Information Colonial Hypothesis and Indigenous Peoples

Information Colonial Hypothesis and Indigenous Peoples

Editorial

Dr. Tamaro J. Green, DS

This article was original published as a series of articles for Software Test News, 2021

The information colonial hypothesis combines ideas from postcolonial theory and information systems theories. The information colonial hypothesis is an assumption that information technology participates in social injustice and marginalization of segments of societies. The information colonial hypothesis also postulates that information technology also widens economic inequities in society. To evaluate the information colonial hypothesis an exploration of postcolonial theory provides some preview of the effects of colonization on a society. Parlee (2015) studies the marginalization of indigenous people in resource rich regions of the world. Richmond and Cook (2016) describe how education and media can perpetuate systems of injustice in health inequities. Corbett (2013) explains how independence can create an institutional architecture that are undercut by donor funded schemes that continue colonial practices.

Policies for reducing social inequities between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples can include health, economic, cultural, and political reforms to assist and respect the society and cultures of indigenous people. Parlee (2015) details the marginalization and disenfranchisement of indigenous peoples in mainstream economies. Richmond and Cook (2016) explain how federal policies can present a solution to address health and social inequities between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.

A number of policy proposals may improve the opportunities for indigenous societies competing in an environment of information colonialization. Nkedianye et al. (2020) suggests diversification in pastoral areas to reduce environment dependent lifestyles. Mapuva (2015) suggest the promotion of rural economic development, engagement with local authorities, and revision of investment policies for improving economic challenges created by colonial legislation. Larsen, Yeshitela, Mulatu, Seifu, and Desta (2019) review residential infrastructure projects and its support in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goal of cities involved in local government.

Osaghae (1991) explains African views on colonialism reflect the colonial and neocolonial experiences and should look beyond the colonial perspective to original ideas that observe present realities and necessities. Understanding the phenomena of information colonialism may require a contemporary perspective on colonialism. Tomas and Bjørn Enge (2020) explain that postcolonial theory can be applied in contemporary views of urban security practices and political developments. Tomas and Bjørn Enge (2020) describe a colony as an institution where social order is created through administration of death or terror with no distinction between political and military powers.

Traditional conflict resolution strategies may support reforms for improving injustices to indigenous populations (De Juan, 2017). De Juan (2017) explores the survival of traditional conflict resolutions through colonial and post-colonial reforms. Jalata (2013) emphasizes that reconciliation is not possible with recognizing and addressing past and present injustices. Jalata (2013) stresses the importance of accepting moral, economic, and political responsibility for injustices against humanity.

An information colonialism hypothesis can include various stages of a colonial life-cycle that can depict observations of the characteristics. In Africa, the precolonial period included a distinct culture of the society. The colonial and post-colonial period reflected influences from both the control of foreign powers but cultural assimilation. An era after information colonialization may also reflect information neo-colonialization. Ouarodima (2018) explores how colonialization marginalized women in Africa and introduced new value systems in African culture. Ouarodima (2018) applies postcolonial theory to an analysis of the portrayal of African women by Chinua Achebe.

Political trends, both historical and contemporary, may provide insight to the development of an information colonial hypothesis. Keethaponcalan (2016) examines the emergence of nations not aligned to superpowers during the Cold War and their assistance to the independence of colonies. Juergensmeyer (2019) associates religion with the emerging nationalist movements that have developed recently in many countries. Spruk (2019) provide an empirical study of the development costs of the collapse of political institutions.

References:

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De Juan, A. (2017). “Traditional” resolution of land conflicts: The survival of precolonial dispute settlement in Burundi. Comparative Political Studies, 50(13), 1835–1868. doi:10.1177/0010414016688006

Jalata, A. (2013). The impacts of english colonial terrorism and genocide on Indigenous/Black Australians. SAGE Open, 3(3), 2158244013499143. doi:10.1177/2158244013499143

Juergensmeyer, M. (2019). Religious nationalism in a global world. Religions, 10(2). doi:10.3390/rel10020097

Keethaponcalan, S. I. (2016). Reshaping the non-aligned movement: Challenges and vision. Bandung: Journal of the Global South, 3(1), 4. doi:10.1186/s40728–016–0032–3

Larsen, L., Yeshitela, K., Mulatu, T., Seifu, S., & Desta, H. (2019). The impact of rapid urbanization and public housing development on urban form and density in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Land, 8(4). doi:10.3390/land8040066

Mapuva, J. (2015). Skewed rural development policies and economic malaise in Zimbabwe. African Journal of History and Culture, 7(7), 142–151.

Nkedianye, D. K., Ogutu, J. O., Said, M. Y., Kifugo, S. C., de Leeuw, J., Van Gardingen, P., & Reid, R. S. (2020). Comparative social demography, livelihood diversification and land tenure among the Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania. Pastoralism, 10(1), 17. doi:10.1186/s13570–020–00165–2

Osaghae, E. E. (1991). Colonialism and african political thought. Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, 19, 22–38.

Ouarodima, M. (2018). Shifting the canon: An analysis of Achebe’s women in Things Fall Apart and Anthills of the Savannah. Advances in Literary Study, 6, 109–119.

Parlee, B. L. (2015). Avoiding the resource curse: Indigenous communities and Canada’s oil sands. World Development, 74, 425–436. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.03.004

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