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What Is ‘Settler Colonialism’?
A look at the academic roots of the idea, which has stirred fierce debate when applied to Israel.
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Pro-Palestinian activists at a rally in Washington in November. Credit...Shawn Thew/EPA, via Shutterstock
By Jennifer Schuessler
Jan. 22, 2024Updated 9:33 a.m. ET
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In the intense war of words over the Israel-Gaza war, a particular phrase has popped up repeatedly. At protests, on fliers and in some mainstream publications, it is common to see Israel described — or more likely, assailed — as a “settler-colonial” state.
The concept of settler colonialism originates in academia, where its use has surged over the past two decades, whether in case studies of particular places or sweeping master narratives that purport to explain everything since Columbus. It has also been widely taken up on the activist left, invoked in discussions of gentrification, environmental degradation, financial capitalism and other subjects.
The term “settler colonialism” may combine two words that are very familiar. But in combination, the term can land as a moral slander — or worse.
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Jennifer Schuessler is a culture reporter covering intellectual life and the world of ideas. She is based in New York. More about Jennifer Schuessler
A version of this article appears in print on Jan. 23, 2024, Section C , Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: A Complex Lens for a Knotty World . Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
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