Abstract

This paper explores and analyzes Frantz Fanon’s discourses about the psychological effects of Western colonialism on the colonized peoples, the legacy of European colonialism, imperialism and how the classic colonialism morphed into neocolonialism. Frantz Fanon was selected for our study because he was one of the pioneers of postcolonial studies, who greatly contributed to the development of the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of colonialism, decolonization, neocolonialism and coloniality. A critical analysis of Frantz Fanon’s works and discourses will allow us to get in-depth insights into underlying issues pertaining to the legacy of European colonialism and imperialism. We have specifically examined Frantz Fanon’s works “Black Skin, White Masks”, “A Dying Colonialism” and “The Wretched of the Earth”. Moreover, we have drawn upon studies of leading scholars of postcolonialism and other relevant literature. The results of our study have demonstrated that even though classic European colonialism long came to an end, the consequences and legacy of Western colonialism and imperialism tenaciously persist and shape the development of postcolonial societies. The psychological effects of colonialism are still felt across postcolonial contexts, especially in terms of the persistence of an inferiority complex among former colonized nations and a superiority complex among the former colonizers. Moreover, the dawn of political independence of many Third World nations has not translated into genuine freedom and national development. Quite the opposite, as Fanon emphasized, colonialism transformed into neocolonialism, in which former colonial powers still dominate their former colonies.