The Handbook of World Englishes, 2nd Edition

31Postcolonial Theory and World Englishes: Toward a Dialogue

WIMAL DISSANAYAKE

1 Introduction

During the past two decades or so, postcolonial theory has emerged as a very powerful and productive mode of inquiry and style of thinking that has begun to inflect the ambitions of diverse academic disciplines ranging from literary studies to political science. In order to understand the true nature and significance of postcolonial theory, we need to come to grips with the concept of postcolonialism on which it is based. At first sight, postcolonialism may appear to be a straightforward concept – it is, after all, what comes after colonialism. However, the apparent simplicity and straightforwardness of the term occludes a complexity of contradictory meanings and is indeed misleading in that it does not pay adequate attention to the idea of neocolonialism. During World War I, 85% of the earth’s surface was under European domination, and after World War II, a process of decolonization was set in motion that resulted in the former colonized countries receiving their independence. However, political independence, such as it is, does not necessarily translate into economic and cultural independence. The way the modern phase of capitalist modernity has begun to unfold across the phase of the earth foregrounds the relentless power and reach of neocolonialism. Hence, if postcolonialism is to become a useful analytical concept, it has, of necessity, to address the issue of neocolonialism. ...