(reminder)
Postcolonialism and Political Theory
8th MANCEPT Workshops in Political Theory
August 31-September 2, 2011 - University of Manchester, UK
Political theory has been late to come to the study of postcolonialism.
This is remarkable, considering the overlap between the core questions
of political theory and the ones studied by postcolonial theorists. In
the past decade, the interest for postcolonial questions has slowly
started to develop, but this budding interest is still little more than a
marginal development in the field. The attention for postcolonial
questions has been concentrated in the subdiscipline of the history of
political theory, the study of the work of canonical figures and of the
role of liberalism. In general, the attention has been erratic, and is
based on the assumption that the relationship between political theory
and colonialism and imperialism is nothing more than a historical
coincidence.
Political theory defines its identity in opposition to what it is not,
by drawing a sharp line between its inside and outside. Borders,
boundaries and the policing of them are crucial to its identity. Thus,
questions of colonialism and imperialism have been consistently
constructed as part of political theory’s constitutive outside, even
though political theory carries with it a legacy of complicity with
colonial and imperial history.
The aim of this workshop is to reflect on the relationship between
political theory and postcolonial studies. In particular, it aims to
address the question of how postcolonial theory affects political
theory. Does the pursuit of postcolonial questions transform political
theory? How so? Does political theory have to be transformed in order to
pursue these questions? Why is there such a dearth of political theory
addressing these questions and engaging with postcolonial studies? What
are the causes of this lack of interest? What are the implications and
consequences of this lack, and how can we address it? Should political
theory be decolonized? How? Does this lack take on a peculiar
signification, importance, or urgency in the context of globalization?
We welcome papers from all traditions. We are particularly interested in
papers which explore intersections with feminist theory and critical
race theory; and which engage with the thought of postcolonial thinkers.
Please submit a title and a 300 to 500 word abstract to
[log in to unmask] by June 5. Your email should mention your
contact details and institution.
For more information and registration, please go to http://manceptworkshops.wordpress.com/
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Annelies Decat
Centre for Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy (University of Leuven, Belgium)
Parkstraat 45 bus 3602 - 3000 Leuven
T. ++32 16 323288 / F. ++32 16 323088
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