Discourse on Colonialism

Aime Cesaire's poetics were backed by a rigorous analysis of colonialism and nowhere did he state this more fully than here in his Discourse on Colonialism which must be viewed as a founding text for post-colonial criticism. This text, which was written in the 1950s, places the blame for Western civilization firmly on the shoulders of the European bourgeoisie. The two major problems he sees as being the proletariat and the colonial problem and this demonstrates, in part, his allegiance to the Communist Party. The new countries offer a vast field for individual, violent activities which, in the metropolitan countries, would run up against certain prejudices, against a sober and orderly conception of life. The system of ancient civilization was composed of a certain number of nationalities, of countries which, although they seemed to be enemies, or were even ignorant of each other, protected, supported, and guarded one another.