Decolonisation and its discontents
Why a theory of despair is shaping some left responses to Gaza
Simon Sebag Montefiore’s attack on decolonisation theory (The Atlantic, 27 October 2023) makes a valid point: that by defining the Jewish presence in Israel as “settler colonial” it legitimises the destruction of the state of Israel as an objective, and has led some on the left to justify the Hamas terror attack of 7 October. Under the banner of decolonisation, he writes:
“Western academics, students, artists, and activists have denied, excused, or even celebrated the murders by a terrorist sect that proclaims an anti-Jewish genocidal program.”
This is true. And even though such people remain a minority within the Palestine solidarity movement, some among its majority have tolerated their presence.
But I doubt Sebag Montefiore’s article will convince many of the young people proclaiming their “exhilaration” at the Hamas attack. Nor should it invalidate an academic discipline devoted to the study of a historic phenomenon labelled “settler colonialism”, which that has advanced our understanding of white supremacy.
Sebag Montefiore describes decolonisation theory as:
“a toxic, historically nonsensical mix of Marxist theory, Soviet propaganda, and traditional…
