DEPENDENT AUTONOMY - A NEW PHASE OF INTERNAL COLONIALISM

The history of colonialism in Australia is summarised into four phases , called external colonialism, internal colonialism, welfare coloniali sm and dependent autonomy. Four policy frameworks, for Aboriginal affa irs: subjection and exploitation; protection and segregation; assimila tion and integration; and self-determination and reconciliation; coinc ide with these phases. Contradictions arising from irreconcilable tend encies in liberal-humanist philosophy marked official discourse, pract ices and strategies during each phase of colonialism. Current policies are analysed in terms of political paradox. The self-determination po licy, which promotes autonomy through increase dependency on the state , is analysed as a new phase of colonialism which is called 'dependent autonomy'.