Surinamese Anticolonial Thought in the Twentieth Century offers a compelling introduction to the history of anticolonial resistance in Suriname and its diaspora. Covering the lives and ideas of seventeen influential Surinamese thinkers, this book explores how the histories, legacies, and afterlives of Dutch colonial rule were questioned, contested, and reimagined in the decades surrounding independence.
Moving beyond a narrow focus on nationalism, the authors reveal a dynamic intellectual landscape shaped by multiple – sometimes competing – visions of decolonization. While these visions were rooted in specific Surinamese conditions, they were also shaped by exchanges and entanglements within the Caribbean, Western Hemisphere, and beyond. Combined, this gave rise to a distinctly Surinamese tradition that was also deeply embedded in global currents of anticolonialism.
By bringing together both recognized and lesser-known Surinamese thinkers, this book provides the first collective study of Surinamese anticolonialism in the twentieth century. Compiled in light of the fiftieth anniversary of Surinamese independence, it offers new insights on critical perspectives that continue to resonate in the present moment.

Debby Esmeé de Vlugt is a Lecturer in the History of International Relations at Utrecht University, Netherlands. She specializes in the global history of the Black Power movement, anticolonial activism in the Dutch Atlantic, and decolonial discourses in the twentieth century.

Peter Meel is Assistant Professor of History at Leiden University, Netherlands. He specializes in Caribbean history and works on the modern and contemporary history of Suriname. He has published extensively and has (co)edited multiple volumes on this topic.