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Dear Critters, I thought I would share my two cents on this: As a descendant of those who lived through the brutalities of colonialism and continue to suffer its consequences, and as someone from the so-called ‘third world’, I found this article highly offensive and insulting as a person, as a scholar of development, and as an author who has published in the same journal (a well-respected one for critical development studies). The article is utterly reprehensible, historically inaccurate, poor written, conceptually weak, and morally disgusting, for a million different reasons. This article has caused a lot of stir among various disciplines, groups, and organizations in the last couple of days. Some members of the editorial board (e.g. Vijay Prashad) have publicly threatened to resign if the article is not retracted. How it made through the peer-review process or the managing editor is surprising and suspect, as far more robust articles are routinely rejected. Many folks are writing letters of complaint to the journal about the piece, calling for a retraction and an apology. Even more are tweeting about it [If you’d like to see some of the tweet thread on this, here’s one example among many circulating now: https://twitter.com/Farhana_H2O/status/907440614144462848 <https://twitter.com/Farhana_H2O/status/907440614144462848>]. The article seems like a faux ‘shock’ piece to manufacture controversy and very much conforms to click-bait practices. Perhaps the journal wanted ‘debate’ but it’s facing a lot of heat instead. Either way, it’s disgusting in my opinion. The author in question (a political scientist at Portland State University) has published white supremacist drivel in the past (e.g. supporting ethnic cleansing), and has made a name for himself in doing so. We all know there are plenty of colonial apologists in academia as well as overt and closeted white supremacists who enable/promote/encourage such success; many more support it through silence and enabling such behavior to go unchecked. Perhaps that is why there is an urge amongst many to write a response. However, a well-known postcolonial scholar has recommended *not* downloading it (as that will only increase its stats & popularity; obtaining it elsewhere like on this list is great), or citing it (unless you have to demonstrate it’s ludicrousness, as again that will increase its citation metrics), or responding to the author directly, as these will take away the power since the author thrives on controversy. Perhaps writing to the journal to retract it is better. There are many other sites where meaningful interventions can be made about decolonizing, postcolonial critique, etc. (e.g. recent TIBG special issue on this, etc.). Nonetheless, the fury that many of us feel, given current state of the world where white supremacy reigns, does seem to warrant some sort of collective response to such ideologies. I don’t know what shape or form that would be, but I thought I’d throw it out there in case folks want to do so. I’m too weary to write something but would gladly support and join in such an effort. Apologies for the rant, it’s been a very long and hard year. Best, Farhana *~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~* Farhana Sultana, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Geography & Research Director for Environmental Conflicts and Collaborations, Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC) Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Syracuse University 144 Eggers Hall, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA Email: [log in to unmask] Web: www.farhanasultana.com Web: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/faculty/sultana.aspx ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Farhana_Sultana Twitter: @Farhana_H2O Books: Eating, Drinking: Surviving http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319424675 The Right to Water: Politics, Governance and Social Struggles https://www.routledge.com/products/9781849713597 > On Sep 12, 2017, at 10:09 AM, Pamela Shurmer-Smith <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Thank you - I have it now (what a wonderfully quick response) > > Pam Shurmer-Smith > > > From: Breffní Lennon <[log in to unmask]> > To: Pamela Shurmer-Smith <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Tuesday, 12 September 2017, 15:05 > Subject: Re: "The case for colonialism" > > Hi Pamela, > > Here's a copy. I share Simone's sentiment about whether to laugh or cry... > > Kind regards, > > Breffní > > > > On 12 September 2017 at 14:52, Pamela Shurmer-Smith <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: > I've seen several mentions of this article recently and the suggestion that the man will rake in the citations. I've no desire to pay £28 to read it (or any other for that matter) but I have no library access now I'm retired. Anyone willing to send me a copy? > > Pam > > Pamela Shurmer-Smith > Portsmouth > UK > > > > From: simone tulumello <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> > To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Tuesday, 12 September 2017, 14:28 > Subject: "The case for colonialism" > > Hi Critters, > just to let y'all know that while we discuss on post-colonialisms and de-colonialisms, people out there make the case for colonialism, in a journal titled Third World. > I ain't sure whether to laugh or cry... > http://www.tandfonline.com/ doi/abs/10.1080/01436597.2017. 1369037?journalCode=ctwq20 <http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01436597.2017.1369037?journalCode=ctwq20> > > Solidarity, > Simone > > > > >