recolonize

Recolonize is a transitive verb meaning to establish control over a territory or population again through colonization after a prior period of decolonization or independence. Recolonization can involve settlement, governance, and the extraction of resources, and it is often discussed in relation to sovereignty, self-determination, and international law. The term is typically used in historical analysis, political debate, and literary or speculative contexts, rather than as a neutral technical description of standard colonial practice.

Etymology: The word is formed from re- (again) and colonize, originating in English from Latin colonus via French coloniser. It has been used since the early modern period but remains relatively uncommon in everyday discourse, tending to appear in theoretical discussions or in fiction.

Usage and contexts: In historical contexts, recolonization is sometimes invoked by critics of imperial or neo-colonial behavior to describe attempts to reassert influence over former colonies after independence. In postcolonial scholarship, the term is used to critique policy patterns that resemble colonial domination, even without formal political control. In fiction and speculative writing, recolonization frequently appears in narratives about space exploration, Mars or other worlds, or alternate histories where powers seek to reestablish control over previously settled regions.

Related terms include colonialism, decolonization, neocolonialism, and space colonization in science fiction.