Post Colonial Europe

Frank Schulze-Engler’s lecture on Post Colonial Europe was arguing the case for reintroducing the study and use of Post Colonial theory in Europe. Schulze-Enlger described Europe as being in the midst of an identity crisis and argued that consideration of Post Colonial Theory is necessary in order to resolve the questions of culture, race and politics in new (that is contemporary) Europe. Schulze-Engler suggested that many of the political and cultural struggles facing Europe are symptomatic of a culture that is in a state of flux or evolution and evidence that Post Colonial theory is relevant to Europe.
He began his lecture by presenting three different understandings of Europe. The first is Europe as a geographical area. Schulze-Engler points out that this definition has been the source of much anxiety in Europe, the influx of immigration means that Europe is now home to a diverse range of cultures and religions, if Europe is solely understood in terms of geography then all cultures contained within it are by definition European. If Europe is to be understood in terms of a shared Judeo Christian cultural heritage then all people of different cultures living in Europe are excluded from the European identity. The third understanding of Europe as a political realm, however as Schulze-Engler explained this definition is problematic, as countries not included in the EU are influenced by its politics. The three definitions of Europe that Schulze-Engler discussed all carry with them the potential for racial, cultural and political discrimination. In light of these dilemmas Schulze-Engler concludes that if Europeans are to define themselves, they can no longer ask who they are but who they want to be.

Schulze-Engler concedes that term Post Colonial Europe is problematic as Colonialism is commonly thought of as being a historical period and therefore no longer relevant to Europe. Schulze- Engler emphasises that Post Colonial theory is relevant to contemporary Europe because Post Colonialism examines the aftermath of colonialism. To explain this he points to the influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal and examines the issue through using Post Colonial theory. Schulze-Engler presents the anxiety over immigration as being evidence of Europe confronting its colonial past. Europeans are now faced with the dilemma of how (and wether) to integrate migrants into their culture and politics. In terms of Post Colonial theory the “ other” is no longer a distant figure but a neighbour, potentially a fellow citizen. Furthermore notions of European superiority have been called into question by the rise of China and the United States. Schulze-Engler believes that while Europeans may find it difficult to recognise their own Post Colonial condition they are still faced with Post Colonial dilemmas. In Schulze -Engler’s words Post Colonialism would allow Europeans to create a new identity in a post euro centric world.

Schulze-Engler concluded his lecture with a question and answer session in which he discussed racism in Europe. He stated that racism is now more focused on culture than race, Post Colonial theory is particularly useful in confronting this issue as it called for critical examination of notions of cultural superiority. Schulze-Enlger stated that Post Colonial theory is not a chronological term but an active reading practise. It is a theory that forces critical engagement with current issues. The result of applying Post Colonial theory is a close consideration of the practical realities of Europe not idealised notions of what Europe is or should be. It is therefore necessary for Europeans to rediscover Post Colonial theory.