Postcolonial Perspectives on Social Inequality

Central to Postcolonial Studies is the analysis of colonial power relations. As well-known, modern colonialism went hand in hand with the racialization of humanity as it also started a hitherto unprecedented exploitation of land and seas. This resulted in the production of global social inequalities based on race, gender and class. Hence, the racialization of the world as well as the ongoing complex process of subalternization is of paramount interest for Postcolonial Studies. Moreover, the will to subjugation resulted in an unbridled exploitation of natural resources. Colonialism went hand in hand with the exploitation of nature causing social inequality in terms of access to resources and a healthy life.