Rethinking Imperialism with the Uneasy Category In-Between Imperiality and Coloniality

• In Event: 3151 - Theory Section Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 7. Theoretical Approaches to Global Change and Challenges – A

Abstract

The literature on empire tends to focus on those who are either colonized or are colonizers or focuses on the relationship between these subjects. Missing is a theorization of those in between the role of colonizer and colonized, the in-betweeners who occupy a role that is both colonized and colonizer. First, we call for a rethinking of imperialism to include capitalism as a hegemonic facet. Second, we call for a theorization of those in-between subjects and propose categorizations based on the dimension of conjunctural versus contiguous in which agency is seen as existing within structures to influence structure and also on the dimension of acceptance versus resistance which delineates the ways in which in-between subjects may use their power and position to accept or resist the power structures. We provide examples of the in-between subjects that exist along these axes on the local, national, and global scale.

Authors

• Pia Furkan, University of Massachusetts Amherst

• Veda Hyunjin Kim, University of Massachusetts Amherst