This thesis highlights the sociopolitics of English as a dominant/colonial language by focusing on the linkage between language, power, and race. Grounded in critical language theory, comparative education theory, and anti-racism research methodology, this research examines the inextricable relationship between language, power, and race. With this in mind, this thesis argues that language, specifically English, is not a neutral tool of communication but a highly contentious issue that is deeply embedded in sociopolitical ideologies and practices. The contexts of Japan and Trinidad and Tobago are used to illustrate how colonialism continues to impact English language policy, practice, and perceptions. In sum, this research aims to bridge the gap between critical language theory, comparative education theory, and anti-racism studies in a way that (1) highlights the complexity of language politics, (2) explores ideological assumptions inherent in the discourse of the "native" language, and (3) underscores the overlooked ubiquity of race.

Após mais de cinco séculos de dominação e exploração portuguesa, a Guiné-Bissau, pequeno país localizado na costa ocidental da África, assume a difícil tarefa de constituir-se como nação e, dessa forma, forjar sua identidade nacional. Acreditando que a literatura apresente papel singular em tal engenho, o presente trabalho busca, através da trilogia do autor do primeiro romance nacional, Abdulai Sila, analisar como essas complexas construções vêm-se alicerçando e erguendo. Os romances A Última Tragédia (1995), Eterna Paixão (1994) e Mistida (1997), por tratarem de diferentes períodos do território em questão, da colonização ao pós-independência, possibilitam uma análise abrangente e elucidativa, além de lançarem mão da esperança como característica principal, indo de encontro à difícil realidade do pós-independência. As ideias, sobretudo, de Homi Bhabha, Edward Said e Stuart Hall, a respeito de cultura, nação, identidade, pós-colonialismo, constituem o cerne teórico e analítico dessa dissertação. Sob a óptica dos Estudos Culturais, por meio do entrecruzamento entre o discurso histórico e ficcional, o hibridismo pressuposto faz-se nítido. Às riquezas e belezas da cultura africana, expressas pelas diversas e diferentes etnias, unem-se aspectos culturais lusos, assim como elementos advindos e consequentes da realidade global e interconectada do mundo contemporâneo. Assim, a nação e a identidade guineense, ainda em processo de construção, já deixam entrever sua característica híbrida, em que o tradicional e o moderno conjugam-se e entrelaçam-se igualmente. / After more than five centuries of portuguese domination and exploration, the Guinea-Bissau, small country located in the occidental coast of Africa, assumes the difficult task to constitute itself as nation and, in this way, to forge its national identity. Believing that literature presents singular paper in such device, the present work searches, through the author‟s trilogy of the first national romance, Abdulai Sila, to analyze how these complex constructions are founded. The romances A Última Tragédia (1995), Eterna Paixão (1994) e Mistida (1997), for dealing with different periods of the territory in question, from colonization to post-independence, they make possible an including and elucidative analysis, beyond making use of hope as main characteristic, opposing to the difficult reality of post-independence. The analytical and theoretical core of this dissertation is constituted by the Homi Bhabha, Edward Said and Stuart Hall‟s ideas about nation, identity and post-colonialism. Through the point of view of the Cultural Studies, crossing historical speech and ficcional speech, the supposed hybridism becomes clear. To the wealth and beauties of the African culture, expressed by the ethnic differences, portuguese cultural aspects are joined, as well as consequents elements of the global reality of the contemporary world. Thus, the nation and the identity of Guinea-Bissau, still in construction process, allow already to see its hybrid characteristic, where the traditional and the modern are equally conjugated and interlaced.

Após mais de cinco séculos de dominação e exploração portuguesa, a Guiné-Bissau, pequeno país localizado na costa ocidental da África, assume a difícil tarefa de constituir-se como nação e, dessa forma, forjar sua identidade nacional. Acreditando que a literatura apresente papel singular em tal engenho, o presente trabalho busca, através da trilogia do autor do primeiro romance nacional, Abdulai Sila, analisar como essas complexas construções vêm-se alicerçando e erguendo. Os romances A Última Tragédia (1995), Eterna Paixão (1994) e Mistida (1997), por tratarem de diferentes períodos do território em questão, da colonização ao pós-independência, possibilitam uma análise abrangente e elucidativa, além de lançarem mão da esperança como característica principal, indo de encontro à difícil realidade do pós-independência. As ideias, sobretudo, de Homi Bhabha, Edward Said e Stuart Hall, a respeito de cultura, nação, identidade, pós-colonialismo, constituem o cerne teórico e analítico dessa dissertação. Sob a óptica dos Estudos Culturais, por meio do entrecruzamento entre o discurso histórico e ficcional, o hibridismo pressuposto faz-se nítido. Às riquezas e belezas da cultura africana, expressas pelas diversas e diferentes etnias, unem-se aspectos culturais lusos, assim como elementos advindos e consequentes da realidade global e interconectada do mundo contemporâneo. Assim, a nação e a identidade guineense, ainda em processo de construção, já deixam entrever sua característica híbrida, em que o tradicional e o moderno conjugam-se e entrelaçam-se igualmente. / After more than five centuries of portuguese domination and exploration, the Guinea-Bissau, small country located in the occidental coast of Africa, assumes the difficult task to constitute itself as nation and, in this way, to forge its national identity. Believing that literature presents singular paper in such device, the present work searches, through the author‟s trilogy of the first national romance, Abdulai Sila, to analyze how these complex constructions are founded. The romances A Última Tragédia (1995), Eterna Paixão (1994) e Mistida (1997), for dealing with different periods of the territory in question, from colonization to post-independence, they make possible an including and elucidative analysis, beyond making use of hope as main characteristic, opposing to the difficult reality of post-independence. The analytical and theoretical core of this dissertation is constituted by the Homi Bhabha, Edward Said and Stuart Hall‟s ideas about nation, identity and post-colonialism. Through the point of view of the Cultural Studies, crossing historical speech and ficcional speech, the supposed hybridism becomes clear. To the wealth and beauties of the African culture, expressed by the ethnic differences, portuguese cultural aspects are joined, as well as consequents elements of the global reality of the contemporary world. Thus, the nation and the identity of Guinea-Bissau, still in construction process, allow already to see its hybrid characteristic, where the traditional and the modern are equally conjugated and interlaced.

Após mais de cinco séculos de dominação e exploração portuguesa, a Guiné-Bissau, pequeno país localizado na costa ocidental da África, assume a difícil tarefa de constituir-se como nação e, dessa forma, forjar sua identidade nacional. Acreditando que a literatura apresente papel singular em tal engenho, o presente trabalho busca, através da trilogia do autor do primeiro romance nacional, Abdulai Sila, analisar como essas complexas construções vêm-se alicerçando e erguendo. Os romances A Última Tragédia (1995), Eterna Paixão (1994) e Mistida (1997), por tratarem de diferentes períodos do território em questão, da colonização ao pós-independência, possibilitam uma análise abrangente e elucidativa, além de lançarem mão da esperança como característica principal, indo de encontro à difícil realidade do pós-independência. As ideias, sobretudo, de Homi Bhabha, Edward Said e Stuart Hall, a respeito de cultura, nação, identidade, pós-colonialismo, constituem o cerne teórico e analítico dessa dissertação. Sob a óptica dos Estudos Culturais, por meio do entrecruzamento entre o discurso histórico e ficcional, o hibridismo pressuposto faz-se nítido. Às riquezas e belezas da cultura africana, expressas pelas diversas e diferentes etnias, unem-se aspectos culturais lusos, assim como elementos advindos e consequentes da realidade global e interconectada do mundo contemporâneo. Assim, a nação e a identidade guineense, ainda em processo de construção, já deixam entrever sua característica híbrida, em que o tradicional e o moderno conjugam-se e entrelaçam-se igualmente. / After more than five centuries of portuguese domination and exploration, the Guinea-Bissau, small country located in the occidental coast of Africa, assumes the difficult task to constitute itself as nation and, in this way, to forge its national identity. Believing that literature presents singular paper in such device, the present work searches, through the author‟s trilogy of the first national romance, Abdulai Sila, to analyze how these complex constructions are founded. The romances A Última Tragédia (1995), Eterna Paixão (1994) e Mistida (1997), for dealing with different periods of the territory in question, from colonization to post-independence, they make possible an including and elucidative analysis, beyond making use of hope as main characteristic, opposing to the difficult reality of post-independence. The analytical and theoretical core of this dissertation is constituted by the Homi Bhabha, Edward Said and Stuart Hall‟s ideas about nation, identity and post-colonialism. Through the point of view of the Cultural Studies, crossing historical speech and ficcional speech, the supposed hybridism becomes clear. To the wealth and beauties of the African culture, expressed by the ethnic differences, portuguese cultural aspects are joined, as well as consequents elements of the global reality of the contemporary world. Thus, the nation and the identity of Guinea-Bissau, still in construction process, allow already to see its hybrid characteristic, where the traditional and the modern are equally conjugated and interlaced.

Resumen Natural Hysteria... es una investigacio'n basada en una pra'ctica transdisciplinaria que documenta el proceso de produccio'n de un ciclo de performances basadas en el texto: rituales, presentaciones teatrales, acciones callejeras y presentaciones de video, canciones y talleres. Es una respuesta arti'stica al deterioro de nuestro medio ambiente y los ataques contra la diversidad cultural y biolo'gica que esta'n llevando a cabo un sistema capitalista basado en la acumulacio'n de riqueza a toda costa que nos esta' llevando al borde de un colapso ecolo'gico. Se procede a trave's de un ana'lisis de otras pra'cticas arti'sticas disidentes que comparten una perspectiva queer, feminista, postcolonial o ecolo'gica que las vincula a los conceptos explorados en mi trabajo para contextualizarlo en el campo expandido de las artes contempora'neas. La "histeria" alternativa que forma la base conceptual de este proyecto tiene sus inicios en los albores de la edad moderna y traza una historia de dominacio'n de los "otros": se centra principalmente en las mujeres, en el ge'nero y en los disidentes sexuales, las personas de color y los animales. La explotacio'n de los recursos naturales y humanos es una consecuencia de una cosmovisio'n basada en el establecimiento de oposiciones binarias que permiten que el "otro" sea clasificado y dominado. Por ejemplo: hombre / mujer, blanco / negro, hetero / homosexual, cultura / naturaleza. La construccio'n de estos "otros" - "femenino", "nativo", "queer", "naturaleza" - excluye a estos sujetos de la construccio'n de una identidad dominante que, sin embargo, depende de estas categori'as para su existencia. En el Renacimiento, los campos de las ciencias y las humanidades no estaban separados. La visio'n mecanicista del mundo no habi'a superado por completo las creencias paganas en la magia y en una fuerza espiritual que reside en todos los seres. Esta visio'n era una reliquia de la era precristiana y finalmente seri'a erradicada por las fuerzas unidas del Estado y la Iglesia a trave's de los procesos de la Inquisicio'n, la caza de brujas, la colonizacio'n y la nueva religio'n de la "Ciencia". Todos estos procesos han producido un gran cambio en nuestra relacio'n con la naturaleza, que en la actualidad se considera una entidad totalmente inerte. La naturaleza ya no forma parte de nuestro ser y se ha convertido simplemente en materia prima. La colonizacio'n continu'a hoy bajo una poli'tica neoliberal que utiliza el concepto de desarrollo para requisar territorio de los pueblos indi'genas a fin de explotar sus recursos naturales. Esto se justifica clasificando estas personas como primitivas porque su modo de vida se basa en vivir en equilibrio con la naturaleza. La funcio'n de una pra'ctica arti'stica poli'ticamente comprometida es desafiar la nocio'n de que no existe una alternativa al sistema actual. El marco teo'rico y arti'stico de esta investigacio'n ha conducido al desarrollo de un alter ego performativo, el chama'n transge'nero Geyserbird, y a la configuracio'n de una serie de performances que incluye rituales participativos, instalaciones con presencia y la reapropiacio'n queer de espacios industriales abandonados. El chama'n transge'nero es un ser espiritual que va ma's alla' de las limitaciones del sistema de ge'nero binario y se conecta con las culturas indi'genas. El despliegue de esta figura en un contexto contempora'neo invita al pu'blico a imaginar otras posibilidades para si' mismos y para nuestra sociedad. / Abstract Natural Hysteria... is a trans-disciplinary practice led investigation which documents the process of production of a cycle of text based performances -rituals, street actions, theatrical presentations, and video presentations, songs and workshops. It is an artistic response to the deterioration of our environment and the attacks on cultural and biological diversity being carried out by a capitalist system based on the accumulation of wealth at all costs which is leading us to the border of an ecological collapse. It proceeds through an analyses of other dissident artistic practices which share a queer, feminist postcolonial or ecological perspective linking them to the concepts explored in my work in order to contextualise it in the expanded field of the contemporary arts. The alternative "hysteria" that forms the conceptual basis of this project has its beginnings in the dawn of the modern age and traces a history of domination of those "others": focusing mainly on women, gender and sexual dissidents, people of colour and animals. The exploitation of natural and human resources is a consequence of a worldview based on the establishment of binary oppositions that allow the "other" to be classified and dominated. For example: man / woman, white / black, hetero / homosexual, culture / nature. The construction of these "others" - the "feminine", the "native", the "queer", "nature" - excludes these subjects from the construction of a master identity that, nevertheless, depends on these categories for its existence. In the Renaissance the fields of the sciences and the humanities were not separated. The mechanistic view of the world had not completely overcome pagan beliefs in magic and in a spiritual force which resides in all beings. This vision was a relic of the pre-Christian era and would finally be eradicated by the united forces of State and Church through the processes of the Inquisition, the witch hunts, colonization and the new religion of "Science". All of these processes have produced a huge change in our relationship with nature, currently seen as a totally inert entity. Nature is no longer part of our being and has became nothing more than raw material. Colonisation continues today under a neoliberal politics which uses the concept of development to requisition territory from indigenous people in order to exploit its natural resources. This is justified by qualifying these people as primitive because their way of life is based on living in equilibrium with nature. The function of a politically engaged artistic practise is to challenge the notion that no alternative exists to the current system. The theoretical and artistic framework of this investigation has led to the development of a performative alter ego, the transgender shaman Geyserbird, and to the configuration of a series of performances which included participatory rituals, installations with presence and the queer appropriation of abandoned industrial spaces. The transgender shaman is a spiritual being who goes beyond the limitations of the binary gender system and connects to indigenous cultures. The deployment of this figure in a contemporary context, invites the public to imagine other possibilities for themselves and for our society / Resum Natural Hysteria... e's una investigacio' basada en una pra¿ctica transdisciplina¿ria que documenta el proce's de produccio' d'un cicle de performances basades en el text: rituals, presentacions teatrals, acciones al carrers i presentacions de vi'deo, canc¿ons i tallers. E's una resposta arti'stica a la deteriorament del nostre medi ambient i els atacs contra la diversitat cultural i biolo¿gica que esta¿ duent a terme un sistema capitalista basat en l'acumulacio' de riquesa costi el que costi que ens esta¿ portant a la vora d'un col·lapse ecolo¿gic. Es procedeix a trave's d'una ana¿lisi d'altres pra¿ctiques arti'stiques dissidents que comparteixen una perspectiva queer, feminista, postcolonial o ecolo¿gica que les vincula amb els conceptes explorats en el meu treball per contextualitzar-ho en el camp expandit de les arts contempora¿nies. La "histe¿ria" alternativa que forma la base conceptual d'aquest projecte te' els seus inicis en les albors de l'edat moderna i trac¿a una histo¿ria de dominacio' dels "altres": se centra principalment en les dones, en el ge¿nere i en els dissidents sexuals, les persones de color i els animals. L'explotacio' dels recursos naturals i humans e's una consequ¿e¿ncia d'una cosmovisio' basada en l'establiment d'oposicions bina¿ries que permeten que l'"altre" sigui classificat i dominat. Per exemple: home / dona, blanc / negre, hetero / homosexual, cultura / naturalesa. La construccio' d'aquests "altres" - "femeni'", "natiu", "queer", "naturalesa" - exclou aquests subjectes de la construccio' d'una identitat dominant que, no obstant aixo¿, depe'n d'aquestes categories per a la seua existe¿ncia. En el Renaixement, els camps de les cie¿ncies i les humanitats no estaven separats. La visio' mecanicista del mo'n no havia superat per complet les creences paganes en la ma¿gia i en una forc¿a espiritual que resideix en tots els e'ssers. Aquesta visio' era una reli'quia de l'era precristiana i finalment seria eradicada per les forces unides de l'Estat i l'Esgle'sia a trave's dels processos de la Inquisicio', la cac¿a de bruixes, la colonitzacio' i la nova religio' de la "Cie¿ncia". Tots aquests processos han produi¿t un gran canvi en la nostra relacio' amb la naturalesa, que en l'actualitat es considera una entitat totalment inerta. La naturalesa ja no forma part del nostre e'sser i s'ha convertit simplement en mate¿ria preval. La colonitzacio' continua avui sota una poli'tica neoliberal que utilitza el concepte de desenvolupament per a requisar territori dels pobles indi'genes a fi d'explotar els seus recursos naturals. Aixo¿ es justifica classificant aquestes persones com a primitives perque¿ la seua manera de vida es basa en viure en equilibri amb la naturalesa. La funcio' d'una pra¿ctica arti'stica poli'ticament compromesa e's desafiar la nocio' que no existeix una alternativa al sistema actual. El marc teo¿ric i arti'stic d'aquesta investigacio' ha condui¿t al desenvolupament d'un alter ego performatiu, el xaman transge¿nere Geyserbird, i a la configuracio' d'una se¿rie de performances que inclou rituals participatius, instal·lacions amb prese¿ncia i la reapropiacio' queer d'espais industrials abandonats. El xaman transge¿nere e's un ser espiritual que va me's enlla¿ de les limitacions del sistema de ge¿nere binari i es connecta amb les cultures indi'genes. El desplegament d'aquesta figura en un context contemporani convida al pu'blic a imaginar altres possibilitats per a ells mateixos i per a la nostra societat. / Bell, G. (2018). NATURAL HYSTERIA (a queer response to ecocide): An exercise in Living Art, Participatory Rituals and Queer Ecology -or- How I discovered Geyserbird, the Transgender Shaman within [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/111925 / TESIS

This study focuses on the investigation and deconstruction of the phenomena of the South African dystopian society, as reflected in the novels of Lauren Beukes and films by Neill Blomkamp. The characteristics and signifiers of a uniquely South African dystopian society are established and investigated through a posthuman lens. The theoretical framework of this study is principally concerned with the critical posthuman writings of Rosi Braidotti, Donna Haraway and, to a lesser extent, Cary Wolfe. Feminism and post-colonialism, and their influences on posthuman theory, are applied as the secondary theoretical framework, in this study. The study is practice led, with the study of the literature serving as mutually informative to the execution of a body of work centred on the dystopian theme. The paintings are intended to be metonyms for the wide range of manifestations of social decline evident in contemporary South African narratives. / Arts and Music / M.A. (Visual Arts)

Since the creation of modern-day Iraq by the British Empire in 1920, the country’s state territorial structuring has been an ever-evolving source of political instability and conflict. Iraq’s ethnic and sectarian groups have been locked in a near constant struggle over questions of self-rule, shared rule, and secession. Consequently, the territorial model of federalism has never been far from political discussions, negotiations, and territorial disputes. Federalism was finally officially adopted in 2005, giving a new definition to Iraq’s territorial model. But while federalism seemed a natural means of managing Iraq’s long-standing ethno-sectarian divisions and was democratically ratified in a process that included most ethnic and sectarian groups, the model has failed to materialize, and territorial structure remains a major point of contention between the groups. The overarching aim of this dissertation is to shed light on two key questions. First, how have the dynamics between the major ethnic and sectarian groups of Iraq shaped the evolution of the country’s territorial structure from 1920 up to and beyond the federal constitution in 2005? Second, what can the trajectory of this evolution teach us about why federalism was adopted but has failed to materialize? I shall argue that Iraq’s territorial structuring over the past century has been systematically influenced by at least one of four “I”s: the groups’ ideas concerning territorial structuring, their conceptualizations of group identities, their definitions of group interests, and the influence of foreign actors. Focussing on the Shiite Arabs, the Sunni Arabs, and the Kurds, I will examine how these four factors have interacted to shape the territorial organization of Iraq over four key time periods: (i) the foundation of Iraq in 1920 to Saddam Hussein’s rise to the presidency in 1979, (ii) Saddam’s rule from 1979 to 2003, (iii) Saddam’s deposition in 2003 to the adoption of the federal constitution in 2005, and (iv) the post-constitutional period from 2005 to the present. I thus hope to explain how evolving inter-group dynamics over the past century have impacted the development of Iraq’s territorial structure, arguing that this sheds light on both the reference to federalism in the 2005 constitution and its subsequent failure to materialize. This dissertation thus demonstrates the powerful ways in which Iraq’s territorial structuring has been shaped by past trends in ethno-sectarian dynamics, putting us in a better position to understand the complexities of the country’s current territorial politics.

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