Critical theory at the margins: A dialogue between marxism and post-colonialism

Abstract

This paper revisits the debate on Marxism and post-colonialism, aiming at disclosing a constructive ground from that opposition. Three steps constitute the line of reasoning. First, we distinguish two constitutive perspectives of Marxian thinking: one has an evident Eurocentric heritage that restates Enlightenment and Hegelian philosophy of history; other that shakes these assumptions for a less teleological perspective on peripheries and colonialism. Second, we suggest that post-colonialism, among its enormous heterogeneity, comprises two different trends. One strongly deconstructionist stream that tends to reject Marxism as another modern metanarrative; other that originates and develops in direct connection with Marxist-inspired 20th century anti-colonial and anti-racist struggles. The third and last part explores a path of constructive exchange between an anti-Eurocentric Marxism and a post-colonial critique that does not abstain from identifying large structures of domination and oppression in modernity.