Does the death of Queen Elizabeth offer an opportunity for true decolonisation? thoughts and practical steps

Many people - in the UK and beyond - are mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Her legacy is impressive; she was a symbol of the monarchy, the Commonwealth, and had an indelible role in shaping how many British people viewed their national identity, and how others saw Britain’s role in the world. For many, she was the embodiment of dedication to duty, and a reassuring, steadfast presence over a long era of turbulent change. Reflections and tributes like those since her passing are reserved for a select few. Naturally, they also elicit a broad range of views and opinions.?

In parts of the Commonwealth, the Queen’s death has sparked expressions of opposition and anger. This seems to be less directed at the late queen as an individual person but rather towards the institution of the British monarchy and its intimate role in enabling, expanding, and sustaining the ambitions and influence of the British Empire. It comes from an accumulated frustration about past grievances due to the absence of a serious process of dealing with the colonial past, and the historical and current legacy of slavery in the UK and within the Commonwealth.?

This debate has lingered for some time now. 50 years after the initial decolonisation movement, we are seeing a second wave of decolonisation of past ‘colonial ghosts’: this has so far manifested itself in the dismantling of colonial relics like statues, demands for repatriation of cultural heritage, or quests for reparation for cases of human rights violations during slavery and colonial rule. The ripples of change can also be seen within the Commonwealth, with a growing number of countries from the Caribbean to the Pacific reflecting on their own legacies of colonialism and what it means for their national identities in the 21st century. The Queen’s death seems to have brought these feelings to a head. This is both unsurprising and apposite, as the Queen’s passing and the accession of King Charles - after the second longest reign in world history - is a particularly apt juncture to engage with both the legacy of empire and the future of constitutional monarchy.?

the current moment presents an opportunity for the new monarch, the British government, as well as other former colonial powers to start engaging in a genuine conversation about the colonial past that could pave the way for reconciliation

In keeping with her feted political neutrality, Queen Elizabeth never addressed the acts or legacy of colonialism under the British Empire. In contrast, as Prince of Wales deputising for the Queen at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda in June of this year, Charles spoke of “the depths of my personal sorrow at the suffering of so many, as I continue to deepen my own understanding of slavery’s enduring impact”. Speculation abounds about whether Charles will continue to be as opinionated about political matters as King as he was as Prince of Wales, and about the potential conflict this may create with the political impartiality demanded by the role of the head of state of a constitutional monarchy.?

Nevertheless, the current moment presents an opportunity for the new monarch, the British government, as well as other former colonial powers to start engaging in a genuine conversation about the colonial past that could pave the way for reconciliation, and a recalibration of the role and institution of the monarchy that would align it with 21st century realities. As previous reconciliation processes have shown, an important part of “dealing with the past” involves acknowledging and addressing past violence, harm done, and grievances on all sides. An obvious first step – that is vocally demanded from many corners in these last weeks since the Queen’s death - could be a formal apology from the monarch and the British government. However, this should rather serve as the initiation of a formal process of dealing with the past, through the establishment of a mechanism such as a “Colonial Past” Commission in the UK. There are numerous examples of the workings of previous truth commissions or commissions of enquiry. In accordance with this body of practice, a “Colonial Past” Commission would consult broadly within the UK and with former British colonies, both at a governmental level but also - and potentially more importantly - with civil society, to produce a report with recommendations for dealing with the colonial legacy of the British Empire in an inclusive and participatory way.? ?

In some (smaller) parts of the new decolonisation movement, there is also an element of criticism towards those post-independence government elites who have perpetuated the divide and rule colonial power playbook. There are a lot of underlying issues here to address until true decolonisation can take place.?

The current historical juncture, and the start of an official process of dealing with Britain’s colonial past?could therefore present an opportunity for many countries that used to be colonies to re-negotiate their own social and political contracts and identify if legacies of the past still exist, what forms they take, and how they can be addressed proactively.?