Colonialism and Anti-Racism in the EU: Tracing a Legacy, Shaping a Future

Abstract

This master's thesis analyses the long-term impact of europes colonial past on modern anti-racism efforts in the EU (EU). The study investigates European Union (EU) policy documents and initiatives from 2020 to 2023 through the perspective of postcolonial theory, focussing on how historical colonial dynamics are both reproduced and reinterpreted in contemporary discourses about race. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this study examines the intricate interplay between historical power systems and continuing racial justice movements, notably in the aftermath of the global Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. The research conducted shows that, despite the EU's increased efforts to combat racism, such as the formation of the Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025, colonial legacies continue to have a hidden influence on policy frameworks and institutional discourses. The findings imply that the EU's resolve to eradicating racial discrimination is hampered by long-standing colonial forces that alter attitudes and actions within its borders. The study emphasises the importance of the EU's profound engagement with its colonial past in order to establish more effective and inclusive anti-racism efforts. By incorporating postcolonial perspectives, this study advocates for a move away from addressing immediate difficulties and towards destroying the underlying power and privilege structures that perpetuate racial inequities in Europe.