Settler-colonial elimination is a permanent structural principle, not a one-time event.

Evidence

A settler-colonial project based on the elimination of the native (in this case demographic and national elimination) is a structure rather than an event in Wolfean terminology (Wolfe 2006). This means that settler colonialism “erects a new colonial society on the expropriated land base,” and because “settler colonizers come to stay: invasion is a structure not an event.” As is clear from Israeli policies toward Palestinians, “elimination is an organizing principal of settlercolonial society rather than a one-off (and superseded) occurrence” (Wolfe 2006, 388). — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized, 543

Categorization

• DEFINE: Wolfe’s structure-versus-event distinction — foundational to settler-colonial as a continuous, self-sustaining logic.
• XREF: connects to: Settler colonialism aims to terminate peoples’ existence, not individuals — Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the…, 17; Colonialism operates as a total system, not a matter of individual colonist goodwill. — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 737; Colonialism operates through objective role, not personal intention — Aimé Césaire, Discourse on Colonialism, 125 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Settler colonialism aims to terminate peoples’ existence, not individuals #expands (0.90) — Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the…, 17
• Settler colonial ‘elimination’ operates through assimilation, not just homicide #expands (0.90) — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 420
• A settler-colonial project’s structural logic operates independently of its founders’ motivations. #corroborates (0.88) — Nadim N. Rouhana and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian, When Politics Are Sacralized, 540
• Colonialism operates as a total system, not a matter of individual colonist goodwill. #corroborates (0.85) — Frans Dokman, Beyond Bantu Philosophy_…, 737
• Colonial sovereignty is boundless and its purpose is perpetual re-creation of the colonized #expands (0.85) — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 242
• Colonialism operates through objective role, not personal intention #corroborates (0.82) — Aimé Césaire, Discourse on Colonialism, 125
• Colonial animosities are historical experience, not an eternal order #qualifies (0.75)
• The non-interference ideal served to legitimate colonial subjugation #corroborates (0.72) — Philip Pettit, Republicanism, 1211