Mahmood Reading

The author claims that state formation is characterized by two identities, by the market and by the culture, both which are mistaken for the same thing. Mahmood states that the cultural aspect is much more important. Culture involves ethnic traditions, customs of tribal groups, language, religions etc. When colonies were formed, colonizers ignored existing ethnic boundaries. Ethnic problems arose within the political boundaries created by the state. Also he concludes that the greatest crime of colonization was not exploiting the indigenous, but to politicizing indigeneity.

He says the politics of colonialism are not "historicized" meaning "we failed to understand the extent to which colonial institutions shaped the agency of the colonized." This is a difficult and wordy concept to grasp, so in my own words: Europe's current perception and influence on post-colonial countries is still shaped by the legacy of colonialsim.

Africa needed "native authority" to enter history. Europe didn't see Africa as having any types of government so Africa was excluded from history. Africa's history only started when Europeans could recognized a legitimate form of government, which started at the tribal "chief." Europe only recognized government in terms of authoritarianism. However Africa's history of government is much longer and vibrant and its portrayed including religious ruling, kingdoms, women ruler heads and clans.

European powers created an ethnic divide between natives and nonnatives. Natives were not under the law so they had no rights. Nonnatives were bound to the law and had rights. Africa has ethnicities--> defined by different tribes.

3 Post-colonial Dilemmas:

*Rights- civil rights for all citizens, "bonus" customary rights for the indigenous

*Entitlements- only applies to "natives"

*Customs- word closely tied with "native"

"Colonialism is not just about the identity of governors, that they were white or European; it was even more so about the institutions they created to enable a minority to rule over a majority." (Mahmood p.14)

I agree. It doesn't matter what the race of the colonizers were. Colonialism is about a small few ruling and exploiting many.

"Let us reconsider the colonial legacy that each of us is either a native or a settler. It is with that compass in hand that we must fashion our political world" (Mahmood p. 15).

I agree. We should take culture into account and detach our minds from a native vs. settler mentality so we can better picture the effects of colonialism.