Postcolonial Discourse: Theory, Methodology and Practice of Application (on the Example of Ethnopolitical Separatism in Africa)

The purpose of this work is to study the possibilities of the postcolonial discourse theory by E. Said and his methodology for developing the basic principles of the concept of ethnopolitical separatism in postcolonial African countries. The scientific direction of postcolonial studies, to which it belongs, is currently studying a number of topical problems caused by the reproduction of the ideas of colonialism in various forms. The subject of the study is the provisions of the theory of postcolonial discourse, which are important for the description of the concept of ‘postcolonial’ for the practical application. It is established that those concepts that remain relevant are as follows: concept (E. Said), ambivalence (G. Spivak) and cultural ‘third space’ (H. Bhabha). A critical analysis of the development of the theory of postcolonial discourse on the basis of Francophone studies was carried out to describe the manifestation of colonial stereotypes in postcolonial contexts, as well as their reflection in modern foreign policy strategies of France and implementation in the practises of maintaining African ethnopolitical separatism. The role of leading French writers, scientists and public figures in the development of the theory of postcolonial discourse is assessed. The periodisation of the formation of Francophone studies known as the ‘French Library’ is proposed, brief descriptions of each of the three stages, starting from the 90s of the 20th century, are given. Particular attention is paid to the concept of deconstruction of Zh. Derrida, V-I. Mudimbe, A. Mbembe. Using the example of French foreign policy, discursive practises and forms of deconstruction of stereotypes of colonialism in the postcolonial era are considered. The strategies and methods of interference of the former metropolis in the political affairs of the independent African states of the Sahel region, supporting ethnopolitical conflicts, are described. The analysis made it possible to argue that ethnopolitical separatism in the light of the theory of postcolonial discourse should be considered in the context of a special cultural space where modernism and archaicism, democracy and autocracy, colonial and postcolonial are intertwined. It is shown that the ‘postcolonial’ has an ambivalent character, manifested in the binary identity and the mixing of the ideas of constructivism and primordialism. The potential of the theory of postcolonial discourse and the corresponding methodology is revealed, allowing to apply its concepts to study the practises of postcolonial ethnopolitical separatism.