Colonialism remains an inescapable blight on the present, lingering in the toxic, internalized mythologies and stereotypes that have outlived the regimes that created them, says historian Farish Ahmad-Noor. Examining why these prejudices and narratives persist (and sometimes thrive), he suggests a multidisciplinary approach to reject cultural obsessions with romanticized history and prevent this nostalgia from perpetuating past oppressions.

Farish Ahmad-Noor: Why is colonialism (still) romanticized?

Why is colonialism (still) romanticized?

The allure of a romanticized colonial past persists in Southeast Asia, despite history's dark chapters of violence and oppression.

Exploring the deep-rooted stereotypes and clichés shaped by colonial capitalism that continue to influence Southeast Asia today.

A call for interdisciplinary collaboration to rethink and challenge the lingering colonial narratives shaping Southeast Asian identity.