CultureAugust 28, 2026

decolonialism

dee-kuh-LOH-nee-uh-li-zum

Definition

The political or social process of dismantling colonial power structures and undoing the enduring impacts of colonization on a society's culture and institutions.

Etymology

Derived from the prefix 'de-' (meaning undoing or reversal) combined with 'colonialism' (the policy of acquiring control over another country). It emerged in academic and political discourse during the mid-20th century to describe the efforts of formerly colonized nations to gain independence and shed colonial influence.

In the news

In the article, the music project Antropoceno explores decolonialism by blending indigenous folk traditions with avant-garde metal to challenge the erasure of native subjectivities.

On The Margins

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