Critical Analysis Of Frantz Fanon Conception Of Violence

Critical Analysis Of Frantz Fanon Conception Of Violence

Abstract

This paper seeks to examine Frantz Fanon Conception of Violence. Fanon’s philosophy of decolonization explores the range of ways in which Frantz fanon’s decolonization theory can reveal new answers to perennial philosophical questions and new paths to social justice. The aim is to show not just that fanon’s though remains philosophically relevant but that it is relevant to an even wider range of philosophical issues that have previously been realized.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

            Frantz Fanon was born in Martinique in 1925. His father, Casimir worked in the customs services and died when fanon was barely twenty-two years. Fanon grew up in Martinique amid the descendants of African slaves who had been brought to the Caribbean to work in the Island’s Sugar Plantation. He studied at the Lycee schooler in Fort-de-France, and one of his teachers was Aime Cesaire. In his teenage, fanon became highly politically active and participated in the Guerrilla struggle against the supporters of the pro-Nazi French vice Government. At this stage, fanon had seriously became perturbed over the French oppression of his native Algeria, hence, one of fanon’s friend , Edouard Glissent a younger compatriot who studied philosophy and history at the Sorbonne remarked of fanon as being “highly sensitive”.

            After 1945, Frantz Fanon studied medicine and psychiatry in lyons and began a sort of revolutionary writing. His first analysis of the negative impact of racism and colonialism culminated in the text black skin, white masks. This book published in 1952 became a foundational text for the liberation movements of the 1960s and later became a reference material for postcolonial studies. His other major work is the wretched of the Earth (1965), a book that is regarded as one of the central documents of the black liberation movement. His other works include the ordeal of the Black man (1952). Algeria’s European minority, which first appeared in les Temps mordenes in June 1959 and later reprinted in A Dying colonialism (1965), and decolonization and independence etc. Fanon’s revolutionary writing had profound influence on the radical movements in the United States and Europe and even grained audience in the Caribbean Islands. In Africa where colonialism was raging during that time, fanon’s writing spurred up anti-colonial writings from the like of Ngugi Wa thiong O, Tsitsi Dangaremba of Zimbabwe, and Senegal’s Osumane Sembene.

1.2       Statement of the Problem

            Racism, a phenomenon that depicts an excessive and irrational belief in or advocacy of the superiority of a given group, people, or nation over the other, especially and perhaps, solely on physical differences, for example, colour of the skin, has been a long-standing and contentious socio-political issue. It has led to demoralizing and devastating effects, especially on the so-called inferior race, more often than not regarded as less human, less rational, devilish, primitive, backward and savage.

            The salient point raised by fanon which was violence as a veritable tool for decolonization constitutes the problem which this work shall give due attention to.

1.3       Purpose of the Study

            The purpose of this study is to examine Frantz Fanon's conception of violence with the view to exploring its strength and weaknesses in other to see its applicability.

            This study is undertaken with the sole aim of examining the concept of violence and show that violence has the potential to be libratory in the sense that it allows the colonial subject to free themselves and recreate a positive identity.

1.4       Objective of the Study

            The objective of this study is to discover the ills of colonialism which is exploitation, subjugation and racial discrimination, the causes and the way out of these problems.

1.5       Scope of the Study

            The study is intended to pay close attention to Frantz Fanon's concept entitled; A Critique of Frantz Fanon’s Concept of Violence.

1.6       Method of the Study

            The method adopted for this work is analyzed. By analysis its attempts to prescribe ideal political action and institution by providing valuable insights into the psychological and political effects of oppression and dehumanization.

1.7       Justification of the Study

            A critical and detailed look at the discrimination against the Negroes in Job recruitment abroad and in the multinational companies even in Nigeria here and other African countries calls for the justification of fanon’s violent philosophy and also from the basis for this work.

            The way our black athletes are been taunted and embarrassed in their European clubs, sometimes with monkey sounds and the way our culture is been looked down upon calls for the justification of fanon’s violent philosophy and also formed the basis for this work.

  

1.8       Organization of the Study

            This work is organized in chapters, from chapter one to chapters four. Chapter one contain background of the study, statement of the problem, the purpose of the study, objective of the study, the scope of the study etc. chapter two contains a review of related literature. Chapter three is divided into sub-heading which include on the concept of violence, the principle of tragic revolutionary violence, the principles of instrumental violence, the principle of intrinsic violence. Chapter four include the relevance of fanon’s violence philosophy to our contemporary society, Evaluation, and conclusion.

1.9       Significance of the Study

            Many blacks, in fact, some, no matter their high level of education are still hunted by inferiority complex, to the extent that they see themselves as naturally inferior to even the white illiterates. To such group of people this work will be of immense benefits for them that there are no less human, irrational than their white or the white are more human and rational than them.

                        African culture is being eroded because of blind imitation of the culture in dressing, eating manners, respects to elders etc. this work will be of benefit to African and Nigeria, in particular, to use our national ingenuity to invent rather than total dependence on the west. This work will also serve as reference material to students.