Out of Africa

Post-Structuralism's Colonial Roots

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book Out of Africa by Pal Ahluwalia, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Pal Ahluwalia ISBN: 9781135161781
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: April 5, 2010
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Pal Ahluwalia
ISBN: 9781135161781
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: April 5, 2010
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

At the heart of this book is the argument that the fact that so many post-structuralist French intellectuals have a strong ‘colonial’ connection, usually with Algeria, cannot be a coincidence. The ‘biographical’ fact that so many French intellectuals were born in or otherwise connected with French Algeria has often been noted, but it has never been theorised. Ahluwalia makes a convincing case that post-structuralism in fact has colonial and postcolonial roots. This is an important argument, and one that ‘connects’ two theoretical currents that continue to be of great interest, post-structuralism and postcolonialism.

The re-reading of what is now familiar material against the background of de-colonial struggles demonstrates the extent to which it is this new condition that prompted theory to question long-held assumptions inscribed in the European colonial enterprise. The wide-ranging discussion, ranging across authors as different as Foucault, Derrida, Fanon, Althusser, Cixous, Bourdieu and Lyotard, enables the reader to make connections that have remained unnoticed or been neglected. It also brings back into view a history of struggles, both political and theoretical, that has shaped the landscape of critique in the social sciences and humanities.

This clear and lucid discussion of important and often difficult thinkers will be widely read and widely debated by students and academics alike.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

At the heart of this book is the argument that the fact that so many post-structuralist French intellectuals have a strong ‘colonial’ connection, usually with Algeria, cannot be a coincidence. The ‘biographical’ fact that so many French intellectuals were born in or otherwise connected with French Algeria has often been noted, but it has never been theorised. Ahluwalia makes a convincing case that post-structuralism in fact has colonial and postcolonial roots. This is an important argument, and one that ‘connects’ two theoretical currents that continue to be of great interest, post-structuralism and postcolonialism.

The re-reading of what is now familiar material against the background of de-colonial struggles demonstrates the extent to which it is this new condition that prompted theory to question long-held assumptions inscribed in the European colonial enterprise. The wide-ranging discussion, ranging across authors as different as Foucault, Derrida, Fanon, Althusser, Cixous, Bourdieu and Lyotard, enables the reader to make connections that have remained unnoticed or been neglected. It also brings back into view a history of struggles, both political and theoretical, that has shaped the landscape of critique in the social sciences and humanities.

This clear and lucid discussion of important and often difficult thinkers will be widely read and widely debated by students and academics alike.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Quality, Evidence and Effectiveness in Health Promotion by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book Unfolding Stakeholder Thinking 2 by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book International Relations by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book Fighting for Human Rights by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book Tourism Studies and the Social Sciences by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book Social Networks and Music Worlds by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book The Fast Facilitator by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book Trade Unions and Workplace Democracy in Africa by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book Cultural Studies of Transnationalism by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book Practical Schedule Risk Analysis by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book Participatory Action Research in Natural Resource Management by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book The State and Its Enemies in Papua New Guinea by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book The Japanese Economy in the Tokugawa Era, 1600-1868 by Pal Ahluwalia
Cover of the book Human Security and Natural Disasters by Pal Ahluwalia
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy