Deconstruction

Question 1

What is imperialism?

Answer 1

● Imposing power of an empire through colonisation
● All about control of one group over another
● Racism, association with white supremacy (hierarchy)
● Biological determinism - blaming inequities on genetics

Question 2

What is neoliberilism?

Answer 2

● Economic focus on free market capitalism
● Advocates freedom from government control → results in low
government intervention
● Individualism, privatisation and deregulation
● Meritocracy - people think they deserve their position in society
because of the work/effort they have put in (fails to acknowledge existing privilege)

Question 3

What is egalitarianism?

Answer 3

● Based on the principle that all people are equal and should be treated the same
● Related to socialism & communism
● Assimilation, equity & cultural blindness → one size fits all
● Distributes resources equally (not by need)

Question 4

What is critical indigenous thought?

Answer 4

● Draws on indigenous knowledges to promote social justice & challenge power imbalances (acknowledges existing problems)
● Aligned with critical theory
● Decolonial, social justice, human rights

Question 5

What are other trains of thought to consider?

Answer 5

● Deficit analysis = locates cause of problem within Māori people/culture/society
● Lack of structural analysis = fails to account for racism/privilege as possible
explanations
● False aggregation
● Consequences for Māori health of these worldviews
○ Avoids efforts to examine other possible causes
○ Removes responsibility (government, DHBs) to address inequities
○ Reduces public willingness to support policy or action that seeks to improve
Māori health
○ Encourages racialized thinking → interpersonal and internalised racism