2021 Statelessness & Citizenship Review 3(1) discriminatory practices adopted by modern states, largely neglecting the impact of colonialism. This paper demonstrated the shortcomings of such analysis, in failing to take into consideration the legacies of colonialism in creating mass statelessness. Citizenship and statelessness are not simply the expression of modern state power, but also reflect unequal power relations amongst states — namely between the colonised and the coloniser. This component should not be neglected when analysing citizenship and statelessness in former colonies. A critical historical analysis of the formation of citizenship in former colonies can help revealing the role of colonialism in creating statelessness. 32