Barbara van Feggelen  (University of Connecticut)
Global strategies of the postcolonial author

As is the case for many fields of study, the phenomenon of globalization has not yet been able to define its limits. The term can refer simultaneously to the spread of liberal modernity to remote cultures and to a new form of cultural imperialism. As both these problematics seem inherent to the field of Postcolonial Studies, we should ask ourselves whether the theory of globalization has not become the new theoretical paradigm when studying Francophone literature that deals with the problematics of colonization.

In theory, the work of authors such as Aimé Césaire and Kateb Yacine could be seen as supporting a binary, globalizing perspective. After all, they portray a dualism between the colonized and the suppressors, incorporating respect for local traditions while confirming the impact of imperialism. However, their deconstruction of the codes of empire cannot be adequately defined through the prism of globalization. The poetic dimension of their texts portrays not merely a respect for suppressed cultures, but challenges the authority of imperial language by re-appropriating the linguistic paradigms of dominant discourses.

This paper will examine some of the writing strategies that enabled Césaire and Yacine to represent a civilization torn apart by multiple histories with the weapon of poetry. It will then attempt to show proof of the necessity of Postcolonial Studies, not merely to ensure the survival of threatened cultures, but as an analytical medium for understanding the complexity of contemporary history.