Settler Colonialism

"Settler colonizers come to stay" – with these words Patrick Wolfe succinctly summarized the central characteristic of a particular form of colonialism in 2006. The overall aim of settler societies is the transformation of colonial space into a (often idealized) version of their respective mother countries. The land grab is accompanied by the dispossession, displacement, murder, and forced assimilation of indigenous peoples. The examination of this history, especially that of the Anglophone settler colonies of Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand, constitutes a research focus of the International History at Trier University. Based on two DFG research projects in the context of the SFB 700 ("Governance in Areas of Limited Statehood"), led by Ursula Lehmkuhl in collaboration with Norbert Finzsch (University of Cologne), several dissertations were completed, focussing on questions of colonial governance (Dominik Nagl, Marion Stange) as well as on processes of land appropriation (Hanno Scheerer). In addition, Eva Bischoff is working on the settler-colonial history of Australia looking at a group of settlers who were also members of the Religious Society of Friends.

Research Topics

USA-Australia

Control over Land

Frontier Pacifism

Quaker & Maori

Vaccinate and Rule

Land & Identity

Alterity & Identity

Partner Institution

Colonialism and Its Aftermath (CAIA), University of Tasmania