Accounting for coloniality: The case for structural colonial and climate reparations

Abstract

This chapter explores the enduring impact of colonial exploitation, examining the intertwined nature of colonialism and capitalism, and argues that these aspects require reparations debates to focus not only on repairing the damage caused by these oppressive systems but also on dismantling the forces that perpetuate them. Highlighting the historical and ongoing extraction of wealth from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, it argues that these processes continue to shape global economic disparities and climate vulnerabilities. By examining the Democratic Republic of Congo as a case study, the chapter illustrates how colonial legacies persist through economic and social inequalities between former colonising and colonised countries. A comprehensive approach to reparations must extend beyond financial compensation to include structural transformations aimed at reshaping the world order. The chapter advocates for a degrowth proposal that prioritises the needs of formerly colonised nations and supports their economic and political sovereignty as a potential pathway towards true reparation.