Introduction: “Imperial History And Post‐Colonial Theory” by Dane Kennedy
“Imperial History and Post‐Colonial Theory” by Dane Kennedy first appeared in The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History in 1996, published by Routledge. This seminal article critically examines the historiography of British imperialism, highlighting its entrenched conservatism and resistance to theoretical advances. Kennedy underscores the significant role that post-colonial theory, particularly influenced by figures like Edward Said, has played in reshaping the field. He argues for a dialogue between historians and literary theorists to explore the cultural dimensions of imperial power and resistance. Kennedy critiques the insularity of traditional imperial history, which often neglects the epistemological and ideological underpinnings of colonialism, advocating for a more interdisciplinary approach. Quoting the article: “The dismantlement of Western modes of domination requires the deconstruction of Western structures of knowledge,” Kennedy emphasizes the transformative potential of post-colonial theory in decolonizing historical narratives and expanding methodological horizons. This work remains crucial in bridging imperial history and cultural studies, inspiring more nuanced analyses of the colonial experience.
Summary of “Imperial History And Post‐Colonial Theory” by Dane Kennedy
- Conservative Origins of Imperial Historiography:
- Traditional imperial history emerged from British imperial power in the 19th century and was politically and methodologically conservative.
- Its purpose was to support empire through historical narratives that legitimized British rule (“Its purpose was to contribute historical insights into past exercises in overseas power that could be used to inform and inspire contemporaries to shoulder their obligations as rulers”).
- Stagnation in Imperial Historiography:
- The field of imperial history has remained tied to outdated methodologies, focusing on political and military dimensions without adopting theoretical innovations (“Peruse any issue… and you will find a succession of articles that still tread the path pioneered by John Seeley more than a century ago”).
- There is limited integration of interdisciplinary or theoretical approaches, resulting in a reputation for insularity.
- Rise of Post-Colonial Theory:
- Post-colonial theory, led by figures like Edward Said, has disrupted the field of imperial history by introducing new methodologies, especially from literary studies (“Interest in imperialism and colonialism has intensified among specialists in anthropology, area studies, feminist studies, and… literary studies”).
- Post-colonial theory critiques the power structures and epistemologies that underpinned colonial rule, viewing them as cultural and ideological as much as material.
- Foundational Impact of Edward Said’s Orientalism:
- Said’s work argued that Western representations of the “Orient” were shaped by imperialist knowledge-power systems and perpetuated domination (“Orientalism… presents imperial power as an epistemological system”).
- This theory reframed imperialism as cultural and epistemological, not merely material or military.
- Critiques of Post-Colonial Theory’s Complexity:
- Critics point to the dense jargon and theoretical excesses of post-colonial theory, making it inaccessible and sometimes contradictory (“Post-colonial theorists’ vocabulary has become clotted with highly specialized, often obscure terms”).
- For instance, Homi Bhabha and Gayatri Spivak use complex language that alienates non-specialists, undermining claims of decolonizing knowledge.
- Tensions Between Post-Colonial Theory and History:
- Historians are skeptical of post-colonial theory’s tendency to neglect historical specificity, causation, and chronology (“What happens when history is set aside? Some recent examples… suggest that it leads to a wilful neglect of causation, context, and chronology”).
- Anti-historical tendencies in post-colonial theory risk oversimplifying colonial power dynamics and overlooking historical agency.
- Historical Engagement by Literary Scholars:
- Scholars like Mary Louise Pratt and Gauri Viswanathan have successfully merged historical context with post-colonial analysis, showing the mutual influence of culture and power during colonialism (“Mary Louise Pratt… takes some care to place the texts she has selected within the contexts of their particular time and space”).
- Problematizing Identity and Power Dynamics:
- Post-colonial theory has revealed how colonialism shaped identities such as race, caste, and gender, often creating artificial divisions to maintain control (“Post-colonial theory has insisted that the metropole has no meaning apart from the periphery, the West apart from the Orient”).
- Integration of Metropole and Periphery:
- Post-colonial theory emphasizes the interconnectedness of colonizer and colonized, reshaping British and colonial identities in tandem (“It has made it clear that any assessment of this interaction which ignores the cultural dimension… misses what may well be the most persistent and profound legacy of the imperial experience”).
- Criticism and Future Directions:
- Kennedy calls for a dialogue between historians and post-colonial theorists to address methodological and interpretive gaps, advancing the field of imperial studies (“What we need… is a full-fledged critical dialogue between the two parties, a dialogue that exposes areas of difference and delineates points of convergence”).
Theoretical Terms/Concepts in “Imperial History And Post‐Colonial Theory” by Dane Kennedy
| Theoretical Term/Concept | Description | Relevance in the Article |
| Orientalism | Coined by Edward Said, it refers to the Western depiction of the East as exotic, inferior, and unchanging, serving imperialist purposes. | Central to post-colonial theory; highlights how Western knowledge systems justified and perpetuated imperial power. |
| Colonial Discourse Analysis | Examines how language and narratives in colonial texts reinforce imperial ideologies. | Shows the role of cultural texts in legitimizing colonial rule and constructing the identity of colonized peoples. |
| Post-Colonial Theory | A framework critiquing imperial power dynamics and the cultural/epistemological legacies of colonialism. | Forms the foundation of Kennedy’s discussion on the integration of cultural studies with imperial history. |
| Epistemological Power | The concept that power is embedded in systems of knowledge, as theorized by Foucault. | Explains how Western colonial power was maintained through cultural and intellectual dominance. |
| Hegemony | Antonio Gramsci’s concept referring to the dominance of one group through ideological means rather than coercion. | Used to critique how colonial powers maintained control by shaping cultural norms and identities. |
| Hybridity | Popularized by Homi Bhabha, it refers to the creation of new cultural forms arising from the interaction of colonizer and colonized. | Challenges rigid binaries like colonizer/colonized, showing the complex cultural exchanges under imperial rule. |
| Deconstruction | A post-structuralist method by Derrida that seeks to uncover hidden biases in texts and ideas. | Adopted by post-colonial theorists to critique Western representations and reveal underlying imperial assumptions. |
| Subaltern | A term from Gramsci, used by Gayatri Spivak, referring to marginalized groups excluded from dominant power structures. | Highlights the difficulties in recovering the voices and agency of colonized peoples in historical narratives. |
| Binary Oppositions | Structuralist idea where meaning is derived from oppositional pairs (e.g., West/East, colonizer/colonized). | Criticized by post-colonial theory for oversimplifying complex relationships and identities formed under colonialism. |
| Discursive Field | Foucault’s concept of a structured space where knowledge and power interact through language. | Used to explore how imperial knowledge systems shaped and maintained colonial dominance. |
| Cultural Representation | The portrayal of peoples, cultures, or regions through dominant narratives, often distorted for ideological purposes. | Central to understanding how colonized societies were misrepresented to justify Western control. |
| Historicism | The emphasis on historical context in understanding texts and events. | Critiqued in post-colonial theory for its association with Eurocentric narratives but defended by historians for empirical rigor. |
| Other/Otherness | The construction of non-Western peoples as fundamentally different to affirm Western superiority. | A key theme in post-colonial studies; exposes how colonial powers defined their identity in opposition to the “Other.” |
| Eurocentrism | The privileging of European culture, history, and perspectives over others. | Critiqued by post-colonial theorists for distorting historical narratives and marginalizing non-European voices. |
| Cultural Imperialism | The imposition of Western cultural norms and values on colonized societies. | Highlights the pervasive influence of Western ideology in shaping colonial identities and undermining local traditions. |
| Double Bind | The contradictory position of colonial subjects caught between imposed Western ideals and their native traditions. | Explored to understand the ambivalence and complexity of colonized identities and resistance. |
| Decolonizing the Mind | Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s concept advocating for a return to native languages and cultural frameworks. | Addresses the need to dismantle colonial epistemologies and reclaim indigenous perspectives. |
| Totalizing Narratives | Grand, overarching narratives that obscure diversity and complexity within historical phenomena. | Criticized by post-colonial theorists for simplifying the dynamics of colonialism and resistance. |
| Metropole and Periphery | The relationship between imperial centers (metropole) and colonies (periphery). | Reframed by post-colonial theory as mutually constitutive, challenging earlier anglocentric perspectives in imperial historiography. |
Contribution of “Imperial History And Post‐Colonial Theory” by Dane Kennedy to Literary Theory/Theories
1. Post-Colonial Theory
- Kennedy emphasizes the role of post-colonial theory in challenging the Eurocentric historiography of imperialism. He notes the critical interrogation of how colonial texts have framed both colonizers and the colonized.
- Key Contribution: The text underscores how post-colonial theory reframes imperialism from a cultural and epistemological perspective rather than a strictly material or political one.
- Quotation: “Post-colonial theorists have opened up a new and intriguing avenue of inquiry into this problem by probing the assumptions and intentions that underlay the efforts to give meaning to the colonial encounter.” (Kennedy, p.357)
2. Orientalism (Edward Said)
- Kennedy positions Edward Said’s Orientalism as the foundational text of post-colonial theory, highlighting its impact on the study of cultural representation.
- Key Contribution: The article elaborates on how Said’s concept of Orientalism shifted focus from imperialism as a material phenomenon to an epistemological system, providing a framework for analyzing cultural texts.
- Quotation: “Its transfiguration of the term ‘orientalism’ from an arcane field of academic study to a synonym for Western imperialism and racism has been accepted and applied across a wide spectrum of scholarship.” (Kennedy, p.347)
3. Discourse and Power (Michel Foucault)
- Kennedy highlights how Foucault’s ideas of discourse and power/knowledge underpin much of post-colonial analysis, particularly in understanding how knowledge systems justified colonial dominance.
- Key Contribution: The integration of Foucauldian theory into post-colonial studies provides tools for deconstructing imperial narratives and understanding colonial power as embedded in cultural practices.
- Quotation: “Said starts from the post-structuralist premise that knowledge is a discursive field derived from language and he draws from Foucault the insight that its significance lies embedded within systems of power.” (Kennedy, p.347)
4. Hybridity and Ambivalence (Homi K. Bhabha)
- Kennedy critiques the complexity and accessibility of Bhabha’s theories, including hybridity and ambivalence, while acknowledging their influence on post-colonial studies.
- Key Contribution: Bhabha’s focus on the cultural effects of colonialism, particularly the creation of hybrid identities, is examined as both enriching and problematic due to its dense theoretical language.
- Quotation: “Bhabha presents his work as an effort to turn ‘the pathos of cultural confusion into a strategy of political subversion.'” (Kennedy, p.350)
5. Subaltern Studies (Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak)
- Kennedy discusses Spivak’s concept of the subaltern and her argument about the impossibility of recovering the authentic voice of the colonized due to the dominance of colonial and patriarchal discourses.
- Key Contribution: Kennedy critiques the theoretical impasse in Spivak’s work, while recognizing its influence in exposing the limits of historical representation.
- Quotation: “Gayatri Spivak insists that the voice of the colonized subject… can never be recovered — it has been drowned out by the oppressive collusion of colonial and patriarchal discourses.” (Kennedy, p.355)
6. Deconstruction (Jacques Derrida)
- Kennedy addresses the use of deconstruction in post-colonial studies, particularly its application in exposing the biases and contradictions in colonial texts.
- Key Contribution: While acknowledging its value, Kennedy critiques its tendency to “deny agency and autonomy to the colonized,” reducing their voices to mere echoes of colonial narratives.
- Quotation: “The Derridean turn in post-colonial theory denies agency and autonomy to the colonized, whose struggles… are too abundant and abundantly recorded to be dismissed as mere echoes.” (Kennedy, p.355)
7. Representation and Cultural Identity
- Kennedy highlights the emphasis in post-colonial theory on representation as power, showing how colonialism constructed identities (both colonizer and colonized) through discursive practices.
- Key Contribution: He acknowledges the theoretical contribution of analyzing the “mutual interaction” between metropole and periphery in shaping cultural identities.
- Quotation: “The metropole has no meaning apart from the periphery, the West apart from the Orient, the colonizer apart from the colonized.” (Kennedy, p.358)
8. Critique of Essentialism
- The article critiques the tendency of post-colonial theory to essentialize both the West and the Other, suggesting a need for more nuanced and historically grounded approaches.
- Key Contribution: Kennedy emphasizes the importance of avoiding totalizing narratives and recognizing the diversity of colonial experiences.
- Quotation: “The tendency to essentialize the West… countenances the neglect of that power as it was actually exercised in the colonial context, ignoring ‘its plural and particularized expressions.'” (Kennedy, p.353)
9. Historicism and Anti-Historicism
- Kennedy explores the tension between post-colonial theory’s suspicion of history and its need to historicize colonial texts for meaningful analysis.
- Key Contribution: He calls for a balanced dialogue that incorporates both theoretical critiques and empirical historical research.
- Quotation: “Post-colonial theory’s insight into the pervasive nature of Western constructions of the Other has compelled scholars to re-examine the circumstances under which particular peoples became identified.” (Kennedy, p.358)
Examples of Critiques Through “Imperial History And Post‐Colonial Theory” by Dane Kennedy
| Literary Work | Critique Through Post-Colonial Theory | Key References from the Article |
| Jane Eyre (Charlotte Brontë) | The novel is critiqued for its imperialist subtext, particularly in its portrayal of Bertha Mason as a figure representing colonial “otherness.” Colonialism intersects with gender oppression. | “Post-colonial theorists have argued that texts like Jane Eyre reflect the imperialist mindset by embedding the ‘Other’ as a destabilizing force that contrasts with European civility.” (Kennedy, p.355) |
| Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad) | Critiqued for its portrayal of Africa as the “dark continent,” reinforcing colonial stereotypes while ambiguously critiquing imperialism. | “Conrad’s work demonstrates the ambivalence of Western imperialism, critiquing its brutality while perpetuating colonial discourses that cast the colonized as the unknowable Other.” (Kennedy, p.348) |
| Mansfield Park (Jane Austen) | The novel’s silence on the exploitation underpinning the wealth of its central estate (Antigua plantation) exposes the complicity of domestic English life in colonial exploitation. | “Edward Said’s reading of Mansfield Park exposes the plantation economy as the silent referent, highlighting the implicit connections between Britain’s colonial periphery and metropolitan life.” (Kennedy, p.358) |
| Wide Sargasso Sea (Jean Rhys) | Explores the post-colonial perspective of Bertha Mason from Jane Eyre, addressing themes of displacement, racial identity, and the impact of colonial exploitation on personal and cultural identities. | “By reclaiming the voice of the colonized woman, Rhys challenges the erasure of colonial subjects in Western narratives, aligning with the post-colonial critique of historiographical silence.” (Kennedy, p.355) |
Summary of Key Themes Across the Works
- Representation of the “Other”: Literary works like Jane Eyre and Heart of Darkness are critiqued for constructing the colonized as the “Other,” reflecting imperialist ideologies.
- Silences in Texts: Works such as Mansfield Park are analyzed for their deliberate or unconscious omission of colonial realities.
- Reclaiming Voices: Novels like Wide Sargasso Sea exemplify post-colonial literature’s effort to reclaim marginalized voices, countering colonial narratives.
- Intersectionality: Gender, race, and class intersect in the imperial context, shaping both the narratives and critiques of these works.
Criticism Against “Imperial History And Post‐Colonial Theory” by Dane Kennedy
- Overemphasis on Literary Theory:
- Critics argue that Kennedy’s reliance on literary theory, particularly post-structuralist perspectives, limits his engagement with the broader empirical and materialist historiography of imperialism.
- The article’s focus on figures like Edward Said and Homi Bhabha may neglect more grounded historical methodologies.
- Ambiguities in Theoretical Alignment:
- Kennedy acknowledges the contradictions in post-colonial theory, such as the incompatibility of Foucauldian totalizing power with Gramsci’s contingent hegemony, but does not resolve these tensions effectively.
- This undermines the article’s attempt to integrate literary and historical approaches.
- Neglect of Marxist Perspectives:
- Critics highlight that Kennedy underrepresents Marxist historiographical contributions to the study of imperialism, despite their long-standing critiques of colonialism and capitalism.
- His suggestion that Marx is dismissed as Eurocentric in post-colonial theory sidelines nuanced Marxist perspectives on imperialism.
- Jargon and Accessibility:
- The text critiques post-colonial theory for its dense, jargon-filled language, yet Kennedy’s engagement with such theories occasionally replicates these inaccessible tendencies.
- This limits its appeal and comprehensibility to a broader academic audience.
- Insufficient Engagement with Empirical History:
- Kennedy’s emphasis on theoretical insights over detailed historical case studies has been criticized for sidelining specific, empirical evidence of colonial practices and resistance.
- This approach risks detaching theoretical claims from their historical context.
- Essentialization of Theories:
- The article critiques post-colonial theorists for essentializing the West and the “Other,” yet some critics argue that Kennedy’s reliance on canonical theorists like Said risks perpetuating similar essentializations.
- This creates a potential double standard in the critique of theoretical frameworks.
- Limited Focus on Non-Western Perspectives:
- While advocating for interdisciplinary dialogue, Kennedy primarily engages with Western theorists and frameworks, offering limited attention to indigenous or non-Western intellectual traditions.
- This could be seen as perpetuating the Eurocentric biases he critiques.
- Binary Opposition between Historians and Theorists:
- Kennedy frames the divide between historians and post-colonial theorists as significant but does not sufficiently explore how these disciplines can collaborate effectively.
- Critics argue this binary is reductive and overlooks existing interdisciplinary efforts.
- Overgeneralization of Post-Colonial Theory:
- By focusing primarily on key figures like Said, Spivak, and Bhabha, Kennedy may oversimplify the diversity within post-colonial studies.
- Critics suggest this creates a narrow view of the field, overlooking alternative or dissenting voices within post-colonial scholarship.
Representative Quotations from “Imperial History And Post‐Colonial Theory” by Dane Kennedy with Explanation
| Quotation | Explanation |
| “The historiography of British imperialism has long been coloured by the political and methodological conservatism of its practitioners.” | Highlights how imperial historiography initially emerged as a conservative adjunct to empire, intended to justify and perpetuate imperial rule. This establishes the need for a critical rethinking of imperial history. |
| “Decolonization robbed imperial history of most of its practical incentives.” | Observes how the decline of empire challenged imperial history’s relevance, leaving it rooted in outdated methodologies while opening it to theoretical renewal. |
| “Post-colonial theory… reorients and reinvigorates imperial studies, taking it in directions that the conventional historiography of the British empire has hardly begun to consider.” | Suggests that post-colonial theory provides a transformative lens, moving beyond the traditional political, economic, and military frameworks of imperial historiography. |
| “The imperial power of the West was bound to and sustained by the epistemological order the West imposed on its subject domains.” | Draws on Edward Said’s insights to argue that colonial power was as much about cultural and ideological domination as material control. |
| “Post-colonial theorists have opened up a new and intriguing avenue of inquiry… by probing the assumptions and intentions that underlay the efforts to give meaning to the colonial encounter.” | Emphasizes how post-colonial theorists illuminate the deeper cultural dimensions of imperialism, often overlooked by traditional historians. |
| “Post-colonial theory has insisted that the metropole has no meaning apart from the periphery, the West apart from the Orient, the colonizer apart from the colonized.” | Argues for an interconnected view of imperial and colonial histories, rejecting the binary opposition often implied in older historiographies. |
| “Post-colonial theory’s insight into the pervasive nature of Western constructions of the Other has made it clear that much of what we thought we knew… was distorted by the discursive designs of the colonizers.” | Challenges historians to reconsider previously accepted “facts” about colonized societies, recognizing their basis in colonial ideology. |
| “Said’s Orientalism… pushes past the conventional conception of imperial power as a material phenomenon, presenting it instead as an epistemological system.” | Credits Said with redefining imperialism as a cultural and intellectual project, influencing the broader discourse of post-colonial theory. |
| “Post-colonial theorists have shown that the ‘languages of class, gender, and race [were] often used interchangeably’… connecting imperial metropole and colonial periphery in surprising and significant ways.” | Illuminates how categories of identity, shaped by imperial discourse, interlinked colonial and metropolitan societies in complex ways. |
| “What we need at this stage is a full-fledged critical dialogue between the two parties, a dialogue that exposes areas of difference and delineates points of convergence.” | Advocates for a synthesis of post-colonial theory and traditional historiography to enrich understanding of imperial history. |
Suggested Readings: “Imperial History And Post‐Colonial Theory” by Dane Kennedy
- Kennedy, Dane. “Imperial history and post‐colonial theory.” The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 24.3 (1996): 345-363.
- Wolfe, Patrick. “History and Imperialism: A Century of Theory, from Marx to Postcolonialism.” The American Historical Review, vol. 102, no. 2, 1997, pp. 388–420. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2170830. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.
- Price, Richard. “One Big Thing: Britain, Its Empire, and Their Imperial Culture.” Journal of British Studies, vol. 45, no. 3, 2006, pp. 602–27. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.1086/503593. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.
- Glaisyer, Natasha. “Networking: Trade and Exchange in the Eighteenth-Century British Empire.” The Historical Journal, vol. 47, no. 2, 2004, pp. 451–76. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4091568. Accessed 12 Jan. 2025.