subaltern history
Quick Summary
Subaltern history is an approach to historiography that focuses on the experiences and perspectives of marginalized or subordinate groups, particularly in the context of colonialism and postcolonialism. The term "subaltern" originally referred to a subordinate officer in the British army.12
This field of study challenges traditional historical narratives, which often prioritize elite perspectives. Subaltern historians argue that even after formal independence, former colonies can remain under cultural and economic hegemony from imperial powers. Key themes include the critique of Western-centric historical accounts and the examination of how dominant categories of knowledge can be internalized by colonized populations. While originally applied to South Asia and the Middle East, subaltern history has influenced the study of other marginalized groups, such as women and African Americans.1
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postcolonialismFrom decolonization to postcolonialism…with the editorial collective of Subaltern Studies, all exemplify that complex inheritance. It derives in part from the fact that there is no such thing as “the” Enlightenment but rather multiple Enlightenments shaped by different historical and political contexts; so too, the bundle of concepts and ideals to which “the”…
Read More…with the editorial collective of Subaltern Studies, all exemplify that complex inheritance. It derives in part from the fact that there is no such thing as “the” Enlightenment but rather multiple Enlightenments shaped by different historical and political contexts; so too, the bundle of concepts and ideals to which “the”…
Read More- postcolonialismWriting a noncolonial history
…Some Indian historians associated with Subaltern Studies, for example, although deeply influenced by Marxism, also sought to rescue the collective agency of Indian peasants from the category of the “prepolitical” to which they had been assigned by Marxism. Such an approach puts into question the very idea of theories of…
Read More…Some Indian historians associated with Subaltern Studies, for example, although deeply influenced by Marxism, also sought to rescue the collective agency of Indian peasants from the category of the “prepolitical” to which they had been assigned by Marxism. Such an approach puts into question the very idea of theories of…
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