杏MAP导航

By Lisa Zengarini

鈥淣o power - political, economic, ideological - is entitled to unilaterally determine the identity of a nation or social group,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis told a forum of judges for social rights gathered this week in the Vatican for an African and American intercontinental workshop on modern neocolonialism.

鈥淭he subjugation and plunder of peoples through the use of force or cultural and political penetration is a crime (鈥�) because there are no chances for peace in a world that discards populations and oppresses to loot,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 wrote in a message to the participants.

The  legacy of the colonial system in Africa and the Americas 

The workshop, titled 鈥淐olonization, Decolonization and Neocolonialism in the Perspective of Justice and the Common Good鈥�, was organized from March 30-31  by the Pontifical Academy for Social Sciences, the Commission of  Pan American judges for Social Rights and Franciscan Doctrine and the University of Massachusetts, U.S.A..

Participants reflected on the legacy of the colonial system in Africa and the Americas  focusing on today鈥檚 global inequalities and social injustices, unsustainable development, unchecked climate change, and mass migration, and discussed the role of institutions and the justice system in reversing these developments.

Although in the 21st century we can no longer technically speak of "colonized" countries  from a geographical point of view, says 杏MAP导航 Francis, the same cannot be said with regards  to the economic and ideological aspects. Indeed, colonialism has changed in its forms, methods and justifications: 鈥渋t is virtualised, camouflaged, hidden, making it difficult to to detect and neutralize it鈥�.

Economic and ideological colonialism

The 杏MAP导航 cited by way of example the Democratic Republic of Congo, which he visited earlier this year along with South Sudan. He noted, that despite the DRC being independent for over seventy years, its rich resources continue to be exploited and contended by several stakeholders resulting in conflicts which heavily affect its territory, population and the common good.

Equally relevant, he continued, is the phenomenon of 鈥渋deological colonialism鈥�, which 鈥渟tifles the natural bond between peoples and their values, by trying to eradicate their traditions, history and religious beliefs鈥�"

No chances for peace in a world that discards and oppresses peoples

杏MAP导航 Francis said he is particularly concerned by these new forms of colonialism. 鈥淚t seems like several centuries of bloody and inhumane historical strife haven鈥檛 served to develop a global idea of liberation, self-determination and solidarity between nations and between human beings鈥�, he remarked.

Colonialism is still there, but it is more 鈥渞efined鈥� and 鈥渟ubtle鈥�, and justifies the new practices of domination 鈥渨ith claimed 鈥榥atural鈥� deficiencies of the colonized鈥�. In this context, the 鈥渇rontal warfare鈥� of old colonial times has been replaced today by 鈥渁symmetric conflicts and lawfare.鈥�  

In this regard, 杏MAP导航 Francis remarked that we should never forget that the concrete expressions of justice and the common good mature in peoples, each with their 鈥渟tories, origins, traditions, and religions鈥�, which must be respected as such.

鈥淭his is why鈥�, he said, "no power 鈥� political, economic, ideological 鈥� is entitled  to unilaterally determine the identity of a nation or a social group鈥�. Subjugating peoples by force or through cultural and political penetration is to be considered a crime 鈥渂ecause there are no chances for peace in a world that discards peoples and oppresses to loot鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 stressed.

After reiterating the important role of scholars and scientific research in raising awareness on the fight against ongoing neocolonial practices, racism and segregation, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted the crucial importance of including native peoples and displaced ethnic groups in political decision-making processes  in their countries., by giving them a fair representation in representative bodies.

Apologies for believers' contribution to colonialism

The 杏MAP导航, for his part,  once again apologized 鈥渇or the acts of some Christian  believers who in the past 鈥渄irectly or indirectly contributed to the processes of political and territorial domination of various peoples in America and Africa. 鈥淚 also ask for an apology for any errors or omissions that have occurred or are occurring in the present鈥�, he concluded.