Expropriation as Reparation
With some recent exceptions, demands for global reparations have largely been ignored by former colonial countries. While the past two decades has seen renewed interest in colonial reparations in normative political theory and philosophy, this work has focused on determining responsibility for redress. By contrast, relatively little has been said on the further question of how redress might be sought in face of persistent colonial amnesia and apologia. This paper defends expropriation—unilateral public takeovers of ownership and/or control of foreign assets—as a justified response to overdue colonial reparations. In making this case, the paper (1) moves our focus beyond questions of responsibility for reparative justice to consider what victims of past injustice (and/or their descendants) are justified in doing to obtain their due, and (2) explores the distinctive issues that arise for political resistance at the global level.
Date:
1 February 2024, 16:15 (Thursday, 3rd week, Hilary 2024)
Venue:
Nuffield College, New Road OX1 1NF
Venue Details:
Senior Common Room
Speaker:
Dr Shuk Ying Chan (UCL)
Organising department:
Nuffield College
Part of:
Interdisciplinary Seminars on Empire
Booking required?:
Required
Booking url:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/expropriation-as-reparation-tickets-806323795177?aff=oddtdtcreator
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Belinda Clark
