Postcolonial

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. This concept pertains to the historical period and critical discourse following colonial rule, examining the lasting cultural, political, and economic impacts of imperialism on societies
2. This term refers to the analytical framework that explores the aftermath of colonialism, including its ongoing cultural, social, and political ramifications on formerly colonized nations
3. It denotes a theoretical approach focused on the effects and legacies of colonial power, addressing issues of identity, representation, and resistance in post-colonial contexts

Etymology: "Postcolonial" is a plain modern compound with no dramatic backstory: the prefix "post-" (from Latin "post," meaning "after" or "behind") is attached to "colonial." The root of "colonial" runs back through Latin "colonus," a farmer or settler, derived from "colere," to cultivate or inhabit. From that Latin noun came "colonia," a settlement, which reached English as "colony" and gave rise to the adjective "colonial" through Latin "-ialis" and French "-ial." The word "postcolonial" is therefore a straightforward combination: "post-" marks time after a period, and "colonial" names the period of rule by a foreign power. Its meaning is literal, which is why it works so easily across contexts. Readers can apply it to the years after a territory gained independence, or to the cultural and economic effects that outlast formal rule.

Synonyms: post-colonial, decolonial, anti-colonial, post-imperial, post-colonialist