Eurocentrism is both the target and the motive force of the post-colonial political theory. Discuss.
How the answer moves
The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.
Route 1 Eurocentrism as Western universality → post-colonial theory grows against it → dual relation.
Route 2 European thought “indispensable and inadequate” — target + motive force in one stroke.
Define Eurocentrism → target: Said (Orientalism), Fanon (race/psyche), Spivak (subaltern) → motive force: can’t escape European categories → Kautilya–Machiavelli trap → Global South conflicts read as religious/tribal.
Aijaz Ahmad: the culturalist focus can hide capital and class.
Route 1 aim is plural analysis, not reverse Eurocentrism.
Route 2 Eurocentrism — the wall to dismantle and the floor to stand on.
Model answer
Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.
Also asked on this head
Political Theory — 10 questions in the Vault.
- Comment on decline of political theory. (150 words)
- Comment on Post-Behavioural approach. (150 words)
- Discuss the significance of a normative approach to political theory.
How this is taught
The same flow snapshot, built for every head of the syllabus, with the answer written in class.
The first session of Foundation 2027 is published in full.
Six programmes across three levels.