World few centuries back was quite
a different place. It was substantially brutal, controlled by ruthless power
that arbitrated and decided life of people tempered by religion and systems of heuristic
morals in varying degrees of righteousness. Power transacted nature of existence. It
was an unstable chaotic world that could turn fatal any moment for no reason,
and the constant endeavor was to maintain stability and control. People naturally
acquiesced and aligned to nearest power for safety and survival. Every region in the world
was controlled by systems and institutions that sought expansion to extend
control hence more resources and increased chance of survival. Expansion was basic logic of survival, it was natural order
of things and those not competent to face this brutal reality were vanquished, eliminated
or controlled. With advancement of technology the control was sought to be extended through this new mean.
West with superior power took to control the world. Colonialism exploited the
world for resources and power. System of brutality and exploitation of people and nature shifted to bigger
forces from smaller players in the region. Technology improvised and sophisticated
demands of greed and luxury increased to unsustainable. Could
they have steered technology for better purpose? Quite unlikely, technology is
determined to maximize the system. Technology will find all its potential and opportunities to
gain for the system in whatever ways possible. It is the system that decides. If
the system is extractive (as is the case of colonialism) then it will go to
whatever possible extend to wantonly exploit. As egalitarian values consolidate into inclusive
system the nature of technology align to better deal. Systems have significant say in what
aspects of technology be highlighted and nurtured. Inclusive system will not
ban technology but regulate on emerging basis without suppressing the possibility
of technology that is essential representation of varied voices in modern world.
Steering is forced shifting -an exhibition of control, hence not in response to
emerging situation or heuristically evaluated decision. Inclusive society will regulate technology
as an earnest measure using mechanism of subsidies, taxation and laws that
protects its citizen (human rights, discrimination, privacy so on). Indeed, an egalitarian
society will naturally align to technologies that doesn’t hinder evolved
values.
Colonialism is accepted fact of history that shaped much of the world and discourse until 20th century. This surely cannot be allowed to influence the emerging world and challenges of 21st century. Colonial exploitation was past reality doesn’t necessarily mean reparation is present outcome. This is too spacious an argument that doesn’t pass critical scrutiny. The reality of the past shouldn’t be used to evaluate the present, even the semantics of past is problematic. Reparation for what and to whom? Where do you draw reference of exploitation and where do you demarcate line of history? Does it address complexities of historical injustice? Bigger narration of exploitation shouldn’t undermine smaller exploitations that thrived before the advent of colonialism. Was colonial exploited regions egalitarian? Not at all, as mentioned, world was brutal place. To attribute West for past exploitation -indeed being socially efficient and technologically advanced shouldn’t go against them, any other society with same power would be equally, if not more, devastating. Indeed, extending the same logic much of the world will need reparation from, say, marauding islamic army while Indians need to be paid for centuries of brutalities through caste cannibalism, overwhelming mediocrity and nonexistent morals. Also, who will pay and who should be paid is equally important. If Britain decides to pay reparation, then the cost will essentially percolate to common people -as it is the corrupt neoliberal value system has inept public service. People must stand up against this and strongly protest any attempt at so-called historical injustice that will perpetuate contemporary injustice. Also, are these countries with colonial past democratic with essential humanitarian value system, clearly reparation will fill the coffer of corrupt and accentuate disparities. Also, unlike TRC arbitrated monetary reparation to specific victims and families in S.Africa -that is a recent history and reconciliation of racially divided population was need of the hour, colonial history has passed few generations. Reparation also has a sinister narration of normalizing british feudal system as patronizing benign. What is needed is systemic change not short-term fix and semantic ruse to extend the discourse to nowhere. Subsidies and investment on quality education and nutrition has an impact to rectify injustice while inculcating dignity to younger generation. Richer countries must increase grants for higher education in poorer societies -taking care not to further local inequalities and regressive values, most early migrants to West are byproduct of regressive values severely reducing space for reparative justice for blacks -who faced horrendous exploitations through slavery.
Past exploitative consequences must be factored in framing international accord, like say, climate justice -historical pollution is an important parameter in deciding -even in case of biodiversity -colonial exploitations severely degraded forests and land for mining coal and other resources. Subsidized sustainable technology transfer and infrastructure for quality education are mechanism to factor in the exploitation of past. Lack of vibrant democratic institutions in poorer societies also lead to neocolonial exploitation (like for precious minerals in Africa, people of DRC have even taken corporates to international court), this can replicate to outer space and deep sea mining unless effective laws are enforced. What is needed is inclusive democratic systems vibrant to factor in fast evolving world. International institutions and discourse must reflect these for better possibility and safer world. What this essentially means is that feudal institutions, exploitative dehumanizing value systems that nurtured horrors of colonialism, doesn’t have any place in contemporary world and is indeed an affront on humanity. Dismantling colonial value system and feudal structures is beginning of reparative justice. Reparative justice as a transformative inclusive justice that nurtures institutions and empowers indivduals.
