Colonialism fails to uphold reciprocal equality

In the account developed so far, the wrong of colonialism consists in the establishment of a form of association that fails to offer equal and reciprocal terms of interaction to all its members. To put this more precisely, an ideal association is one that reflects equality and reciprocity along two dimensions. The first has to do with the creation of associative norms. It draws attention to the process through which such norms are first established, and to the correct mode of participation in setting them up (condemning, for instance, their unilateral imposition). The second relates to the principles around which that association is structured. It draws attention to the substantive criteria of political cooperation and asks us to ensure that equality and reciprocity are reflected in the design of institutions facilitating that cooperation. Colonialism is wrong because it violates the ideal in the first but often also in the second of these dimensions (and in fact most historical practices of colonial association unambiguously departed from both).