Internal Colonialism and Ethnocultural Alienation: A Case Study of Hazaras in Afghanistan

This article investigates the socio-political processes that have contributed to the ethnocultural alienation and marginalisation of Hazaras in Afghanistan, with a focus on their historical evolution and contemporary implications. It utilises Frantz Fanon’s theory of cultural alienation as its theoretical framework, critically analysing 20 interview responses from members of the Hazara community. Grounded in a critical analysis of Afghanistan's complex political history and ethnic hierarchies, the article argues that structural violence, systematic discrimination against Hazaras, and their exclusion from key socio-political structures have played a pivotal role in the adaptation of a survival strategy of denying their ethno-cultural origins. This denial is evident in the alteration of ethnic identities on Tazkeras (national identity cards), where Hazaras sometimes identify as Pashtuns, Tajiks, or Qizilbash. Such ethnic falsification highlights adaptive strategies to evade discrimination and secure socio-economic advantages.