Postcolonial Europe

There are still a number of major issues with the process of transformation from the “old national” Europe to the “new cosmopolitan” Europe. As Beck and Grande explains, it is difficult to accurately define ‘Europe’ because of the “large geographical and political space”, so therefore ‘Europe’ can only be understood as a variable and not “a fixed condition”. This complexity in defining the idea of “Europe” is irritating “Postcolonial” studies. The Postcolonial discourse in Europe is a complicated issue as discussed by Professor Frank Schulze-Engler. It is asserted that this issue cut both ways; looking at the uneasy relationship between Postcolonial and Europe and Modern Europe written out of the Postcolonial world.

Today Europe is divided between two groups of thought, one being the modernistic approach by many of the countries within the European Union, “new” Europe. It includes countries such as Germany, France, England…etc, whose political and economic approach drives towards globalisation and multicultural relationships. This is exemplified in the contours of “new” Europe, which have become a problematic issue with many different relationships between various multinational European organisations like the EU, the Eurozone, the Schengen zone… etc. As exemplified by Morocco’s unsuccessful application for EU membership, Europe is replete with political complexities and the inability to tear itself away from its colonial past; this ultimately raises questions of where and who Europe essentially is. To write of post-colonialism we are essentially acknowledging the death of the colonial state. However, today many theorists see a new emergence of the Westernised colonies, or otherwise known as, the Americanisation of the global frame or cultural imperialism. This Americanisation can be seen as the latest revolutionary step of colonialisation, negating the theory of a postcolonial world.

It has been stated that in order for Europe to embrace its Postcolonial presence, it has to come to terms with its colonial history. There has been much talk about Europe moving beyond “Eurocentrism”, but however, is still facing issues with its cultural and political regimes regarding “Europeanness” and “Otherness”. Although Europe has been embracing modernity and moving past its “Eurocentrism”, the viewing of the “Other” has also evolved. During the erstwhile days of the “old” Europe, the Jews were the primary targets but in “new” Europe, the “Other” is perceived and differentiated by culture and who are also immigrants from neighbouring colonies. Balibar raises that the “Other” “is a necessary component” of Europe’s “identity” and its “future vitality, its power.” That being said, it can be suggested that the idea of postcolonial theory is non existent, and there is still a continuation of colonialism in Europe through new and different ways of thinking through about Europe and its political, cultural ways of function and its concern for power. Postcolonial theory challenges the development of a national identity, which in this case, does not exist. Prof. Schulze-Engler finally concludes that the idea of Europe and the practice of Europe are essentially two very different objectifications and that postcolonial is after all nothing but a reading discourse.