Directions 111 Notes 125 Bibliography 154 Index 169 Sethi T01350 00 pre 7 23/02/2011 11:24 ACknowledgemenTs Most of this book was written during two years of study leave at Oxford and Cambridge as well as the Nehru Memorial Library, New Delhi. I am grateful to the Panjab University, Chandigarh, for granting me leave without which it would have not been possible to carry out my research. I am also indebted to the Faculty of English, University of Oxford, for inviting me to spend two years in Oxford. I must thank the staff of the English Faculty, the Rothermere american Institute, the Taylorian Institute and the Bodleian library at Oxford, and that of the Nehru Memorial, New Delhi, for assistance in tracing relevant materials. Particular thanks are due to the International Gender Studies Centre, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford; Pembroke College, University of Cambridge; Indian Institute of advanced Studies, Shimla; the International aCLaLS triennial Conference, Hyderabad; and the Rockefeller Centre at Bellagio, Italy, where I presented parts of my work during the course of my research. My stay at Villa Serbelloni in Bellagio on the salubrious banks of Lake Como during the course of writing this book will always remain the most indelible experience of my research. While on a Rockefeller Fellowship award, I had the opportunity to interact with eminent scholars, poets and thinkers and arrive at new perspectives especially after long discussions over many weeks. I imagined Hannah arendt, the German philosopher, who had been there decades ago, lazing in the sun and indulging in free conversations on politics, literature and philosophy. Liberalism in politics, the cultivation of the intellect, and keenly standing up for broad and unbridled truth – that was the deep experience I gained there. Many thanks to Robert Young, Tim Cribb, Catherine Belsey and Kamal Verma who offered valuable suggestions from time to viii Sethi T01350 00 pre 8 23/02/2011 11:24 AckNowlEdgEmENts ix time and gave me their feedback and criticism. Though words are not enough, I am grateful to my dear friends, Rajinder Bhandari, Guinea Singh, Sarah Gracie and Shankar Narayan, for their constant encouragement and unfailing emotional support during a very trying period of my life. Prakash Upadhyaya, Roopinder Singh, Thomas Bisson, Pilar Palacia, Jyoti Sodhi, Meenu Rikhy, Charanjit Singh, Manju and anil Loona were of immense help whenever I needed them. I would also like to thank Wolfson College, Oxford, which has always been helpful in matters of accommodation. The days spent here in my old college interacting with scholars from various fields were of enormous value. I would especially like to express my gratitude to the team of publishers at Pluto Press, London, particularly David Castle, Will Viney, alec Gregory, Judy Nash, Dave Stanford, Sue Stanford and Robert Webb, all of whom have been very patient and always forthcoming with any kind of assistance needed to facilitate my research on this project. Not once did David put excessive pressure on me as I occasionally crossed deadlines even as, in his own inimitable way, he was gently there to remind me of the passing time. Tom Lynton, the cover manager, went painstakingly over every detail of the jacket of this book, always willing to modify and alter. Tim Clark, to whom I am equally indebted, read the manuscript meticulously and uncomplainingly. To Shelley, I owe a very special thanks for all the scholarly debate and criticism which certainly helped to make this book more incisive and rigorous. I owe him a special debt of gratitude for patiently w aiting for me to finish writing as I spent long hours away from him. Finally, I would like to thank my parents: my father who assisted me every inch of the way, who brought me up to be disciplined, determined and rigorous in whatever I did; and my beautiful and ever-supportive mother who made me the person I am and taught me to be intellectually honest. I regret that she never got to see this book completed. I dedicate it to her loving memory. Sethi T01350 00 pre 9 23/02/2011 11:24
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