Decolonising the Intellectual: Politics, Culture, and Humanism at the End of the French Empire

In the lead-up to decolonization, Francophone intellectuals struggled to redefine their culture in terms that did not replicate French thinking, while also striving to reinvent local cultures in resistance to the French presence. Their work reflected on the relation between universality and particularity, and addressed the ongoing question of the relation between literature, culture, and politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2021
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

In the lead-up to decolonisation, Francophone intellectuals found themselves caught in a perplexing dilemma. How could they redefine their culture and the 'humanity' they believed had been denied by the colonial project without falling into the trap of replicating the French thinking that had shaped them? Figures like Senghor, Césaire, Fanon, Amrouche, Feraoun, and Kateb, despite their deep immersion in French culture and language, boldly intervened in political debates surrounding decolonisation and sought to contribute to the reinvention of local cultures as a form of resistance to the ongoing French presence. Despite their pivotal role during this period of upheaval, their project was fraught with tensions that form the focus of this study.

These writers delved into the complex relationship between universality and particularity in intellectual work, striving to avoid the pitfalls of over-investing in either domain. They drew inspiration from metropolitan French humanist thought but continually sought to reinvent it to account for the experiences and cultures of the colonised. Their work also addressed the ongoing question of the relationship between literature, culture, and politics, revealing a moment of intense dialogue and potential conflict between contrasting but complementary spheres of activity.

In conclusion, Francophone intellectuals in the lead-up to decolonisation faced an impossible dilemma. They sought to redefine their culture and 'humanity' in ways that did not replicate French thinking, while also engaging in political debates surrounding decolonisation and contributing to the reinvention of local cultures. Despite their pivotal role, their project was fraught with tensions related to universality and particularity, the relationship between literature, culture, and politics, and the need to reinvent humanist thought to account for colonised experience and culture. Their work serves as a testament to the complexities and challenges of this period of history.

Weight: 438g
Dimension: 154 x 233 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800349032