THE THEME OF COLONIALISM IN ENGLISH LITERATURE

Abstract

The literature on colonialism is vast and varied, reflecting the changing nature of the colonial problem. In most cases it consists of studies of individual colonizers or colonized groups, but a significant body of literature has also been developed dealing with general aspects of colonialism. A number of studies have been conducted to compare the aims pursued by states in their colonial policies, the success achieved in achieving these aims, and the administrative and other mechanisms employed. At either end of the spectrum, assessing the motives behind the acquisition of colonies and the forces leading to the current wave of decolonization presents a difficult landscape for investigation. Among the themes that regularly recur in the study of colonialism are: the relative values ​​of direct and indirect rule, centralization and decentralization, different types of economic policies, the acceptability and impact of white settlement, various types of pressures to assist in the recruitment of labor, and the scope and nature of the educational system