Is ‘colonialism without colonies’ settler colonialism? Christine Whyte, ‘Between empire and colony: American imperialism and Pan-African colonialism in Liberia, 1810–2003’, National Identities, 2015 | settler colonial studies blog

Is ‘colonialism without colonies’ settler colonialism? Christine Whyte, ‘Between empire and colony: American imperialism and Pan-African colonialism in Liberia, 1810–2003’, National Identities, 2015

04Nov15

Abstract: Both Liberia and the USA make their independence from the imperial/colonial systems of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries an integral part of their national identities. Despite an upsurge in the use of the term ‘American Empire’ since the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, the American government has firmly identified itself as a republic with no colonial ambitions. Liberia, dubbed ‘Africa’s oldest republic’, has similarly fashioned a national self-image of freedom and independence. This article uses the concept of Colonialism without Colonies to critically evaluate these claims, and further open up questions about the nature of imperialism in contrast to colonialism.

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