The Redemption of Europe

In his Discourse on Colonialism, Aime Cesaire writes that Europe is “morally, spiritually indefensible.” This view comes not out of anger at the devastation wrought on the world through European colonialism but indeed as an evaluation of the spirit embodied by European civilization in modern world history.  Cesaire, and other prominent post-colonial theorists such as Fanon all have something in common – they believe in the inherent evil of the ideology that epitomized European enlightenment, and served as the intellectual basis for colonialism and all its ills.

Cesaire holds imperialism was not borne out of isolation and commandeered by those in power out of greed, but rather it was reflective of the mindset that characterized European society and its great intellectuals, thinkers and philosophers. This idea of humanism, Cesaire claims, was not humanistic at all, as it only catered to a particular type of human being i.e. a white European male, with a specific way of thinking and understanding the world i.e. through logic and reason. It was not enough for Europe to exalt its particular brand of human existence, but it was the propagation of such ideas and means of living above all others that is the true source of evil.

 “We aspire not to equality but to domination. It is not a question of eliminating the inequalities among men but of widening them and making them into a law." These are the words of French philosopher, Renan, in the wake of the French Revolution. It is a testament to how widespread such ideas were, and while Europe sought for the liberation of its own peoples and the establishment of democratic systems, it was all too comfortable in its exploitation, abuse and dehumanization of native populations. This is what compelled Cesaire to postulate that Hitler ‘inhabits’ every European, because they lived and breathed the racism, violence and degradation that characterized Nazism. Indeed, Cesaire says, “they tolerated that Nazism before it was inflicted on them, that they absolved it, shut their eyes to it, legitimized it.” Europeans were only troubled by its horrific racism when their own people were affected by it, but stood by as silent participants if not active proponents when half the world was enslaved according to the commandments of humanism.

Thus, the question as to whether there is something inherently wrong with Europe and its ideologies appears to have a clear answer if one consults the greats of post-colonialism, such as Cesaire and fanon. The question that remains then, is whether Europe is redeemable, or rather should Europe be redeemed? Is there a need for it? The answer to this lies not in Cesaire but perhaps in Fanon. It is important for the colonized subject to feel and process anger as a means to regain his self-dignity and indeed to restore his sense of self and personhood that was robbed during the colonial encounter. At the same time, it is essential for the colonized to not emulate Europe, or indeed to exact revenge in a similar fashion but instead to forge a new world that recognizes the multitudes of ways of understanding and conceiving the world, and one’s place in it.

It is not for the colonized to redeem Europe, or forgive it but for Europe to take up the charge and assist in the creation of a new world order very different from the last. It is for Europe to take a backseat with regard to world affairs, to support the peoples and nations that it has wronged, and perhaps there can be redemption in that, but it must come from a rejection of the very ideals upon which modern Europe stands. Indeed, perhaps for Europe to achieve redemption, it must cease to be the Europe that we know and understand – i.e. a tool and ideology of domination, and must transform into a Europe that is altogether different. The process towards establishing this new Europe must look into what else Western civilization has to offer other than false claims of a universal humanity, and focus on rebuilding a more diverse future. Decolonization marks a new beginning of sorts for the newly independent nations of the world, but perhaps it should also mark the end of Europe, and the West as we know it.