Us and the Slavs: it is an ancient battle. And we are proud to see that education, a desire to work, and credit are on our side. Whatever the Polish landowners here in the neighborhood have achieved [ Our newsletter keeps you informed about new content in the portal and the news from the Copernico editorial team. Subscribe to the newsletter now. No, thanks. Eastern Europe continues to occupy a marginal position in debates on post- colonialism and racism.
At the same time, the example of Germany demonstrates how long-standing the tradition of devaluation is, and that it continues to have an influence today. An extension of our perspective on post- colonialism and racism in an Easterly direction is long overdue.
In recent years there has doubtless been an increase in the attention paid to colonial power dynamics and the long-lasting effects of colonialism, which sometimes extend to the present day. In all the controversies that accompany this, it is now possible to speak of an increased sensitivity and a wider awareness of the issues, one that is no longer limited to academic debates. Eastern Europe is sometimes taken into account in these debates, but often not.
What applies to the lack of awareness of post- colonial attitudes is particularly true when it comes to the debate about racism. There is a far-reaching consensus in post-colonial research that colonialism and racism are inextricably linked, and that whoever speaks about colonialism should not forget racism. The example of the German relationship to Eastern Europe illustrates why such reasoning falls short, and why an extension of our perspective on post- colonialism and racism in an Easterly direction is long overdue.
The long tradition of devaluation. Germany has a long history of integration and expansion with and in Eastern Europe. The restrictive Reich and Citizenship Act was intended to prevent the granting of citizenship to undesirable migrants from Eastern Europe. The way in which power was exercised there, and the exploitation of the non-German population, may justifiably be described as colonial, but they were also unmistakably based on racist principles.
