Nationalism and class mobilization: the initial phase

It was argued in Chapter 1 that when the structure of colonial organization is centered around the colonial bureaucracy, which functions as an instrument of power and domination socio-political change can come about only through mass mobilization. To be successful, such mobilization must be capable of disrupting colonial order and placing metropolitan interests in jeopardy. Mass mobilization is made necessary because of the rigid and impenetrable boundary separating the colonizer and the colonized and the closed nature of the political and social systems.

Mass mobilization is not invariably directed at the securing of socio-political reform; its objectives could remain confined to issues of economic and material welfare if the movement that inspires it does not become politicized. For politicization to occur, there must exist a group of leaders who are able to transform objective demands into political issues usually through the use of ideology. When the basis for initial discontent is economic and material, such an ideology must, of necessity, take on a class character. Ideology might also assume a nationalist character when the object of demands for change is a colonizing elite or a colonial power. Since colonialism implies class domination, nationalism can quite easily be appended to a class-based ideology.

Demands for change to a more representative government or for independence under a nationalist government also assume the existence of an elite with the wherewithal to take over administrative, legislative, and judicial functions from the colonial power.