The Campaign Against 'Settler Colonialism’

In this Quillette podcast, the discussion centers on Adam Kirsch's book "On Settler Colonialism," which examines how this ideology shapes the perspectives of Western academics and activists. Kirsch contends that, while the movement claims to address historical injustices, it often serves as a moral framework that imposes collective guilt on non-Indigenous people. This approach tends to lack practical solutions and frequently results in performative gestures, such as land acknowledgments, while neglecting the complexities of Indigenous histories. The ideology also selectively targets specific issues, like the situation in Israel, where it sees an opportunity for violent "decolonization." The podcast delves into the movement's religious and spiritual elements, its attraction to those seeking social status, and the troubling contradiction of endorsing violence under the guise of progressive values.