Settler Colonialism

Because this has come up in the Kathleen DuVal book I'm reading now...

What is Settler Colonialism? in the New York Times (Jan. 22, 2024)

Settler colonialism is a concept from academic and activist circles referring to colonialism where settlers displace Indigenous populations to establish permanent societies.
It differs from extractive colonialism (focused on resources) by aiming to eliminate and replace the existing population.
It emerged from postcolonial studies and gained traction particularly after Patrick Wolfe’s 1998 work. Wolfe famously called settler colonialism a “structure, not an event”, meaning it persists through legal and political systems.

The concept has spread across many disciplines (history, law, literature, etc.).
Scholars like Caroline Elkins and Aziz Rana argue it’s a useful analytical tool, not a blanket condemnation.
Critiques exist, even within academia: Some argue it's overly simplistic or erases Indigenous agency and survival (e.g., historian Ned Blackhawk).

Using the term often ignites fierce political debate, especially regarding Israel, where it's used by critics to describe Zionism as a colonial project.
Supporters of Israel argue the label ignores Jewish indigeneity, refugee histories, and historical trauma.
Scholars like Barnett Rubin argue the situation is ambiguous, noting that Israelis can be seen as both indigenous and settlers.

Some argue settler colonialism isn’t just a Western/white phenomenon.
Examples include Japan in Manchuria, Indonesia in West Papua, and Liberia (settled by freed African Americans).
Critics like Lachlan McNamee caution against viewing settler colonialism solely through a Euro-American lens.

While the concept is less politically charged in the U.S., it underpins many practices like land acknowledgments.
Scholars like Aziz Rana use the framework to critique U.S. history and its racial and legal hierarchies.
However, even advocates caution that it is not a master key to all historical understanding — it reveals some truths while obscuring others.

Settler colonialism is a powerful but polarizing concept. It helps analyze patterns of land seizure and domination but can become politicized or overgeneralized.
It reveals hidden continuities in legal and political structures but must be applied with historical nuance.

Curious > Certain