The doctrine of progress makes colonialism appear natural rather than impositive

Evidence

Once this is taken for granted and thus normalized, the appearance of colonialism and the modern state in the Orient is seen no longer as an imposition but as a logical step in the march of history. The doctrine of progress itself is self-sanctioned as integral to this process; to adopt it and live by it is likewise inevitable. For to view this doctrine as unnecessary or an intrusion is self-negating in the first place. Once it foregrounds all historical thought, as it did, the theology of progress allows for no imposition that can continue to be seen as domination, intrusion, or manipulation. Hence the meaning of the passage I have just quoted at length, a meaning that is normatively structured so as to give the appearance of regularity of forward march on a course of development. In this picture, colonialism can hardly be charged with anything more than scratching the surface of Oriental societies. — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 217

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: Density here is high: the doctrine is shown to be self-sealing (critique self-negates) and thereby to make domination literally unseeable within its own terms.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism: A Critique of…, 217
• XREF: connects to: Colonialism systematically dispossesses the colonized of resources under a justifying discourse of hierarchy — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 246; Colonialism’s legacies persist long after colonial rule ends. — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 257; Colonialism functioned through thingification that made the oppressed accept subjugation as natural. — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 262 (+6 more)