Postcolonial Europe is a term that Professor Frank Schulze-Engler, from the University of Frankfurt, discusses with some irritation. The complexity of applying postcolonial theory to the continent of Europe arises as early on as defining what Europe is. Schulze-Engler describes postcolonial Europe as existing both everywhere and nowhere simultaneously. This duality in existence emerges from a lack of theoretical exploration of Europe post-colonially and the extensive qualities of what can be considered as postcolonial Europe. In an attempt to define Europe, Beck and Grande introduce the term ‘Europeanisation” to define Europe as an institutionalised process of permanent change. As a result, Europe cannot be defined by geographical and political spaces; Europe is merely “another word for variable geometry, variable national interests, variable involvement, variable internal-external relations, variable statehood and variable identity” (Beck and Grande). Europe, as a term, cannot be defined with a fixed value. Although political boundaries attempt to define Europe through the European Union, these boundaries are only reinforced by fixed geographic limitations and ignore the political complexities of Europe. The expansion of the European Union exemplifies the constant shift in European politics, demonstrated by application for membership of both Morocco and the accession of Turkey. In his presentation, Schulze-Engler discusses the Western value system which is at times associated with the European Union – reinforced by the Americanised distinction between a ‘new’ and an ‘old’ Europe. The concept of a new Europe emerged after World War II, based on the concept of a cosmopolitan worldview and embodying the spirit of trans-Atlantic partnership. However, despite American efforts to divide Europe into old and new, the application of postcolonial theory to Europe breaks down this division by breaking down the concept of ‘Europe’ itself.
Acknowledging a colonial history and the postcolonial condition, Europe has begun to break down Eurocentric views that contrasted European civilisation with the barbarity of the colonized. Schulze-Engle argues that in order to ensure Europe’s presence in a postcolonial discourse, the concept of Eurocentrism must be broken down to include multiple modernities. European cannot be defined by a shared religious and cultural heritage based on years of Judeo-Christian values. The concept of multiple modernities shows that modernity and Westernisation (or in this case, Eurocentricism) are not the same. Acknowledging cosmopolitanism and multiple modernities, new concepts that shed light on the postcolonial discourse emerge. The concept of Orientalism sheds more light on the European imperial psyche than it does of the Oriental, while encouraging the exploration of non-eurocentric spaces. This exploration of modernities beyond the homogenic, fosters the de-centralisation of Europe – creating a relationship between the varying boundaries that consist of Europe and the world.
Postcolonial theory confronts Europe with a past it attempts to disassociate itself from by redefining what is considered Europe. The complexitities in defining Europe arise from the remaining remnants of Europe’s’ postcolonial past, whether they be political, membership or lack of in the European Union, or geographical, the existence of European boarder regimes in Africa. The evidence of a postcolonial past not only defines contemporary Europe but also creates complexities which breakdown definitions of Europe – placing postcolonial Europe in a state of constant change.
Beck and Grande, Cosmopolitan Europe: 6.
right on... HD
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