Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ACSol (Anti-Colonial Solidarity: Analytical Clarification through Historical Reconstruction)
Reporting period: 2021-09-01 to 2023-08-31
Appeals to ‘solidarity’ abound in political discourse today. Where public health officials formerly touted ‘pandemic solidarity’, politicians are increasingly decrying a ‘crisis of solidarity’ with Ukraine and criminalizing acts of ‘solidarity with Palestine’. At the same time, engaged citizens and activists demonstrate ‘solidarity’ to contest injustices rooted in global structures of imperialism and the legacies of European colonialism: from the so-called Mediterranean ‘refugee crisis’ to state-corporate invasion of indigenous territory globally. But in contemporary political theory, precisely a global and anticolonial perspective on solidarity is lacking. This research programme was designed to address this gap in our thinking about the politics of solidarity.
The overall objective of this research programme was to develop an account of anticolonial solidarity grounded in the global history of political thought and, thereby, to clarify anticolonial solidarity’s contribution to a burgeoning discussion in contemporary political theory. The case studies were provided by the political thought and practice of anticolonial leaders Anténor Firmin, José Martí, and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Three specific research objectives were combined to support the overall objective. (a) The first objective developed an account of asymmetrical interdependence in anticolonial solidarity through a comparative reading of anticolonial leadership in Firmin, Martí and Du Bois. (b) The second objective developed an account of the relation between ideals and practices in anticolonial solidarity by comparing their respective critiques of European civilization. (c) The third objective developed an account of the relation between local economic development and global solidarity by comparing their pan-political projects.
Each specific objective corresponds to a central debate in contemporary political theories of solidarity. By developing these objectives through the history of political thought, the researcher provided both historical and theoretical insights. As to the former, the researcher demonstrated that the conceptual history of ‘solidarity’ has always been a global and anticolonial one: since solidarity’s rise to prominence in the 19th-century, anticolonial thinkers have always criticized European models of solidarity, just as they have always developed alternative models in anticolonial movements. From this historical insight, the research developed an account of anticolonial solidarity as a distinct type of solidarity for the first time. Thus, the global history of political thought emerged as the means through which the full potential of anticolonial solidarity’s contribution to political theory can be grasped. At the same time, the researcher explored the practices of solidarity in contemporary anticolonial social movements.
The overall objective of this research programme was to develop an account of anticolonial solidarity grounded in the global history of political thought and, thereby, to clarify anticolonial solidarity’s contribution to a burgeoning discussion in contemporary political theory. The case studies were provided by the political thought and practice of anticolonial leaders Anténor Firmin, José Martí, and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Three specific research objectives were combined to support the overall objective. (a) The first objective developed an account of asymmetrical interdependence in anticolonial solidarity through a comparative reading of anticolonial leadership in Firmin, Martí and Du Bois. (b) The second objective developed an account of the relation between ideals and practices in anticolonial solidarity by comparing their respective critiques of European civilization. (c) The third objective developed an account of the relation between local economic development and global solidarity by comparing their pan-political projects.
Each specific objective corresponds to a central debate in contemporary political theories of solidarity. By developing these objectives through the history of political thought, the researcher provided both historical and theoretical insights. As to the former, the researcher demonstrated that the conceptual history of ‘solidarity’ has always been a global and anticolonial one: since solidarity’s rise to prominence in the 19th-century, anticolonial thinkers have always criticized European models of solidarity, just as they have always developed alternative models in anticolonial movements. From this historical insight, the research developed an account of anticolonial solidarity as a distinct type of solidarity for the first time. Thus, the global history of political thought emerged as the means through which the full potential of anticolonial solidarity’s contribution to political theory can be grasped. At the same time, the researcher explored the practices of solidarity in contemporary anticolonial social movements.
Work was conducted via 7 work packages (WP). The project was managed under WP5 which included bi-monthly research meetings of the Fellow and his supervisor. WP6 sought to develop the Fellow’s capacities to enable him to complete the project and make the most of it for developing his career. This included attendance of internal seminars and workshops and international conferences and workshops, career development meetings with his supervisor, and design of two courses (for MPhil and PhD students). WP7 was designed to disseminate and communicate the results of the project beyond academia. It included establishing a website and a social media strategy, and interviews and collaboration with social movement activists. Some planned activities under WP6-7 had to be cancelled due to early termination of the MSC when the Fellow obtained a permanent academic position at the University of Edinburgh. WP1-3 focused on asymmetrical interdependence (WP1), theory and practice (WP2) and solidarity and development (WP3). The Fellow presented his work on these WPs at 2 internal seminars, 1 international seminar, and 2 international conferences. He published a book review, a journal article, and a book chapter; he wrote a second journal article (in submission) and a popular essay.
Results of this MSCA will be reported in:
(1) A journal article: “Racial Equality and Anticolonial Solidarity: Anténor Firmin’s Global Haitian Liberalism,” American Political Science Review.
(2) A book chapter: “The (anti)colonial limits of solidarity: history, theory, practice” in On Solidarity: Andrea Sangiovanni in Dialogue, (Manchester University Press)
(3) a book review: Reconstructing the Social Sciences and Humanities: Anténor Firmin, Western Intellectual Tradition, and Black Atlantic Tradition, Global Intellectual History.
(4) an article focusing on asymmetrical interdependence is in submission (Revise and Resubmit at European Journal of Political Theory)
(5) a special issue of the journal Critical Times (proposal accepted)
(6) a popular essay was submitted to The Conversation
(7) in the long term the findings of the project will be expanded into a monograph
Results of this MSCA will be reported in:
(1) A journal article: “Racial Equality and Anticolonial Solidarity: Anténor Firmin’s Global Haitian Liberalism,” American Political Science Review.
(2) A book chapter: “The (anti)colonial limits of solidarity: history, theory, practice” in On Solidarity: Andrea Sangiovanni in Dialogue, (Manchester University Press)
(3) a book review: Reconstructing the Social Sciences and Humanities: Anténor Firmin, Western Intellectual Tradition, and Black Atlantic Tradition, Global Intellectual History.
(4) an article focusing on asymmetrical interdependence is in submission (Revise and Resubmit at European Journal of Political Theory)
(5) a special issue of the journal Critical Times (proposal accepted)
(6) a popular essay was submitted to The Conversation
(7) in the long term the findings of the project will be expanded into a monograph
There are not currently any studies either (a) of ‘solidarity’ that incorporate ‘anticolonialism’ either systematically or historically; or (b) of ‘anticolonialism’ that treat ‘solidarity’ either systematically or historically. This MSCA has begun to break new ground by exploring the importance of the global history of anticolonial solidarity to political theories of solidarity for the first time. The Fellow has successfully introduced new perspectives in the fields of political theory and global intellectual history through peer-reviewed publications, workshop and conference presentations, informal conversations with colleagues, and works in progress. The Fellow plans to continue to build on the research project to increase the impact of this MSCA going forward.
The main anticipated impact from this MSCA is a diversification of the disciplines of political theory and the history of political thought. Political theory must be able to account for practices and perspectives beyond the predominant analytic, historical, and geographical frames of reference. The history of political thought must be able to speak to contemporary practical and theoretical dilemmas. This MSCA has begun to accomplish these important tasks, while providing the foundation on which to establish them more securely through future work. As part of the communication activities of this MSCA, the potential use of the three objectives in informing practices in civil society was explored through interviews and early collaboration with social movement activists. The importance of the MSCA for thinking about global solidarity movements was explored in a popular essay submitted to The Conversation. These are just examples for where this MSCA’s potential socio-economic impact lies.
The main anticipated impact from this MSCA is a diversification of the disciplines of political theory and the history of political thought. Political theory must be able to account for practices and perspectives beyond the predominant analytic, historical, and geographical frames of reference. The history of political thought must be able to speak to contemporary practical and theoretical dilemmas. This MSCA has begun to accomplish these important tasks, while providing the foundation on which to establish them more securely through future work. As part of the communication activities of this MSCA, the potential use of the three objectives in informing practices in civil society was explored through interviews and early collaboration with social movement activists. The importance of the MSCA for thinking about global solidarity movements was explored in a popular essay submitted to The Conversation. These are just examples for where this MSCA’s potential socio-economic impact lies.