In this article, Gurminder K. Bhambra explores the relationship between postcolonial theory and decolonial thought, highlighting both their similarities and differences. She explains that while both frameworks aim to address the legacies of colonialism and the structures of inequality that continue today, they have developed in different regions and intellectual traditions.
Postcolonial theory, often associated with scholars from South Asia and Africa, tends to focus on literary and cultural analysis and has been shaped by figures like Edward Said, Gayatri Spivak, and Homi Bhabha.
In contrast, decolonial thought has emerged mainly from Latin America and is more concerned with epistemology — that is, how knowledge is produced and who controls it. Scholars like Walter Mignolo and Aníbal Quijano argue that colonialism didn’t end with political independence but continues through coloniality — a system that privileges Western ways of knowing and being.
Bhambra points out that decolonial thinkers often criticize postcolonial studies for being too closely tied to Western academic structures and for not challenging them strongly enough. However, she argues that this critique overlooks the diversity and critical power within postcolonial studies itself. Instead of treating these two traditions as opposing or incompatible, Bhambra calls for dialogue and collaboration between them. She believes that by working together, postcolonial and decolonial scholars can more effectively challenge Eurocentric knowledge systems, and push toward a more inclusive and just way of understanding the world.
Ultimately, the article encourages readers to see beyond disciplinary or regional boundaries and focus on shared goals in the struggle against colonial legacies.
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