Introduction
The book Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee paints a vivid picture of imperialism and the use of colonial troops to rule over oppressed peoples. The book examines how imperialism affects both the oppressor and the oppressed and raises significant issues regarding the ethics and morality of such political structures. In this article, I will use specific passages from the book and the course readings to discuss the ideas of imperialism and power.
Setting and Initial Conflict in Waiting for the Barbarians
The story takes place in a failing empire that will not be named. The emperor’s security commander, Colonel Joll, commands the main character, a magistrate who oversees a small frontier hamlet, to assist in the capture and torture of a group of barbarians who are reportedly preparing an attack on the empire. The magistrate first works with Colonel Joll because he thinks the barbarians are dangerous to the empire’s safety and security. However, as the narrative goes on, he starts to doubt the righteousness of the empire’s deeds and the use of force to hold onto power.
Historical Context of Imperialism in Africa
Since the late 19th century, imperialism has been a central theme in African history. The continent was a target for European countries looking to enlarge their empires due to its abundant natural resources and advantageous position. “Africa Since 1940: The Past of the Present” by Frederick Cooper examines the effects of imperialism on the continent in the years following World War II. Cooper contends that imperialism did not necessarily stop with the end of formal colonialism.
Western nations and their multinational businesses continued to have economic and political sway, upholding an exploitation system that hampered Africa’s progress. Similarly, The African Experience by Vincent Khapoya gives a thorough summary of the continent’s history, including imperialism’s effects. Khapoya draws attention to the terrible effects of European imperialism on Africa, such as the compulsion of population shifts and the devastation of regional economies. He also highlights the part played by African resistance in opposing imperialist rule.
Power, Language, and the Justification of Violence
The connection between imperialism and power is one of the main topics of Waiting for the Barbarians. By using a discourse that portrays the barbarians as a menace to civilization and the empire as a force for civilization, the empire exercises control over the people it has enslaved. According to the novel, similar discourse is employed to defend the empire’s use of force against oppressed peoples. The magistrate and Colonel Joll have a conversation in which the latter explains the empire’s actions by saying, “We are not here to answer charges brought by barbarians. To defend the Empire from the barbarians, we are here (Coetzee 20).
The use of the term “barbarians” implies a lack of civilization and justifies the empire’s use of violence against them. This term not only implies a lack of civilization, but it also serves to dehumanize the oppressed peoples and strip them of their humanity. By doing so, the empire can justify its use of violence and exploitation, as it views the oppressed peoples as less than human.
Colonel Joll as the Empire’s Enforcer
Colonel Joll serves as a perfect illustration of how the empire justifies its acts through words. He is sent to the frontier as an agent of the empire to question and torture the subjugated peoples. Joll manipulates the situation and justifies using force by saying he is protecting the empire from the barbarians through language. He employs this language to defend his brutal deeds by portraying oppressed peoples as a threat to civilization.
The book also examines the position of the magistrate, who at first supports the empire’s policies. Still, it later starts to think twice about its participation in the subjugation of the barbarians. He starts to recognize the humanity in the oppressed peoples and understands that the rhetoric of the empire is a strategy for retaining power and dominance. The magistrate’s epiphany elevates him to the status of a representative of dissent and opposition to the imperial system of oppression.
The Magistrate’s Moral Awakening
The Algerian independence fight is described in detail in Frantz Fanon’s A Dying Colonialism. Fanon’s examination of colonization’s psychological effects on the colonized is fascinating. He contends that colonized people develop a sense of reliance and inferiority due to colonization. This psychological harm is later utilized as justification for maintaining imperialist rule over the colonial people. Similarly, Amilcar Cabral contends in Unity and Struggle that imperialism is both an economic and psychological system. He urges the mobilization of colonial peoples to reject imperialist rule and demand their own political and economic independence.
Psychological Impacts of Imperialism
The magistrate is nonetheless also aware of the dehumanization of the barbarians as he starts to question the morality of the empire’s activities. He witnesses firsthand the brutality Colonel Joll inflicts on the barbarians and grows sympathetic to their predicament. According to the story, both the oppressor and the oppressed have become less human due to the empire’s use of power. The magistrate, formerly an obedient agent of the empire, realizes how imperialism affects his humanity. He understands that the imperial system of power has molded his own identity and sense of morality and that he has contributed to the oppression of the barbarians.
Identity Transformation Under Oppression
The work further investigates how imperialism affects identity as a theme. The magistrate battles his own identity as well as his place in the oppressive structure of the empire. He declares, “I do not know what I am,“ then challenges his commitment to the empire and his morals. I had the impression of a man waking from a protracted slumber and discovering he was a stranger in his home (Coetzee 58).
The book argues that imperialism alters both the oppressor’s and the oppressed’s identities. The character of the barbarian girl in Waiting for the Barbarians likewise explores the subject of identity. Due to their cultural differences, the magistrate tries to connect with her and becomes fascinated by her, but eventually fails to comprehend her. This demonstrates how imperialism impacts both the colonizer’s identity and the colonized’s cultural identity.
Complicity and the Ethics of Resistance
The subject of complicity in oppression is also discussed throughout the book. The magistrate initially makes an effort to disassociate himself from the aggressive policies of the empire. Still, over time, he comes to understand that by his position of authority, he is directly involved in the persecution of the barbarians. He decides to act in response to this knowledge to aid the barbarians and fend off the empire’s aggression.
The magistrate eventually concludes that he cannot entirely separate himself from the system that supports the terrible practices of the empire, despite his best efforts to do so. This is a crucial complicity component examined in Waiting for the Barbarians. The novel argues that resisting oppressive regimes passively is insufficient; one must actively seek to overthrow them.
Parallels Between the Novel and African Historical Experiences
When considered collectively, the course readings offer a complex view of imperialism and its effects on Africa. They support the novel’s harsh reality and setting. They show that imperialism is a psychological system that aims to influence the beliefs and behaviors of the colonized in addition to being a political or economic system. However, these works also demonstrate the strength of African peoples in the face of exploitation and oppression despite the difficulties posed by imperialism. They have fought for their freedom and dignity through resistance and conflict, overturning imperial power structures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee and the readings from the course go in-depth on the subject of imperialism and power. The repressive aspect of imperialism is illustrated throughout the book, along with how it affects both the oppressor and the oppressed. The readings for the course address the psychological impacts of colonization on the colonized people and provide a historical background for imperialism’s effects, particularly in Africa.
A recurring theme in the works is using force to uphold imperial control. The readings further show how African peoples have resisted and struggled against imperialism, keeping their power and dignity in the face of oppression despite its destructive repercussions. In conclusion, the writings provide a somber yet illuminating study on imperialism and its effects on power dynamics.
References
Coetzee, J.M. Waiting for the Barbarians. New York: Penguin Books, 1982.
Cooper, Frederick. Africa Since 1940: The Past of the Present. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
Fanon, Frantz. A Dying Colonialism. Translated from the French by Haakon Chevalier. With an Introduction by Adolfo Gilly. New York: Grove Press, 1994.
Khapoya, Vincent B. The African Experience. 3rd ed. Oxford: Routledge, 2014.