The chapter “Journeys Toward Decolonization” (p. 247-275) in Harsha Walia’s book, Undoing Border Imperialism, falls under the course themes of gender, migration, racism, and capitalism. In this final chapter of her book, Walia outlines three main processes or journeys that are aimed at decolonizing the world: (1) decolonizing structural colonialism; (2) decolonizing social movements, and; (3) decolonizing social relations. Each journey that Walia proposes is detailed with critical examples of the spaces where processes of decolonization can emerge. Ultimately, Walia brings forth a holistic framework of decolonization that is situated in a mindset of self-determination, healing justice, and equal liberation for the Earth’s land and all those inhabiting it.
Walia’s chapter is ultimately a read for individuals who seek guidance for what can be done to begin the process of decolonization, whether there is a need for small or large-scale changes. While Walia’s entire book fits right into the scope of transnational feminism, her final chapter also encompasses issues of migration, border imperialism, and gender. For example, I learned from Walia that gender liberation movements see a relationship between the regulation of people’s genders and sexualities with the regulation of borders. Walia quotes this idea as “socially-created borders,” which can actually become a site for dismantling border imperialism. Therefore, Walia teaches us that we can learn from the ways that gender liberation movements promote fluidity and thus unregulated definitions of sexualities, and then use that framework to promote borders based on inclusion rather than exclusion.
Keywords: decolonization, border imperialism, social movements, journeys
Author: Kim Kardashian
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