Decolonizing Violence: A Moral Defense of Anti-Imperialist Resistance

Abstract

Concerning Violence: Anti-Imperialistic Self Defense Word count 528 After opening this film “Concerning Violence: Anti-Imperialistic Self Defense” the viewer gets to see an archive full of reading materials. What does this imply? It simply means that the content of this documentary is primarily based on archival information. While reflecting on the theme of liberation, colonialism and resistance, the film makes a new definition of violence. Basically, the film argues violence from its positive side of view citing that its remains viable and necessary in the context of liberation. Oppression triggers resistance which comes along with violence as a potential self-defense aimed at liberating the oppressed against oppressive regimes as well as colonial powers. In short, the documentary challenges the conventional narratives that surround violence and resistance citing that these are legitimate responses to systemic injustices. Since this film emphasizes on the necessity of violence in the context of colonialism or any form of oppression, analyzing it from the lens of Giligan and Kohlberg’s theories will offer a better understanding of the intrinsic moral landscapes of colonial resistance. Since both theories are coined around moral development, they will help justify violence as an ethical response to imperialism. While analyzing the colonizers and the colonized, Kohlberg’s pre-conventional theory posit that colonizers borrowed from pre-conventional morality while colonizing others due to their self interest as well as maintenance of power (Conerly, Holmes and Tamang, 2021). The film showcases instances of rationalized oppression as well as exploitation for economic gain attributed to misuse of power vested on the colonizers. In the conventional stage, the colonized wakes up and decide to resist and fight back for their rights. Violence and resistance becomes vital during this stage where individuals and groups appeal for equality and engages in a common mission of the fight for...