ABSTRACT
The key to colonialism was not so much forced oppression or military might but the manner in which the European powers were able to convince the colonized people to buy into the project themselves. This is one of the reasons why decolonialization has proceeded on such an uncertain path; it is also the reason why the former colonial powers continue to have enormous problems understanding their own role in all of this. As shown in Days of Glory, their collective attitude still seems to smack of the attitude that “these people” should be grateful for having been colonized.
