---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The message of decolonization issuing…"
description: "\"“The message of decolonization issuing from many writers in the field is that the process of decolonizing can be extremely ‘messy’, often leading to ex..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/zed-books-107093_decolonization_the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-fr_357309.jpg"
---

#  The message of decolonization issuing from many writers in…

![“The message of decolonization issuing from many writers in the field is that the process of decolonizing can be extremely ‘messy’, often leading to extreme violence; and that in a political sense it can fail miserably, replacing one corrupt elite with its mimics.” quote by Zed Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/zed-books-107093_decolonization_the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-fr_357309.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/zed-books-107093_decolonization_the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-fr_357309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/zed-books-107093_decolonization_the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-fr_357309.jpg)

> ““The message of decolonization issuing from many writers in the field is that the process of decolonizing can be extremely ‘messy’, often leading to extreme violence; and that in a political sense it can fail miserably, replacing one corrupt elite with its mimics.””

Zed Books

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Decolonizing is messy, often violent, and can replace one corrupt elite with another if not careful.

**In simple terms:** Decolonizing can be chaotic and risky.

Key Takeaway

Approach decolonization with vigilance.

Themes

decolonization politics violence process elite replacement

Mood

critical cautious

Type

Decolonization:1 Decolonizing:1 Writing:0 Process Decolonizing:1 Decolonizing Extremely:0 Decolonization Issuing:0

When to use this quote

- policy reform
- community organizing
- academic research

Key Concepts

postcolonial theory power dynamics social change

Questions to Reflect On

- How can decolonization avoid replicating oppression?
- What safeguards ensure true transformation?

A Different Perspective

Success depends on structural change, not just replacing leaders.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Decolonization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decolonization/) [Decolonizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decolonizing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [We're always learning. We're all in the process of decolonizing ourselves - removing all the parts of us that are sexist, homophobic, transphobic, racist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/we-re-always-learning-we-re-all-in-the-process-of-decolonizing/)

[Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/)

> [“The intellectual project of decolonizing has to set out ways to proceed through a colonizing world. It needs a radical compassion that reaches out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zed-books/the-intellectual-project-of-decolonizing-has-to-set-out-ways-to/)

Zed Books

> [“Most white scholars eventually turn out to be just another colonial twit, no matter how brilliant, how learned they are, because animal conditioning doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/most-white-scholars-eventually-turn-out-to-be-just-another-colonial/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Center of the world is indigenous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/center-of-the-world-is-indigenous/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Greeks did not invent philosophy, philosophy had existed across Latin America, Africa, Arabia, India and China, thousands of years earlier, not as some elitist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/greeks-did-not-invent-philosophy-philosophy-had-existed-across-latin-2/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [. . . no Black woman can become an intellectual without decolonizing her mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/no-black-woman-can-become-an-intellectual-without-decolonizing-her/)

[Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/)

> [“It's both a tremendous obligation and honor to undertake the unfulfilled work of the best of our abolitionist precursors--those who did not only want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-rodriguez/it-s-both-a-tremendous-obligation-and-honor-to-undertake-the/)

Dylan Rodriguez

> [“Maps of the world are whitewashed, history of the world is whitewashed, ethics of the world are whitewashed, knowledge of the world is whitewashed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/maps-of-the-world-are-whitewashed-history-of-the-world-is-whitewashed/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [My pronoun use is partly a way of decolonizing gender for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/my-pronoun-use-is-partly-a-way-of-decolonizing-gender-for-myself/)

[Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/)

> [We have to work at decolonizing our mentality and achieving happiness within the limits of sacrifice we should be willing to make. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sankara/we-have-to-work-at-decolonizing-our-mentality-and-achieving-happiness/)

[Thomas Sankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sankara/)

> [“Greeks did not invent philosophy, philosophy had existed across Latin America, Africa, Arabia, India and China, thousands of years earlier, not as some elitist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/greeks-did-not-invent-philosophy-philosophy-had-existed-across-latin/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“You cannot be civilized until you're decolonized, you cannot be cultured until you're unamericanized, you cannot be educated until you're de-europeanized, you cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-cannot-be-civilized-until-you-re-decolonized-you-cannot-be/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“I repeat, it's not sonnets, it's Naskar Sonnets, don't try to fit them into your puny, whitewashed, backward eurocentric customs and conventions - you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-repeat-it-s-not-sonnets-it-s-naskar-sonnets-don-t-try-to-fit-them/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“First law of poultry farming: keep your livestock busy with trivial problems, so they stay ever oblivious to systemic criminal activities. That's why the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/first-law-of-poultry-farming-keep-your-livestock-busy-with-trivial/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Holocaust Theatre (Naskaristana 2799) Most social issues are rooted in religion, most religious issues are rooted in politics, most political issues are vestiges of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/holocaust-theatre-naskaristana-2799-most-social-issues-are-rooted-in/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

## More by Zed Books

> [“The intellectual project of decolonizing has to set out ways to proceed through a colonizing world. It needs a radical compassion that reaches out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zed-books/the-intellectual-project-of-decolonizing-has-to-set-out-ways-to/)

Zed Books

Explore all 2 Zed Books quotes

## More Decolonization quotes

> [“Holocaust Theatre (Naskaristana 2799) Most social issues are rooted in religion, most religious issues are rooted in politics, most political issues are vestiges of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/holocaust-theatre-naskaristana-2799-most-social-issues-are-rooted-in/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“First law of poultry farming: keep your livestock busy with trivial problems, so they stay ever oblivious to systemic criminal activities. That's why the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/first-law-of-poultry-farming-keep-your-livestock-busy-with-trivial/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“I repeat, it's not sonnets, it's Naskar Sonnets, don't try to fit them into your puny, whitewashed, backward eurocentric customs and conventions - you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-repeat-it-s-not-sonnets-it-s-naskar-sonnets-don-t-try-to-fit-them/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“You cannot be civilized until you're decolonized, you cannot be cultured until you're unamericanized, you cannot be educated until you're de-europeanized, you cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-cannot-be-civilized-until-you-re-decolonized-you-cannot-be/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“The West broke the world, now the human race gotta resurrect the world, offspring of the terrorists and terrorized alike - but we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-west-broke-the-world-now-the-human-race-gotta-resurrect-the-world/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“White people must be seen, not heard (Sonnet 2913) In matters of human rights, white people must be seen, not heard; In matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/white-people-must-be-seen-not-heard-sonnet-2913-in-matters-of-human/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Center of the world is indigenous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/center-of-the-world-is-indigenous/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“There is no black history month, the entire human race calendar is black.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-is-no-black-history-month-the-entire-human-race-calendar-is/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Education that doesn’t reflect plural humanity, raises only goodlooking jungle rubbish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/education-that-doesn-t-reflect-plural-humanity-raises-only/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [“Leaves of Ash (Divine Violence, Sonnet) You know why the West makes such a song and dance about nonviolence, because when your entire empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/leaves-of-ash-divine-violence-sonnet-you-know-why-the-west-makes-such/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [A comprehensive decolonization of Puerto Rico is long overdue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritchie-torres/a-comprehensive-decolonization-of-puerto-rico-is-long-overdue/)

[Ritchie Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritchie-torres/)

> [“I think the notion of dreaming in a time where we are told that it is foolish, futile or not useful is one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harsha-walia/i-think-the-notion-of-dreaming-in-a-time-where-we-are-told-that-it-is/)

[Harsha Walia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harsha-walia/)

> [“Oh, my friends, the first wish I have for the new year is to change the worn-out greeting: 'happy new year'. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-yako/oh-my-friends-the-first-wish-i-have-for-the-new-year-is-to-change-the/)

[Louis Yako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-yako/)

> [“The act of writing, it seems to me, makes up a shelter, allows space to what would otherwise be hidden, crossed out, mutilated. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-alexander/the-act-of-writing-it-seems-to-me-makes-up-a-shelter-allows-space-to/)

Meena Alexander

> [“So we must begin from where we are, not from where we want to be, remembering that decolonization is a lifelong struggle filled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulette-regan/so-we-must-begin-from-where-we-are-not-from-where-we-want-to-be/)

[Paulette Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulette-regan/)

[Browse all 51 Decolonization quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decolonization/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The message of decolonization issuing from many writers in the field is that the process of decolonizing can be extremely ‘messy’, often leading to extreme violence; and that in a political sense it can fail miserably, replacing one corrupt elite with its mimics.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Zed Books"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zed-books/the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-from-many-writers-in-the-field/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Decolonization"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zed-books/the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-from-many-writers-in-the-field/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/zed-books-107093_decolonization_the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-fr_357309.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/zed-books-107093_decolonization_the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-fr_357309.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/236/zed-books-107093_decolonization_the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-fr_357309.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The message of decolonization issuing from many writers in the field is that the process of decolonizing can…” — Zed Books",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Zed Books",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zed-books/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The message of decolonization issuing from...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zed-books/the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-from-many-writers-in-the-field/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zed-books/the-message-of-decolonization-issuing-from-many-writers-in-the-field/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
