220131 Modernity as Coloniality: African, Asian and Latin American perspective (S) (WiSe 2018/2019)

This seminar aims to provide new perspectives on modernity by discussing critical theories on modernity as Coloniality. By combining post-colonial and de-colonial analytical frames produced by different scholars in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the seminar proposes to explore—to use Enrique Dussel’s words—the dark side of modernity. During the seminar participants will discuss the relationships between modernity and Coloniality and the nexus of state and nation. We will explore these relationships by scrutinizing notions such as progress, development, capitalism, spatiality, race/whiteness, and nation-state as well as their economic, social and political effects on the basic forms of social existence.

All participants are expected to prepare each session:
• by carefully reading the assigned chapters and texts
• by preparing a short statement on one text (e.g. on the main problem addressed, the most interesting point, or criticism) to be presented in 15 minutes at the beginning of each session
• to actively participate in seminar discussions