Settler Colonialism vs. Colonialism: Key Differences

While both settler colonialism and colonialism involve the domination of one group over another, there are crucial differences in their goals, methods, and long-term impacts. Here’s a breakdown:

Colonialism:

• Focus: Primarily resource extraction and economic exploitation.
• Methods: Indirect or direct control of territory through political and economic power, with local populations often relegated to subordinate roles in labor or administration.
• Long-term impact: Exploitation of resources and wealth transfer to the colonizing power, leaving colonized societies often underdeveloped and facing political and economic instability.

Settler Colonialism:

• Focus: Permanent displacement and replacement of indigenous populations on their land for settlement by immigrants from the colonizing power.
• Methods: Direct occupation and dispossession of land, often through violence and cultural suppression. Aim to erase or marginalize indigenous cultures and identities.
• Long-term impact: Physical and cultural erasure of indigenous populations, creation of a settler society with ongoing power imbalances and social inequalities.

Settler Colonialism in Hawaiʻi: A Case Study

Hawaiʻi exemplifies the characteristics of settler colonialism:

• Land dispossession: The Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown in 1893, and indigenous Hawaiians were systematically dispossessed of their land through government policies and private land grabs. Over 90% of land in Hawaiʻi is now owned by non-Hawaiians, largely descendants of American and European settlers.
• Loss of sovereignty: The Hawaiian Kingdom lost its independence and became a territory and then a state of the United States. Indigenous Hawaiians remain politically marginalized with limited self-determination.
• Cultural marginalization: Hawaiian language and culture were suppressed through policies like mandatory English-language education. The cultural landscape reflects settler dominance, with indigenous practices often relegated to tourism or folklore.
• Ongoing disparities: Indigenous Hawaiians face higher rates of poverty, health problems, and incarceration compared to the predominantly white settler population.

Furthermore, Hawaiʻi’s settler colonialism has historical links to the Manifest Destiny ideology in the United States, which viewed expansion and displacement of indigenous populations as a national right and duty.

Conclusion

The case of Hawaiʻi demonstrates the distinct and lasting impacts of settler colonialism. Understanding these differences is crucial for acknowledging the historical injustices faced by indigenous populations and working towards reconciliation and equitable solutions.