INTERNAL COLONIZATION IN PAKISTAN: COLONIAL LEGACIES AND FANONIAN PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

The present article critically examines phenomenon of internal colonization in Pakistan in light of theoretical framework forwarded by Frantz Fanon. Internal Colonization is a term used to describe reproduction, on soil of state, of structures of control, extraction and cultural domination as they were defined during the colonial era, but now are perpetuated by elites of state. The study is based on Fanon's vision of project of colonialism as both a political and economic and psychological process, and argues that Pakistan was not a complete break with colonial logic and is rather a transfer of power. The inherited hierarchy of languages, legal order and military and bureaucracy remained and were even reinforced in several ways. The article looks at six interrelated aspects of internal colonization, namely: economic exploitation, political repression, cultural, religious suppression, linguistic marginalisation, gendered hierarchy and psychological alienation in context of Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It also takes into account the military as an internal coloniser and neo-colonial aspect added by global capital and projects like China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The study concludes that, in order to achieve a genuine decolonisation, in radical sense that Fanon was dreaming of, there is a need for transformative action in four structural,cultural and psychological dimensions: decentralisation of power, equal distribution of resources, resurgence of marginalised languages, cultures and complete implementation of provincial autonomy.