The Briny South: Displacement and Sentiment in the Indian Ocean World

Nienke Boer's book "The Briny South" explores how the legal and literary narratives of enslaved, indentured, and imprisoned individuals crossing the Indian Ocean shaped racialized identities in the imperial world. She argues that colonial powers and settler states manipulated subaltern emotions to silence racialized subjects and portray them as inarticulately suffering. Boer traces the entwinement of displacement, race, and sentiment, framing the Indian Ocean as a site of subjectification with a long history of transnational connection and exploitation.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 22 February 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

Nienke Boer delves into the intricate legal and literary narratives of individuals who traversed the Indian Ocean, encompassing enslaved, indentured, and imprisoned populations. Through a comprehensive analysis of court records, ledgers, pamphlets, censors reports, newsletters, folk songs, memoirs, and South African and South Asian works of fiction and autobiography, Boer explores the formation of racialized identities within the imperial world. By examining the role of sentiment and the portrayal of emotions, Boer sheds light on the construction of identities of displaced peoples across the Indian Ocean. Spanning from the Dutch East India Company rule in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to the early stages of apartheid in South Africa, Boer demonstrates how colonial powers and settler states actively mediated and manipulated subaltern expressions of emotion to suppress racialized subjects and portray them as inarticulately suffering. Instead of serving as an oppositional tool, sentiment worked in favor of the powerful, perpetuating the dominance of certain groups. By tracing the entwinement of displacement, race, and sentiment, Boer presents the Indian Ocean as a site of subjectification with a rich history of transnational connections and exploitation.

Nienke Boer's The Briny South: Examining the Formation of Racialized Identities in the Imperial World

In her groundbreaking work, "The Briny South," Nienke Boer delves into the complex legal and literary narratives of individuals who traversed the Indian Ocean, encompassing a wide range of experiences, from enslavement to indenture and imprisonment. Through a meticulous examination of a diverse array of sources, including court records, ledgers, pamphlets, censors reports, newsletters, folk songs, memoirs, and South African and South Asian works of fiction and autobiography, Boer explores the formation of racialized identities within the imperial world. By examining the role of sentiment and the portrayal of emotions, Boer sheds light on the construction of identities of displaced peoples across the Indian Ocean. Spanning from the Dutch East India Company rule in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to the early stages of apartheid in South Africa, Boer demonstrates how colonial powers and settler states actively mediated and manipulated subaltern expressions of emotion to suppress racialized subjects and portray them as inarticulately suffering. Instead of serving as an oppositional tool, sentiment worked in favor of the powerful, perpetuating the dominance of certain groups. By tracing the entwinement of displacement, race, and sentiment, Boer presents the Indian Ocean as a site of subjectification with a rich history of transnational connections and exploitation.

The Role of Sentiment and the Depiction of Emotions in the Construction of Identities of Displaced Peoples

Boer's analysis reveals that sentiment played a crucial role in the construction of identities of displaced peoples across the Indian Ocean. Sentiment, defined as a feeling or emotion, was used by colonial powers and settler states to manipulate and control subaltern expressions of emotion. By portraying individuals as inarticulately suffering, these powers sought to silence racialized subjects and maintain the dominance of certain groups. For instance, during Dutch East India Company rule in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, sentiment was employed to justify the exploitation of enslaved and indentured individuals. The company portrayed these individuals as inarticulately suffering, thereby justifying their exploitation and denying them basic human rights. Similarly, in early apartheid South Africa, sentiment was used to portray racialized subjects as inarticulately suffering, thereby justifying the oppressive policies and practices of the regime.

The Mediation and Manipulation of Subaltern Expressions of Emotion by Colonial Powers and Settler States

Boer's analysis highlights the ways in which colonial powers and settler states mediated and manipulated subaltern expressions of emotion. By controlling the narrative and the portrayal of emotions, these powers were able to suppress racialized subjects and maintain their dominance. For example, during Dutch East India Company rule, the company censored newsletters and other forms of communication to control the narrative and prevent subaltern voices from being heard. Similarly, in early apartheid South Africa, the government controlled the media and censored news outlets to prevent the spread of subaltern narratives and maintain the dominance of the white minority.

Sentiment as a Tool of Oppression

Boer's work demonstrates that sentiment was not only used by colonial powers and settler states to suppress racialized subjects but also as a tool of oppression. By portraying individuals as inarticulately suffering, these powers were able to justify their actions and maintain the status quo. For instance, during Dutch East India Company rule, the company justified its exploitation of enslaved and indentured individuals by portraying them as inarticulately suffering and denying them basic human rights. Similarly, in early apartheid South Africa, the government justified its oppressive policies and practices by portraying racialized subjects as inarticulately suffering and denying them equal opportunities.

The Indian Ocean as a Site of Subjectification and Transnational Connections

Boer's analysis of the Indian Ocean as a site of subjectification and transnational connections is particularly insightful. The Indian Ocean, with its vast expanse and numerous ports, served as a conduit for the movement of individuals across the globe. It was a site of subjectification, where individuals were subjected to various forms of exploitation and oppression. Boer's work highlights the ways in which the Indian Ocean facilitated the transnational connections between different regions and cultures, leading to the formation of complex networks of power and influence.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Nienke Boer's "The Briny South" is a groundbreaking work that delves into the complex legal and literary narratives of individuals who traversed the Indian Ocean. Through a comprehensive analysis of a diverse array of sources, Boer explores the formation of racialized identities within the imperial world. By examining the role of sentiment and the portrayal of emotions, Boer sheds light on the construction of identities of displaced peoples across the Indian Ocean. Boer's work demonstrates that sentiment was not only used by colonial powers and settler states to suppress racialized subjects but also as a tool of oppression. By tracing the entwinement of displacement, race, and sentiment, Boer presents the Indian Ocean as a site of subjectification with a rich history of transnational connections and exploitation.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 160 x 240 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478016915