Settler Colonialism: An Introduction

by Sai Englert

From the Palestinian struggle against Israeli Apartheid, to First Nations' mass campaigns against pipeline construction in North America, Indigenous peoples are at the forefront of some of the crucial struggles of our age. Rich with their distinct histories and cultures, they are connected by the shared enemy they settler colonialism. In this introduction to the subject, Sai Englert highlights the ways in which settler colonialism has and continues to shape our global economic and political order. From the rapacious accumulation of resources, land, and labour, through Indigenous dispossession and genocide, to the development of racism as a form of social control, settler colonialism is deeply connected to many of today's social ills. To understand settler colonialism as an ongoing process, is therefore also to start engaging with contemporary social movements and solidarity campaigns differently. It is to start seeing how distinct struggles for justice and liberation are intertwined.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Feminism

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2022

Reviews

[Sarah Jaffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've been watching the news lately and wondering what this "settler colonialism" debate is all about, this is an excellent, readable intro to the subject.

[Maarten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent introduction to a very fruitful and relevant theoretical perspective on colonialism, capitalism, and oppression.

It is a bit too activistic towards the end for my tastes, not because it is wrong but because it hurts the argumentation somewhat, due to a lack of nuance and qualification in this part of the book. Additionally, it is heavily underpinned by Marxist historiography, with all the weaknesses that come with it (the supposed unbreakable logic of conflict, moral oversimplification, and an undertone of unavoidability).

Even so, the book remains a superb introduction to a rich theoretical framework - it is clear, logical, and well-supported, challenging the reader without becoming impenetrable.

[Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the more invigorating conceptual and analytical developments in my field in the last few years has been the growth in work that highlights the distinctiveness of settler colonialism. It has produced a much more nuanced focus on the power dynamics of that set of colonies where settlers arrived to stay in significant numbers, rather than to extract or for strategic purposes. It may reflect the limitations of my monolingualism, but it has meant that we have seen an increasingly sophisticated understanding of Britain’s second empire, and the sense of what places such as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have in common: the other key focus of these studies has been Israel.

A vital downside of this development is a tight definition of the settler colonial that makes places such as South Africa less clearly ‘settler colonial’, when it obviously is. This has also limited the application of the concept to regions colonised by France and Spain (and although there is my monolingual limitation here, I note that 2/3 of the chapters in 2017’s Routledge Handbook of the History of Settler Colonialism deal with the Anglo world or Palestine).

One consequence of this omission has been a tendency to separate historical and other scholarly analyses of settler colonialism from contemporary global struggles, from Indigenous People’s efforts to ensure their survival. It is therefore more than refreshing that Sai Englert’s excellent introduction to settler colonialism recognises these two limitations, treats settler colonies as places where colonists chose to settle (using Algeria as a vital counterpoint to the narrow definition many of work with, or find hard to escape – mea culpa), while also exploring the ways these analyses underpin and help provide a frame to understanding those Indigenous struggles in relation to other social movements.

Englert builds his analysis in three principal steps, opening with an exploration of the dual processes of accumulation and dispossession, separating but maintaining the distinction David Harvey develops effectively from Marx of colonialism as accumulation by dispossession. This approach has long suggested to me that a closer elaboration of this dynamic, clearly grounding settler colonialism in capitalist accumulation might open up links between settler colonial studies and the idea central to decolonial studies of a colonial matrix of power (although that might also be a dead end). In the field we have tended to focus on relations within the settler colonies, not those between those colonies and metropolitan interests.

Crucially, this approach allows Englert to consider settler colonialism as an aspect of labour relations as well, pointing therefore to things it has in common with enslavement and other forms of enforced labour. This approach is a sign of his evidence rather than theory driven approach, meaning that in many respects he adopts a more inclusive outlook than some who work in the field, and highlights the experience of the colonised as the basis of understanding and action.

The second step of the analysis focuses on practices of control, highlighting, again, two principal aspects. The first is the development and deployment of notions of race and racism as systems of social control. Here he draws in issues as diverse as bonded labour and theories of racial classification, noting the ways that Anglo-world ideas of racial hierarchies not only justified the enslavement of peoples of Africa, but also the colonisation of Ireland and the oppression of its Catholic peasantry, itself a precursor of actions and approaches in the Americas.

At this stage in the argument we also see evidence of Englert’s dialectical approach, where ideologies of Blackness also extend and reinforce emerging notions of whiteness. As a result he is able to explore the ways that whiteness acted as an exclusionary mechanism, maintaining settler colonies as white spaces. His focus here is primarily labour and trade union movements, pointing to the ways trade unions in places such as South Africa (with jobs protected by a colour bar) and Australia (where a de facto colour bar was further reinforced by support for the ‘White Australia’ immigration policies) both protected a white working class and settler colonial whiteness. The more substantial part of this discussion focuses on Histradrut, the Jewish labour movement in Palestine, that worked to not only exclude Palestinians from the emerging settler colonial enclaves that became Israel, but also to build a local form of settler capitalism that excluded Palestinians. This class dynamic is often excluded from or passed over in many discussion of settler colonialism.

The final section of the argument then builds on the often noted aspect of settler colonialism that it is a process, not an event, that it is as much of the now as it was of the then. Here he brings struggles against settler colonial power and systems relations into wider global struggles for justice, liberation and equality. The focus is, again, the Palestinian struggle noting the distinctions within that struggle between the experiences of those living under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza, those in Occupied East Jerusalem, and Israeli-Palestinians, all of whom live in settler colonial relations, but all of whom experience those relations differently. The other part of this discussion is the struggles against fossil fuel extractions, focusing mainly on cases such as the Dakota Access Pipeline in the USA, and related struggles Canada. Here it would have been good to see the view extended slightly, to take in for instance similar struggles in the Andes, reinforcing his call for a more inclusive sense of settler colonialism, but that is a fairly minor point and as authors we all have to make decisions about what to include.

Overall, however, my quibbles are just that – minor distinctions based in authorial judgement. This is an exceptional introduction to settler colonialism, but also one that engages implicitly and explicitly with much contemporary theorising and model/concept building in a way that should challenge the rest of us who work with these questions to think more inclusively about what we focus on. Crucially, it also reminds us that exploring and working on these issues means actively involving ourselves in and engaging Indigenous and other anti-colonial struggles now. The parallel to this is that we are also surrounded by social and political movements that remain incomplete without similar engagements.

That is to say, Englert has given us an outstanding introduction to the field that also demands that we rethink that field. That makes this essential reading for a much wider audience than it might, at first, appear.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very insightful and comprehensive introduction to settler colonialism. Englert has an excellent understanding of the subject, and is easily able to demonstrate its internal processes, present implications, and what the struggles against it mean. As Englert says, texts like these cannot provide a blue print to liberation - but, they can provide deep and useful insights that are needed for the continued struggle against oppression.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is what it says on the tin (and more): a really excellent introduction to settler colonialism. Through expanding the category of settler colonialism, and explaining the socio-historical particularities of different settler colonial societies and projects, Sai Englert does a great job of articulating the different forms and outcomes of settler colonialism (whether it be indigenous exploitation or eradication). Starting with settler colonialism as a process of dispossession and accumulation, Englert explains succinctly (but not without detail) how settler colonialism links into global capitalist social relations.

Later on in the book, Englert explains and discusses questions that I think are the most important and prevalent that Marxists grapple with in regards to settler colonialism; that is, how is race formed in different localities (usually through class struggle of some sort), and how do we understand the problematic of 'striking settlers'. The former of these I've been exploring the past year for the first time through the writing of figures such as Fields, Ignatiev and Du Bois, and Englert's chapter manage to cohere a lot of the ideas with regards to these thinkers that have been bouncing around my head. The latter of these chapters was really useful for laying the groundwork for thinking about questions that I've been struggling with for some time.

Overall I'd rate it 4.5/5 - I greatly appreciate the effort that Sai has put into writing this book and think that, whilst being accessible, it does far more than simply introduce the reader to the concept of settler colonialism.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and correct.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

really dense but learned a lot of stuff i should have learned in high school. definitely need to re read eventually but a great start to learning about history without a colonialist mindset

[Kara Aragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this primarily to see if this book would be a good option to give to people that I know need to read up on these topics (settler colonialism, including it's relation to racism, oppression, capitalism...). It's very tricky finding a book that includes enough of the neccessary information I want to share w people without having additional stuff that would make these people close the book without reading enough first (I'm working with the most close-minded, "traditional", conservative cliches of people you can imagine)... I don't know if this is "the one" yet but it is in the running where many others (even though I personally love them) are not.

This book is very well-written. Settlers colonialism is explained in simple terms, with parts that read like a text-book but again simple style and parts that read like a casual conversation. It is an emotional read that gets you sad, angry, fed up and inspired for change.

"To write off Indigenous struggles for liberation, or ignore their ongoing character, is to preclude a possible and different future for humanity, as well as to participate in settler power's stabilization by presenting it as unshakeable or unchallenged. The struggle, in the words of the old slogan, continues. Rana Barakat goes further still - she points out that while settler regimes fight for domiation over Indigenous peoples and their disappearance, those goal has always been, and continues to be, thwarted by Indigenous resistance. In fact, she sees in this failure a key characteristic of settler colonialism, which 'can strive for triumph through elimination of the native, but in the sense - it will never triumph."

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this for https://socialisme.nu/artikelen/
Driving through South Dakota,I remember countless gift shops selling “native american wares”. I would watch retirees emerge from their RV’s to pick through baskets of dream catchers etc as souvenirs. This struck me, as I wasn’t far from the site of the Massacre at Wounded Knee. In 1890 nearly 300 Native Americans were killed by the US Army. While the bodies lay frozen in the snow, soldiers took moccasins, pipes and other objects as souvenirs. More than mere irony this was proof that the process of settler colonialism continues on in perpetuity, if allowed. Fortunately, for as long as there’s been settler colonialism resistance to it has also persevered.

Settler colonialism is clarified in great detail in Sai Englert’s book by the same name. Published in 2022, the book compares and contrasts different examples of Settler Colonialism across the globe, though always with European countries as the colonists. From the Americas, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and Palestine each conflict has its violent truth revealed, how they are connected as well as inspiring stories of fightback.

Today, with the growth of the Palestinian solidarity movement and the entry of people new to the cause, this book carries a critical message—the importance of seeing the conflict not of one of two equal sides. As Englert writes, “Too often settler violence is obscured, relativised, or presented as one side of a vicious circle in which both Indigenous and settler populations play comparable roles.” (p. 74) Instead of isolated conflicts, settler colonialism has helped to define the crises of the world today–from racism to environmental degradation.

The book begins with marking the beginning of the colonial age with a fluke–the accidental “discovery” of the Americas. Englert grounds the book with Marx’s own words on how the rise of capitalism was deeply connected to colonial expansion. This relationship, it is important to remember, as Englert points out, depends on enforcement through extreme violence. In discussing the genocide of the indigenous people in the Americas Englert emphasizes that it wasn’t merely disease alone that accomplished this (as many US history school books may tell) but rather numerous wars, enslavement and servitude all resulted in a reign of terror lasting over 500 years.

What I especially appreciated about the book was the chapter on labor and how the settler colonial working class can uphold the system and further oppress indigenous workers. “Settler labor movements demanded both an increase in their share of value extracted from their own labour power, as well as from the colonial loot extracted through the dispossession of Indigenous peoples.” (p. 140) This is done differently according to the context. For instance in comparing South Africa to Palestine, Englert writes that while Palestinians have been excluded from the labour market the former used increased segregation instead to oppress the indigenous working class. This was so successful in the labor market that it laid the groundwork for Apartheid as a whole. As Englert writes, “Settler workers participate in securing their continued exploitation, in exchange for land and comparatively better working conditions.” (p. 164)

This leads to the conclusion that Englert writes, “The agency to end colonial rule lies…firmly in the hands of Indigenous people and their liberation movements.” (p. 164)

It’s assuring that Englert includes multiple stories of indigenous resistance. He tells of examples of the solidarity between enslaved Africans and the indigenous people of North and South America, stories that are often left out of the greater narrative.

I return to my trip in South Dakota. Wounded Knee wasn’t only a site of massacre. In 1973,it became a site of great resistance when the American Indian Movement (AIM) held a 71 day occupation, declaring the Oglala Nation independent from the United States. And as Englert points out, not far from Wounded Knee was Standing Rock Protests in 2016 against the Dakota Access Pipeline, which captured the world’s attention as numerous Indigenous nations gathered to hold the land and protect the water.

As we return to the moment of today, with growing interest and widespread participation in demonstrations for Palestine, conversations about how to achieve liberation need to include an understanding of settler colonialism—something this book can supply in a thorough and thoughtful way.

[AB Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve almost reached a recent examination of the issues surrounding the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Prior works include Theodor Herzl’s The Jewish State, Mahmoud Darwish’s Journal of an Ordinary Grief, and Ta-Nehisi Coates’ The Message. Throughout all these texts, I’ve had a nagging suspicion that there must be a concept at the root, undergirding the entire discussion of why this conflict exists. The answer, clearly, is settler colonialism.

Thus, for those interested to engage with a concise, deftly drawn historical examination of the topic, Sai Englert’s introduction is a compelling place to begin. Below are some important quotes that highlight the lessons that might be learned in the reading of this text:

“Settler colonial histories, conditions, practices, and logics of dispossession and power must necessarily be understood as relationally constituted to other modes of imperialism, racial capitalism, and historical formations of social difference.” (citing Manu Vimalassery, Juliana Hu Pegues and Alyosha Goldstein (2016), ‘On Colonial Unknowing’, Theory & Event, 19(4), p. 3.)

“Enslavement, genocide and settlement became the holy trinity that made the accumulation of wealth possible on a global scale, into the coffers of European states, merchants and emerging capitalists. This process transformed the colonial nations’ economies and facilitated the rise of a new bourgeois class to power. In turn, this new-found wealth and power accelerated the dispossession of the peasantry, which provided both industry and settlement with its needed labour power, accelerating settlement and dispossession once more.”

“Structuring logics of dispossession, racialisation, elimination and exploitation need to be denaturalised, before they can be overthrown.”

4 stars. Powerful stuff. Indeed, in empowering my own understanding of the foundations of how our global society unfolds, awareness of the kernel of oppression through 1) capitalism as accumulation, 2) dispossession through imposition of property rights, 3) a manufactured racism that separates humans through the inanity of “blood purity,” and 4) the possible power of Indigenous Resistance, remain choice takeaways from the text. A thorough, formidable text.

[Benji Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars may be generous.

Skimmed through it very quickly. Writing is pretentious and jargon-filled — academese, in one word. The book could have been cut by half.

Author is clearly smart and well-learned, and has good moral sensibilities. But he often seems more concerned with sounding smart than actually teaching his readers about the world.

It might come as a shock to him to learn that not everybody is an expert in Marx’s theory of “primitive accumulation.”

And it’s not just his own writing. He also cites a lot of other writers with turgid, pretentious, inscrutable prose. This passage from Cedric Robinson is probably the worst offender:

“Racial regimes are constructed social systems in which race is proposed as a justification for the relations of power. While necessarily articulated with accruals of power, the covering conceit of a racial regime is a makeshift patchwork masquerading as memory and the immutable. Nevertheless, racial regimes do possess history, that is, discernible origins and mechanisms of assembly. But racial regimes are unrelentingly hostile to their exhibition.”

Need I say more?

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

very readable intro to contemporary analysis of settler colonialism. somewhat marxist in orientation and more amenable to reading the global history of racial stratification along the lines of ted allen, ignatiev, the fields, etc. it has good juxtaposition of the historical differences in latin america, south africa, algeria, aus/nz, north america, and israel/palestine. the chapters examine accumulation, dispossession, racism, labor struggles, and liberation. i don't always find that 'racism as justification for the violence of accumulation' frame that is sometimes used here to be completely convincing, but it does go like 80% of the way there. it is VERY much an introduction, as a scholar i was familiar with most of the cited texts, but this is meant to be the kind of thing that undergrad students or really anyone can pick up and get a start on, if you don't have ten years of your life to familiarize yourself with the approach.

[Chad Alexander Guarino da Verona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book while listening to Lorde’s brand new album Virgin (out TODAY!). What is the correlation? Lorde writes of - and rips the lid off of - generational trauma and the pressures of growing up in a hedonistic, reckless, drug fueled party scene. The question is: What responsibility do we have when analyzing and living within corrupt and violent systems? Do we simply ignore it and, as some would command us, profess our blind “love” for them? As Lorde realizes on “Favourite Daughter” - there is no retreat to the center. There is only moving forward with clear-headed critique and analysis. So anyway, welcome back Lorde and settler colonialism get wrecked.

[oceania · Rating 5 out of 5]

picked this up on a whim from the ubc bookstore. great primer on settler colonialism with an aim of broadening the scope of definition that i think it achieves. i thought the chapters on dispossession and settler labour movements were most illuminating. englert’s specialisation in zionism really adds a lot here in terms of research and scope. would recommend this to anybody with even a passing interest in this topic.

[Brandon Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent introduction to the subject of Settler Colonialism. The author does a great job analyzing the material conditions and explains how Ireland, Pacific Islands, The Americas, South Africa, and Palestine are different but similar aspects of settler colonialism. It is a strongly recommended read!

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very lucid introduction. Brings a wide range of source material into a tight focus.

[Samantha Pajor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having this understanding of settler colonialism helps me understand so much more about our collective struggles.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

really helpful book with a lot of great references. i think it covered a lot of ground in a short amount of pages. i think that made it a bit difficult to fully understand all the concepts in great detail. but overall, i found it very interesting & informative

[Martin Empson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars because while I disagree with some of Sai Englert's conclusions, this is an important book to begin a serious discussion of what Settler Colonialism is, and how we end it, and the system that created it. In particularly I don't think that Sai's conclusions that "settler workers" continue to benefit from a settler colony's ongoing dispossession of land. While that might be true at certain points in history, and in certain places today (Israel?). I am doubtful it is true of say, Canada or Australia. This is not to say that racism in its general form, and specific forms against particular indigenous groups, is irrelevant to undermining collective solidarity, but its about the specifics of what dispossession meant, and continues to mean. I'll write a longer review elsewhere, but this is an important book - despite these disagreements with some aspects of Sai's conclusions.