Michael Newton: The Repeating Structures of Empire
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Today we are very lucky to welcome Dr. Michael Newton to the show to talk about the history of Gaelic culture and coloniality in Scotland. Michael has a Ph.D. in Celtic studies from the University of Edinburgh and was previously an Assistant Professor in the Celtic Studies Department at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. His extensive writing and authority on Gaelic history and culture have also been used as references for TV shows, such as Outlander.
Our guest established the Hidden Glen Folk School in order to provide more opportunities for meaningful contact with Scottish history, and he and the school currently offer an array of courses and seminars that are well worth checking out. Dr. Newton shares with us how his upbringing in the States led to his particular area of research and associated projects.
In our discussion, we talk about how these studies inform and can be applied to, conversations about social justice in the present context. We also get into the idea of how oppression often leads to more oppression, and the common structures that lead to cultural domination. Listeners can expect to come away with some great insight into the often-overlooked roots of Scotch-Irish identity in the US, what the mask of whiteness actually covers, and how we might be able to start dismantling dangerous systems.
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Key Points From This Episode:
Dr. Newton's personal background and the roots of his passion for the work he does today.
The legacy of colonial occupation in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
Clarification of the terminology used regarding 'Celtic' and 'Gaelic'.
English propaganda about how to deal with Celtic 'barbarians'.
The repeating structures of empire that have led to colonialism and domination.
Tracing the significant events in the emergence of feudalism in Scottish history.
Dr. Newton's talks about ideas of Scotch-Irish identity and ethnicity in the US.
How the chain of colonially is created through coopting social capital.
Looking behind the mask of whiteness; the history of assimilation and its costs.
Practices around ancestry and naming in Scottish Gaelic tradition.
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Tweetables:
“When you go to Scotland or Ireland, and you start to live in the community, you realize this is not a sovereign, self-reliant, fully functioning society, that this is a society under duress. It is under occupation.” — Michael Newton
“There are certain structural features of empire that reoccur, that replay themselves.” — Michael Newton
“There is no label written on your DNA. DNA and ethnicity are completely different.” — Michael Newton
“People in North America in particular, carry such strong impressions about race that they don't see these other forms of identity very easily.” — Michael Newton
“Oppression is a very good conditioning for becoming an oppressor. That is the story.” — Michael Newton
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Michael Newton — https://independent.academia.edu/MichaelNewton/CurriculumVitae
Hidden Glen Folk School — https://www.hiddenglenfolk.org/
University of Edinburgh — https://www.ed.ac.uk/
St. Francis Xavier University — https://www.stfx.ca/
Outlander — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/outlander
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