Postcolonialism is a very broad theory. In its most basic form, postcolonialism is concerned with the effects of colonialism on societies and states. Ashcroft, 2000: pp.188 To do this he examines the origins and focus of the concepts that are used to characterize these states and societies. In this way, postcolonialism sees how concepts do not just originate in one area and then spread to others. Concepts are constantly changed and modified by interaction with people, states, and other concepts. Many concepts owe their existence to the interaction, for example, between the West and the non-West. Just as concepts are modified and changed by their interactions, both Western and non-Western character are modified in these interactions. They are mutually constituted. Postcolonial theory, however, is not limited to the effects of colonialism on former colonies alone. Postcolonial theory can be applied to interactions between minorities and majorities, the disadvantaged and the privileged. In these circumstances, postcolonialism examines how different parties relate to each other. How the different parties and the system itself are represented and what these representations lead to. This essay will argue that postcolonialism is not irrelevant as a theory of international politics. It will examine the different ways in which postcolonialism still provides insights. The starting point is to examine the question itself. Specifically what the term great power status entails. Behind this phrase is a specific idea of ​​what a state is, how states interact in the international system, what makes a state great within that system, and how to achieve that greatness. Mostly these concepts are taken for granted as the basis of international theory, but then… at the heart of the article… “Global: Colonial and Postcolonial Forms of Governance”. in Barnet, M and Duvall, R. eds. Power in global governance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Pletsch, C.E. 1981. “The Three Worlds, or the Social Scientific Division of Labor, Circa 1959–1975.” Comparative studies in society and history. 23, pp.565-590 Prakash, G. 1992. “Postcolonial Criticism and Indian Historiography.” Social text. 31/32. pp.8-19Shaw, M. 2002. “Post-Imperial and Quasi-Imperial: State and Empire in the Global Age.” Millennium - Journal of International Studies. 31Slater, D. 1998. “Postcolonial Questions for Global Times.” Review of international political economy. 5(4), pp.647-678Young, R.J.C. 2001. Postcolonialism: a historical introduction. Oxford: Blackwell.3Young, RJC 2003. Postcolonialism: a brief introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.