One of the main objectives of colonialism was to exploit foreign lands for resources, both
natural and human. Another objective that most people ignore is that the colonialists hoped
to make the colonized imbibe their cultural traits, what most anthropologists call
importation of Western values. Although colonialism has long since ceased, there are
several lasting effects of colonialism.
Today the aftermath of colonialism is felt very strong in political, ethnic and religious
sectors of various communities all over the world. For instance, in Afghanistan the
alteration of the religious (and moral) identity is very evident. Feminism which is very
much a Western idea is eating into the ways of the people. In Abu-Lughod’s “Do Muslim
Women Really Need Saving?” readers see how the Western idea of feminism is pushed
upon the religious, moral and cultural act of Afghanistan women covering themselves up.
Not only is this an inconsiderate and ethnocentric act, but it is outright disrespect towards
the Afghanistan women who believe that the covering up is a sign of modesty. To the
Western world this may be an act of “saving” but, the Western world needs to consider if
these cultural concepts they are pushing is really beneficial to the Afghanistan women.
This is because certain concepts may make sense in a particular society, but make
absolutely no sense in another.
Another long lasting effect of colonialism is the view that everything that is Western is
better. For instance in most African countries like Nigeria, although formal education is
beneficial, due to the nature of the society, a more technical approach to education will be
better suited to meet the needs of the society. However these countries have copied blindly
from Western societies where formal education is more effective.