Study questions for Fanon’s Wretched of the Earth and Gandhi’s Selected Writings

1.  Fanon has respect for many of the ideals that have been prominent in this Western tradition we have been studying, but provides a very strong critique of the representatives those ideals, the colonial powers and ‘settlers’. What are his criticisms? 

2. DeBeauvoir spoke of ‘myths’, Dubois of ‘double consciousness’. What is the situation of the colonists and colonized according to Fanon and Gandhi?

3. Fanon discusses the violence involved in the anti-colonial war which, in his case, had begun between the Algerian rebels and the French Government and settlers. What is his argument for the psychological, social and political necessity of violence in that struggle?

4. Gandhi presents a contrasting view of the role of violence and the goals of the struggle. Explain

5. Compare Fanon’s and Gandhi's view of the nature of political struggle of oppressed peoples with that of Marx, Wollstonecraft, Dubois?

application 1: Does Fanon, when applied to the Islamic State, justify its violence?

application 2: Do believe Gandhi’s civil disobedience would be a useful strategy for ‘Black Lives Matter’ or any other movement now?