Discourse on Colonialism

Césaire predicts the dissolution of Europe’s colonial enterprise by comparing its events to the fall of the Roman Empire. He turns to the writings of Edgar Quinet, who describes how the Roman Empire fell to ruin by attempting to unite the various nationalities through expansion. Quinet compares these nationalities to “bulwarks” (75) that protected Rome from falling into the ocean under it. By invading these territories, Quinet argues that Rome was responsible for its own downfall.

Césaire justifies his comparison of Europe’s fate to ancient Rome by pointing to the similar acts of invasion that it has done. Europe’s weakening hold on colonization has paved the way for the U.S. to rise as a colonial and imperial power. While the West may rejoice in this, Césaire cautions that the brutality of U.S. violence will be even greater than European barbarism as it is a “domination from which one never recovers” (77).

Before the world turns towards this terrible fate, Césaire advises that Europe embrace “a policy of nationalities” (77) where there is mutual respect for all people and cultures. Europe must also make amends for the civilizations it has destroyed by either creating a pathway for their revival or enabling the creation of new ones in their wake.