Beyond colonial legacy: A new year’s vision for renewal in the region

As we enter a new year, the weight of history continues to shape our present and future. In Pakistan, the colonial legacy of patronage networks and extractive institutions inherited from British rule remains a defining force in the nation’s political, economic, and social dynamics.

During the British Raj in India, resources were systematically extracted, leaving the populace impoverished. As Shashi Tharoor points out in “Inglorious Empire,” India’s share of the global economy plummeted from 27 percent in 1700 to just 3 percent by 1947. An estimated $45 trillion (in today’s value) was drained during British rule. The power structures established by the British not only remained intact in Pakistan even after independence, but the new ruling class adopted many of the same exploitative practices, perpetuating the inequalities and injustices of their former colonial rulers.

The colonial enterprise, sprawling across continents and centuries, was anchored in an ideology that not only exploited native populations for labor and resources but also penetrated the psychological and cultural fabric of societies, sowing seeds of inferiority. It entrenched disparities, fostered resentment, and left the masses disempowered. Beyond economic exploitation, the cultural consequences of colonialism were even more profound.

Edward Said’s seminal work Orientalism explores how colonial narratives alienated Middle Eastern societies from their identities. By framing indigenous cultures as “the Other”— primitive, irrational, and in need of Western tutelage— these narratives justified the colonial mission as essential for “civilizing.” This worldview not only eroded confidence in native traditions but instilled a dependence on Western approval. By portraying the colonized as inherently inferior, colonial powers entrenched domination while undermining the self-worth of the colonized.

In Pakistan, the bureaucratic and security apparatus— heirs to colonial authority— continue to prioritize self-interest over public welfare.

Javed Hassan

Perpetuated through art, literature, and policy, these depictions created a pervasive framework that marginalized Middle Eastern societies. Said’s critique of this racialized portrayal resonates with the colonial experiences of Africa and South Asia, where the imposition of foreign rule fractured identities and fueled a sense of cultural inadequacy.

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart poignantly describes the loss of cultural cohesion and the devastating impact of colonialism on traditional African societies, “The white man is very clever…he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” The sharp and irrevocable nature of colonial interference severed the bonds of kinship, shared spirituality, and cultural identity, leading to the disintegration of the traditional way of life.

Similarly, Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman captures the existential disruption caused by colonial interference. Elesin Oba’s lament, “Because he could not see the webs of our lives, he saw only the empty shell. He turned the law and his horses on us and shattered the peace of the world,” encapsulates the colonizers’ inability to understand or respect the native customs, and a broader strategy of delegitimizing native cultures to impose foreign paradigms.

This cultural dislocation manifested in arbitrary national borders, Western education systems, and the elevation of compliant local elites. Colonial administrations, particularly those of Britain and France, relied on these elites— estranged from their cultural roots— to implement policies that entrenched systemic inequalities. These collaborators prioritized personal gain over the welfare of their societies, facilitating the extraction of wealth and consolidation of foreign power.

The shadow of colonial legacy lingers over former colonies like Pakistan. Institutions and legal frameworks inherited from the colonial era often prioritize entrenched elites over societal development. In Pakistan, the bureaucratic and security apparatus— heirs to colonial authority— continue to prioritize self-interest over public welfare. Similarly, in many other former colonies, autocratic regimes have stifled democratic grassroots movements and consolidated power within narrow circles.

The psychological scars of colonization resonate deeply across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Internalized inferiority and fractured identities continue to shape these societies. Said’s call to dismantle colonial narratives remains urgent. By reclaiming their histories and cultural identities, formerly colonized societies can begin to address the inequities left in colonialism’s wake. As Jawaharlal Nehru articulated in his iconic Tryst with Destiny speech, decolonization represents an opportunity to reclaim dignity, self-determination, and identity after centuries of subjugation.

This vision of renewal demands that Pakistan break free from a mindset of subordination and shift from passivity to active participation in political and social affairs. The people must lead in reshaping the country’s political, economic, and social structures. Deep institutional reforms must dismantle the extractive systems and build frameworks prioritizing the welfare of the broader population.

More importantly, to reclaim their dignity, Pakistanis must reassert their cultural heritage and forge a path that honors their diverse traditions, identities, and histories. Only by doing so can Pakistan escape the lingering chains of colonial subjugation. Let the new year renew this hope of the collective journey where the shadows of the past give way to the promise of a brighter future ahead.

– Javed Hassan has worked in senior executive positions both in the profit and non-profit sector in Pakistan and internationally. He’s an investment banker by training.

X: @javedhassan