Government 279 - Colloquium: Between the World and Us: Positionality and Humanity in Postcolonial Thought

This course examines the tension between positionality—one’s social, cultural, and political location—and humanity. Does one inhabit positions others cannot understand? Are there universal experiences, or are all experiences mediated by particular social, cultural, and political positions? What are the ethical responsibilities that come with recognizing one’s positionality? To better understand these questions, the course examines the tension between positionality and humanity across three contemporary intellectual traditions: Subaltern Studies; Post-Orientalist scholarship; and Afro-pessimism. By learning them together, students more fully appreciate the critique of universalism and have space to reflect on the political stakes of particularist political thinking. Designation: Theory. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Enrollment limited to 20. (E)