"The dream of imperialism is a land without natives" Who said this?

Question

I'm thinking Frantz Fanon. My quotation isn't exactly verbatim by the way. I need the quote and citation for a part of my thesis, and looking for these little tidbits in piles and piles of primary sources drives me insane. I hope you can help! :D

Answer 1

Yes, your quote does sound like Frantz Fanon who wrote extensively about the us vs. them psycology that developed when countries decided to annex smaller countries.

I don't have his books at home and there are no full view books on line to research them.

However, I believe if you substitute the word "colonialism" or any of its derivatives for "imperialism" you might have more luck locating the exact thought you are seeking.

I did find one quote which hints at the concept of colonists wishing they could find a land without natives so they could develop a new place from a "blank slate."

"Colonialism did not dream of wasting its time in denying the existence of one national culture after another." ~~Frantz Fanon, "The Wretched of the Earth," page 212. (Published 1963, Grove Press, ISBN 0802150837. I retrieved the quote from the following link: http://books.google.com/books?id=ZcSaJteZwA0C&pg=PA212&dq=%22frantz+fanon%22+colonialism+did+not+dream&ei=j3FVR7jHFKXepQLngcGDBg&sig=UrS63_2NP_LebG2FSPUzkBvUuV0#PPA212,M1 )

I'll keep looking and post an addendum here or send an email if I find something. I had forgotten what a good mind Fanon had. Good luck with your thesis.