Watch the "Neocolonialism Today: History Continued" program and discussion that took place on February 20, and find additional resources provided by the panel.

RESOURCES

What is neo-colonialism? 

The term “neocolonialism” generally represents the actions and effects of certain remnant features and agents of the colonial era in a given society. Post-colonial studies have shown extensively that despite achieving independence, the influences of colonialism and its agents are still very much present in the lives of most former colonies. Practically, every aspect of the ex-colonized society still harbors colonial influences. These influences, their agents and effects constitute the subject matter of neocolonialism.

Jean Paul Sartre’s Colonialism and Neocolonialism (1964) contains the first recorded use of the term neocolonialism. The term has become an essential theme in African Philosophy, most especially in African political philosophy. In the book, Sartre argued for the immediate disengagement of France’s grip upon its ex-colonies and for total emancipation from the continued influence of French policies on those colonies, particularly Algeria. However, it was at one of the All African People’s Conferences (AAPC), a movement of political groups from countries in Africa under colonial rule, which held conferences in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Accra, Ghana, where the term was first officially used in Africa. At the AAPC’s “1961 Resolution on Neocolonialism,” the term neocolonialism was given its first official definition. It was described as the deliberate and continued survival of the colonial system in independent African states, by turning these states into victims of political, mental, economic, social, military and technical forms of domination carried out through indirect and subtle means that did not include direct violence. With the publication of Kwame Nkrumah’s Neo-colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism in 1965, the term neocolonialism finally came to the fore. 

Source:https://iep.utm.edu/neocolon/

Canada and the Black Diaspora 

• 2023 UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery in Canada: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/09/canada-anchor-fight-against-contemporary-forms-slavery-human-rights-un
• Black Canadians, The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/black-canadians
• Significant Events in Black History in Canada, Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month/historic-black-communities.html 
• Black History in Canada, Historica Canada: https://fb.historicacanada.ca/education/english/black-history-in-canada/
• The African Diaspora in Canada - Negotiating Identity and Belonging, Tettey, Wisdom J. (editor), Puplampu, Korbla P. (editor): https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/57444
• Diasporic Africans in Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council: https://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/society-societe/stories-histoires/story-histoire-eng.aspx?story_id=276
• “Other/ed” Kinds of Blackness: An Afrodiasporic Versioning of Black Canada: https://ojs.library.carleton.ca/index.php/sjcs/article/view/288/199,Southern Journal of Canadian Studies: 

The UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent 

• United Nations Policy Report on Canada – Hodan Ahmed Co-authored research on human rights & racial equity: [Link One, Link Two, Link Three]
• The covenant that governs labour rights, union rights, and right to work: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR):
  - Canada signed the ICESCR on May 19, 1976, and the treaty entered into force in Canada on August 19, 1976.
  - The ICESCR is a multilateral human rights treaty that protects basic rights such as the right to an adequate standard of living, education, health care, and work.
• Main UN site: https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent
• Mandate: https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent/mandate
• Background and Previous Meetings: https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent/background-and-previous-meetings-establishment-permanent-forum-people-african-descent
• Declaration on the Human Rights of People of African Descent: https://www.ohchr.org/en/permanent-forum-people-african-descent/declaration-human-rights-people-african-descent
• Release of the proceedings and written submissions of the Expert Consultation on the Draft UN Declaration on the Human Rights of People of African Descent, a significant convening organized by the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and hosted by the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School.

Actions I Can Take 

• If you are a member or a leader of a union or labour movement, I encourage you to collectively reach out to the Ministry of Labour to expedite the long-awaited Employment Equity Act Review release and promptly submit the proposed amendments to Parliament for expeditious deliberation.
• Here are some policy recommendations you can utilize within and without the Canadian Labour Movements:
  - Change Justice Impact Report – Led qualitative research on justice reform: [Link]
  - Gender-Based Violence Toolkit – Developed community resources on GBV: [Link]
  - Legal Toolkit for Black Youth – Policy recommendations for systemic change: [Link]
  - Anti-Racism & DEI Toolkit for Employers – Published policy guide for workplace inclusion: [Link]
• If you’re a community leader with organizational and community lead responsibilities:
  - Enter into collaborative relationships with Indigenous leaders and organizations to create opportunities for Black communities to learn and act on the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
  - Have your Board of Directors table a dedicated agenda (plan for 1.5 to 2 hours) to discuss what your organization can do to engage authentically in support of Indigenous causes.
• Protect the gains of the Decade of People of African Descent in Canada - funding, policy outcomes, etc. Advocate for investments that match the federal government commitment to the extension of the Decade.
• Remain alert and engaged to fight the growing anti-Black hate and polarization in Canada and against people of African Descent globally. Seek out and build relationships and collaborations across Canada, diaspora and the continent.