Wikipedia:Peer review/Welfare colonialism/archive1

Hello, I am requesting peer review of this page. I am somewhat new to the peer review process; my aim is simply to further develop this page. To that end I appeal to those more experienced than I to advise me. Appreciatively, Iguana0000 (talk) 00:16, 7 January 2023 (UTC)

Comments from Nikkimaria

 * The current lead section covers some material around the history of the term that is not found in the body. I'd suggest adding a section on the history and definition of the concept.
 * You could then rework the lead to better summarize the article as a whole
 * If there has been academic response to the concept (as opposed to examples of it) that would also be worth including. Nikkimaria (talk) 00:09, 8 January 2023 (UTC)
 * Thanks so much to you both user:Nikkimaria and user:Goldsztajn, this is absolutely phenomenal and far greater in both breadth and depth than what I might have imagined. Will definitely keep me busy for a while. I will likely be back to you both with questions. Iguana0000 (talk) 16:25, 8 January 2023 (UTC)

Comments from Goldsztajn
Hi, thanks for starting this, a topic I found very interesting. However, it is a complex one and requires care in order not to veer into synthesis, especially when speaking globally. For example, a text speaking of welfare colonialism in Belgian Congo might not be deploying the concept in the same way for Tibet or East Africa. Differentiating amongst these would need to be done via sourcing.
 * So my very first comment: the article needs sourcing which includes comparative analysis between colonial experiences (otherwise it is an article sythesising welfare colonialism in X + welfare colonialism in Y etc) and differentiates welfare colonialism generally from welfare colonialism in independent ("post-colonial") settler-colonies. For example, see Crawford Young's discussion of the end of colonial states in Africa and welfare colonialism in that context or Bush's discussion on welfare colonialism, gender and (formal) decolonisation. The point here is that welfarism in colonial regimes grew rapidly *worldwide* from the 1930s, reaching an apogee in the 1950s. Thereafter, welfare colonialism appears in particular as applied to indigenous peoples in settler-colonies.
 * Reinart is not a particularly good source for the borader, post-colonial aspect, his text needs to be used cautiously, Reinart applies the concept in passing and in terms of inter-state relations (rich countries -> poor countries). An example of more useful piece might be Robles' 2002 piece.
 * A Google Ngram shows an interesting pattern over time: in use far more in the late 1960s than at any time since - you can use that to search within Google Books within specific time frames, should be helpful in identifying further sourcing over the different periods. I did not find sources which differentiate between Paine's welfare colonialism and earlier or other versions as implied in the "related concepts" section. The way in which the notion of "Development Colonialism" is described here appears to me as original research.
 * The article asserts that the settler colony version of the concept is commonly associated with the work of Robert Paine, but there is no reliable sourcing in the article to justify that assertion. Some examples which might be helpful: Veracini cites Paine (although indicates not applicable to Israel/Palestine), Jull links Canada and Australia, credits Paine (and Beckett), Mawhiney links Australia, Canada, US, New Zeland, Morris also includes the Nordics (mentioning the other countries, plus the Sami in Norway), also this linking the Sami.
 * On my own fairly precusory survey of the literature, I would see this article in two parts:
 * 1) welfare colonialism as developed in the late colonial period (with examples mostly from Africa/Caribbean, covering former British and French colonies), and
 * 2) welfare colonialism as elaborated by Paine and applied by various writers subsequetly to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, USA and the Nordics.  Although here, as you note, the use in the USA is more complex (differentiated between Black and Native populations).
 * I did find some critiques of the concept as applied by Paine, discussion over its limitations as a concept should be mentioned within the article.

Comments on text:
 * this caption: "Logo of the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association, formed to combat policies associated with Welfare Colonialism." appears to me as synthesis: sources do not indicate an oppostion to welfare colonialism, but rather to a struggle for rights.
 * "Relatively little has been written about the role Welfare Colonialism played in the debasement of Native American tribal institutions and by extension their quality of life." What sources indicate "relatively little has been written"? This appears to be original research.
 * "In Australia, aboriginal people have long been subjected to forms of welfare colonialism." Sourcing needed for this, better to use "First Nations" rather than aboriginal here.
 * "Anthropologist Jeremy Beckett spent decades working with the Torres Strait Islanders, an aboriginal group," not an "aboriginal group". Torres Straiter Islanders are peoples (plural). This might be helpful is choosing language for the article.


 * All the sources here should be online or available via the Wikipedia Library. Hope this is helpful. Regards, --Goldsztajn (talk) 04:04, 8 January 2023 (UTC)


 * Thanks so much to you both user:Nikkimaria and user:Goldsztajn, this is absolutely phenomenal and far greater in both breadth and depth than what I might have imagined. Will definitely keep me busy for a while. I will likely be back to you both with questions. Iguana0000 (talk) 16:25, 8 January 2023 (UTC)