Postcolonial theory

The Postcolonial Theory entry includes sections that define the theory, explore developments in the theory, demonstrate specific application of the theory to HRM, and provide suggested topic areas for future research. The reverberation and impact of Western colonialism is visible in the lives of many throughout history and the world over. But one cannot consider its effects without accounting for the non-Western resistance to colonialism as well. However, Western scholarship has often been deficient in grappling with and recognising the contradictions and tensions that arise from this relationship. In addressing this postcolonial theory has been instrumental in interrogating and critiquing these assumptions of hegemonic colonial discourses through which scholars have made sense of the world (). Scholars need to rethink colonial discourses that underly management and organisational scholarship, especially when researching the colonised and their worlds. This need also extends to HRM issues, particularly because of their focus on the ‘human’, and the need for representation of voices that are often silenced. There is considerable room for more engagement with Postcolonial Theory and critique of colonial discourses through which scholars have made sense of HRM issues.