Anthropologists study colonialism from multiple perspectives, focusing on its historical, cultural, social, and economic impacts. Their approaches can include:
- Historical and Archival Research – Anthropologists examine colonial records, missionary accounts, government documents, and indigenous oral histories to understand colonial encounters and their consequences.
- Ethnography – Some anthropologists conduct fieldwork among communities affected by colonialism, documenting how colonial legacies continue to shape identity, power structures, and daily life.
- Material Culture and Archaeology – Archaeologists study colonial artifacts, architecture, and landscapes to reveal patterns of domination, resistance, and cultural exchange.
- Political Economy and Globalization – Anthropologists analyze how colonial economic policies, such as resource extraction and forced labor, shaped modern global inequalities.
- Postcolonial and Decolonial Theory – Scholars use theoretical frameworks (e.g., Frantz Fanon, Edward Said, Aníbal Quijano) to critique colonial discourses, racial hierarchies, and ongoing neocolonial relationships.
- Language and Representation – Anthropologists examine how colonialism affected indigenous languages, cultural expressions, and knowledge systems, often studying linguistic shifts and cultural hybridity.
- Resistance and Agency – Rather than portraying colonized peoples as passive victims, anthropologists explore indigenous resistance, adaptation, and survival strategies.
This interdisciplinary approach allows anthropologists to reveal the deep and lasting effects of colonialism, both in historical contexts and in contemporary societies still shaped by colonial legacies.