“Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak interviewed by Robert Young: Summary and Critique

Introduction: “Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak  

“Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak was first published in 1988 in the Oxford Literary Review. This seminal essay is a pivotal contribution to postcolonial theory, offering a nuanced critique of Western knowledge production and its role in perpetuating colonial power dynamics. Spivak’s analysis of the “secret agent of knowledge” – the unacknowledged and often marginalized subjects who produce and circulate knowledge – highlights the ways in which colonial legacies continue to shape contemporary intellectual and cultural landscapes. The essay’s significance lies in its ability to challenge Eurocentric perspectives, foregrounding the voices of the subaltern and offering a more inclusive understanding of knowledge production.

Summary of “Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak  

1. Historical Context and Definition of Neocolonialism: Neocolonialism is identified as a phase that emerged after the decline of traditional colonialism, marked by economic dominance rather than territorial control. Spivak asserts, “with the Second World War and the negotiated independence of India, it begins to change…the kind of colonialism that you need is more economic and less territorial: this is neocolonialism”​.
2. Subtle Mechanisms of Neocolonial Influence: Unlike overt colonialism, neocolonialism operates subtly, making people feel independent while economic control persists. Spivak metaphorically describes it as “like radiation—you feel it less like you don’t feel it—you feel like you’re independent”​.
3. Cultural and Economic Disparities: Neocolonialism varies in its manifestations across different regions. Spivak discusses how high-growth capitalist regions like Hong Kong focus less on cultural strategies, whereas places like India or Algeria, with strong colonial legacies, experience significant cultural impacts. She notes, “the way in which these kinds of places cope with neocolonialism…is very different”​.
4. Knowledge Production as a Tool of Neocolonialism: Knowledge production under neocolonialism plays a crucial role in maintaining control, often by shaping identity models and fostering cultural relativism. Spivak highlights, “one of the strongest functioning of unwitting neocolonialism is the production of models of identity from supposedly the history of other places”​.
5. The Challenge of Deconstructing Neocolonial Knowledge: Spivak critiques the challenges of addressing neocolonialism within academic frameworks, especially the difficulty in deconstructing neocolonial knowledge that is entrenched in Western academic disciplines. She discusses the need for critical approaches that recognize these complexities, stating, “the critique in the strong sense is never done”​.

Literary Terms/Concepts in “Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak  

Term	Definition	Example from the Article
Neocolonialism	A system where a former colonial power continues to exert control over a former colony through economic, political, or cultural means, without direct political rule.	“The kind of colonialism that you need is more economic and less territorial: this is neocolonialism.”
Subaltern	A marginalized group or class, often oppressed by the dominant power structure.	“This benevolent multi-culturalism is one of the problems of neocolonialist knowledge-production as well.”
Cultural Relativism	The belief that there is no universal standard for judging human cultures, and that each culture should be understood on its own terms.	“Neocolonialism is also interested in fostering rights talk in a class specific situation.”
Orientalism	A Western way of representing the East as exotic, inferior, and other.	“It is necessary to assert even this rather pathetic kind of multiculturalism in order to put some sort of platform against the white majority racist argument…that is the Indian sector in the multicultural festival.”
Mimic Men	A term coined by V.S. Naipaul to describe people from former colonies who adopt Western cultural norms and values.	“Places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, that correspond to Naipaul’s mimic men—countries that are in some sense more capitalist than capitalism…”
Mission Civilisatrice	A French colonial ideology that justified colonial expansion as a civilizing mission to bring Western culture and values to “primitive” societies.	“The missions civilisatrices of France in Algeria or in Egypt or again in Vietnam were not identical…”

Contribution of “Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak  to Literary Theory/Theories

1. Subaltern Studies: Spivak’s work is closely associated with the Subaltern Studies movement, which focuses on the experiences and perspectives of marginalized groups. Her essay challenges the dominant narratives in literary studies and centers the voices of those who have been historically silenced.
2. Deconstruction: Spivak utilizes deconstruction, a critical method developed by Jacques Derrida, to analyze the underlying power structures and hidden assumptions within literary texts. She demonstrates how literary works can reinforce colonial ideologies and perpetuate unequal power relations.
3. Postcolonial Feminism: Spivak’s essay intersects with postcolonial feminism by examining how gender and colonialism intersect to marginalize women in the postcolonial context. She critiques the ways in which Western feminism can be neocolonial, imposing its own norms and values on other cultures.
4. Knowledge Production: Spivak’s analysis of the “secret agent of knowledge” highlights the ways in which knowledge is produced and circulated within colonial and postcolonial contexts. She argues that knowledge is not neutral but is shaped by power relations and can be used to maintain dominant ideologies.
5. Cultural Critique: Spivak’s essay offers a powerful critique of Western cultural imperialism and its impact on literature and literary theory. She challenges the notion of a universal literary canon and argues for a more diverse and inclusive understanding of literature.

Examples of Critiques Through “Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

Literary Work	Critique
Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness	Conrad’s novel reinforces colonial stereotypes and exoticizes the African continent. It depicts Africans as primitive and savage, while presenting Europeans as superior and civilizing forces. Spivak argues that the novel’s narrative voice is complicit in perpetuating colonial ideologies.
Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book	Kipling’s stories romanticize colonial India and present it as a place of adventure and wonder. They reinforce the idea of British superiority and the civilizing mission of colonialism. Spivak critiques the way Kipling’s work obscures the realities of colonial exploitation and oppression.
E.M. Forster’s A Passage to India	Forster’s novel explores themes of colonialism, racism, and cultural misunderstanding. While it offers a critique of British colonialism, Spivak argues that the novel ultimately reinforces a binary between East and West, and fails to adequately represent the perspectives of marginalized Indians.
Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart	Achebe’s novel offers a powerful critique of British colonialism in Nigeria. However, Spivak argues that the novel’s portrayal of traditional Igbo culture is idealized and romanticized. She suggests that the novel may inadvertently reinforce certain stereotypes and reinforce a nostalgic view of pre-colonial Africa.

Criticism Against “Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak  

1. Essentialism: Some critics argue that Spivak’s work can be essentialist, particularly when she discusses the experiences of the subaltern. They suggest that her approach can homogenize the experiences of diverse groups within the subaltern class, ignoring their differences and complexities.
2. Western-centric perspective: Critics have also questioned whether Spivak’s analysis is too heavily influenced by Western philosophical traditions, particularly deconstruction. They argue that this can limit her ability to fully appreciate and understand non-Western perspectives and experiences.
3. Overemphasis on language and discourse: Some critics contend that Spivak’s focus on language and discourse can overshadow the material realities of colonialism and neocolonialism. They argue that while language is important, it is not the only factor that shapes power relations and social structures.
4. Limited engagement with economic and political realities: Critics have also suggested that Spivak’s analysis can be overly theoretical and abstract, and that it does not adequately address the economic and political realities of neocolonialism. They argue that a more concrete understanding of these factors is necessary to effectively challenge and resist neocolonial power.

Suggested Readings: “Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak

1. Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. A Critique of Postcolonial Reason: Toward a History of the Vanishing Present. Harvard University Press, 1999. https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674177642
2. Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. In Other Worlds: Essays in Cultural Politics. Routledge, 1987.
3. Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty. The Post-Colonial Critic: Interviews, Strategies, Dialogues. Edited by Sarah Harasym, Routledge, 1990.
4. Young, Robert J. C. Postcolonialism: An Historical Introduction. Blackwell Publishing, 2001.
5. Said, Edward W. Culture and Imperialism. Knopf, 1993.
6. Bhabha, Homi K. The Location of Culture. Routledge, 1994.
7. Loomba, Ania. Colonialism/Postcolonialism. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2005.

Representative Quotations from “Neocolonialism and the Secret Agent of Knowledge” by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak  with Explanation

Quotation	Explanation
“Neocolonialism is what happened after the beginning of the dismantling of colonialism proper.”	Spivak defines neocolonialism as a continuation of colonial power dynamics, even after formal political independence is achieved.
“Neocolonialism is like radiation—you feel it less like you don’t feel it—you feel like you’re independent.”	Spivak highlights the subtle and often invisible nature of neocolonial control, which can be difficult to recognize or resist.
“The common person feels he or she is independent so that in fact what Marx calls the absence of extra-economic coercions is very broadly speaking true.”	Spivak argues that neocolonialism often operates through economic means, rather than direct political control.
“The production of knowledge within neocolonialism seems to have a much subtler role and it’s much harder to pin down.”	Spivak suggests that the production of knowledge is a key tool of neocolonial control, and that it operates in subtle and often hidden ways.
“It’s not just colonialism over again.”	Spivak emphasizes that neocolonialism is a distinct historical phenomenon, with its own unique characteristics and dynamics.
“Neocolonialism is what happened after the beginning of the dismantling of colonialism proper.”	Spivak defines neocolonialism as a continuation of colonial power dynamics, even after formal political independence is achieved.
“The ‘New World Order’ since the Gulf War what we are going to have to look for is a change in neocolonialist practices.”	Spivak suggests that the nature of neocolonialism has evolved over time, and that it is necessary to examine its contemporary forms.
“Neocolonialism is a way of describing these disparities.”	Spivak argues that neocolonialism is not limited to former colonies, but can also be found in other parts of the world.
“In the ‘New World Order’ since the Gulf War what we are going to have to look for is a change in neocolonialist practices.”	Spivak suggests that the nature of neocolonialism has evolved over time, and that it is necessary to examine its contemporary forms.
“The production of knowledge within neocolonialism seems to have a much subtler role and it’s much harder to pin down.”	Spivak suggests that the production of knowledge is a key tool of neocolonial control, and that it operates in subtle and often hidden ways.