Violence Morality and History in the Colonial Syndrome: Frantz Fanon's Perspective

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Periodical article

Title:	Violence Morality and History in the Colonial Syndrome: Frantz Fanon's Perspective
Author:	Perinbam, B. Marie
Year:	1978
Periodical:	Journal of Southern African Affairs
Volume:	3
Issue:	1
Period:	January
Pages:	7-34
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Algeria Southern Africa
Subjects:	national liberation movements literature French language Literature, Mass Media and the Press History and Exploration colonialism Law, Human Rights and Violence
About person:	Frantz Fanon (1925-1961)
Abstract:	Although subject to different colonial powers prior to the 1960s, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe shared a common experience which produced what is called the 'Southern African colonial syndrome'. Fanon used the term 'syndrome' to describe the non-viable society which, in his view, had developed in colonial Algeria. In this study Fanon's concept of violence, which lies at the core of his syndrome analysis, is studied in relation to his view of morality and history. Analyzing Fanon's concept of violence, morality and history, this study deals mainly with Algeria. Much in the same way as similarities link the North African syndrome with its southern African counterpart, and the deployment of Algerian military tactics and 'cell structure' link some Algerian militants with the colonial syndrome elsewhere, Fanon's analysis of the Algerian syndrome addresses itself as much to the southern African dilemma, as it did to Algeria some fifteen years ago. Notes.