International Crimes of Western Colonialism. Reflections on Philippe Sands’ The Last Colony: A Tale of Exile, Justice and Britain’s Colonial Legacy

Abstract

Does colonialism still exist in the 21st century? Philippe Sands provides a resounding affirmation to this question in his recent book The Last Colony. Sands expounds upon the circumstances surrounding the Chagos archipelago, the most recently colonized territory by the United Kingdom, which triggers further discussions about the ability of international law to address colonial crimes. Sands’ tale proves that it is possible to challenge colonisers by using the existing tools of international law. Yet, the efficacy of justice efforts remains inadequate for the victims of colonial crimes. In addition to evaluating the critical contributions of The Last Colony, this review essay examines the international crime of forced displacement and how is has been tackled by international courts within other contexts. Drawing on the recent Human Rights Watch report documenting the offenses committed by the UK and US authorities against the Chagossians, the essay assesses which elements of the colonial crime of forced evictions attain the gravity threshold for crimes against humanity. And finally, the essay argues for the need for greater awareness and accountability for such crimes and their lasting effects on individuals and societies.

Keywords: forced displacement, Chagos, international criminal law, colonialism