Government to use ‘Southwest Asia and North Africa' (SWANA) not Middle East
National
·30 contributorsGovernment should stop using ‘Middle East’ in all its official business and communications. It is colonial, because it is 'Middle East' relative to Britain. We believe that Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) is decolonial, inclusive and a geographically accurate way of identifying the region.
Yvette Cooper
Foreign Secretary
Government leads decolonising language by example
Language shapes thought and worldview
Distance from colonial mindsets
Decolonize SWANA language usage
Government to use ‘Southwest Asia and North Africa' (SWANA) not Middle East
National
Government should stop using ‘Middle East’ in all its official business and communications. It is colonial, because it is 'Middle East' relative to Britain. We believe that Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) is decolonial, inclusive and a geographically accurate way of identifying the region.
Government leads decolonising language by example
Language shapes thought and worldview
Distance from colonial mindsets
Decolonize SWANA language usage