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Sociology and postcolonialism: another 'missing' revolution?

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Bhambra, Gurminder K.. (2007) Sociology and postcolonialism: another 'missing' revolution? Sociology, Vol.41 (No.5). pp. 871-884. ISSN 0038-0385

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0038038507080442

Abstract

Sociology is usually represented as having emerged alongside European modernity. The latter is frequently understood as sociology's special object with sociology itself a distinctively modern form of explanation. The period of sociology's disciplinary formation was also the heyday of European colonialism, yet the colonial relationship did not figure in the development of sociological understandings. While the recent emergence of postcolonialism appears to have initiated a reconsideration of understandings of modernity, with the development of theories of multiple modernities, I suggest that this engagement is more an attempt at recuperating the transformative aspect of postcolonialism than engaging with its critiques. In setting out the challenge of postcolonialism to dominant sociological accounts, I also address `missing feminist/queer revolutions', suggesting that by engaging with postcolonialism there is the potential to transform sociological understandings by opening up a dialogue beyond the simple pluralism of identity claims.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

H Social Sciences > HM Sociology

Divisions:

Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Sociology -- Research, Postcolonialism, Feminist theory, Civilization, Modern -- 20th century, Identity (Philosophical concept)

Journal or Publication Title:

Sociology

Publisher:

Sage Publications Ltd.

ISSN:

0038-0385

Official Date:

October 2007

Dates:

Date	Event
October 2007	Published

Volume:

Vol.41

Number:

No.5

Page Range:

pp. 871-884

DOI:

10.1177/0038038507080442

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

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