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Relational sociology and postcolonial theory

sketches of a "postcolonial relationalism"

Julian Go

pp. 357-373

Abstract

This chapter illuminates the common ground between postcolonial theory and relational sociology. While they seem opposed, in fact they both share a critique of substantialism and place ontological and analytic primacy upon constitutive relations. In postcolonial theory, this "postcolonial relationalism" is evident especially, but not only, in Edward Said's "contrapuntal" approach. After drawing out these commonalities, the chapter provides an empirical illustration of postcolonial relationalism in social theory, examining the French and Haitian revolutions from the perspective of Pierre Bourdieu's field theory.

Publication details

Published in:

Dépelteau François (2018) The Palgrave handbook of relational sociology. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.

Pages: 357-373

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-66005-9_18

Full citation:

Go Julian (2018) „Relational sociology and postcolonial theory: sketches of a "postcolonial relationalism"“, In: F. Dépelteau (ed.), The Palgrave handbook of relational sociology, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 357–373.