From Victims to Colonizers: A Comparative Study of ‘Repatriated Indigenous Communities’ in Israel and Liberia

Main author: Spence, David M.
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-35322
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description Popular discourses have painted Israelis and Liberians as two peoples who fled persecution to return to their ancestral homelands. The oppression of blacks in America and Jews in Europe is without question. However, historical analysis indicates that the migration of Americo-Liberians to West Africa and European Jews to Palestine are unique examples of settler colonialism. Previous comparative work on Israel and Liberia is almost non-existent. Therefore, my writing attempts to fill the gap in academic literature. Throughout this article, I answer the question: “How and why did these two persecuted peoples perpetuate Western colonialism?” through the lens of comparative analysis and post-colonial theory. I hope that this work will open the door for a future comparative study of Israel and Liberia, black settler colonialism, and repatriated indigenous communities. Ultimately, I will demonstrate that, although they fled America and Europe for wholly legitimate reasons, Americo-Liberians and Israelis simultaneously adopted the role of colonial aggressors in West Africa and Palestine.
format Journal Article
author Spence, David M.
author_facet Spence, David M.
authorStr Spence, David M.
author_letter Spence, David M.
title From Victims to Colonizers: A Comparative Study of ‘Repatriated Indigenous Communities’ in Israel and Liberia
publisher SOAS University of London
publishDate 2021
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/35322/