An opportunity to challenge the limits of History and the Social Sciences, as well as to explore how modern Western knowledge ‘travelled’ to the non-Western world and what effects this had. With Sanjay Seth.

History, Social Sciences and Postcolonial Theory

By discussing three articles authored by historian Sanjay Seth, this workshop constitutes an opportunity to challenge the limits of History and the Social Sciences, as well as to explore how modern Western knowledge ‘travelled’ to the non-Western world and what effects this had. The workshop will gather Professor Sanjay Seth and Portuguese based researchers from different universities and whose work focus on subjects as diverse as Global History, Science Studies, IR and Anthropology. The workshop is open to the participation of PhD students, researchers, teachers and who else is interested in exploring Postcolonial Theory.

Those willing to participate must send an email to: hcspostcol@gmail.com. The deadline for inscriptions is the 27th October. There is a limited number of seats available. The participation in the workshop requires the previous reading of the articles. The articles will be sent by email along with the notice that the inscription was accepted.

About Sanjay Seth:
After completing his education in Sydney and Canberra, Sanjay Seth held positions at Sydney University and La Trobe University (Melbourne), as well as a Fellowship at Tokyo University. He moved to Goldsmiths in 2007, to take up the Chair in Politics. Sanjay has published in the fields of modern Indian history, political and social theory, postcolonial theory and international relations. His current work is focused on whether the presumptions that inform our modern knowledge are ‘universal’, meaning adequate to all times and places – as is usually supposed- or whether they are in fact parochial, presumptions that are specifically modern and Western but that illegitimately pass themselves off as universal. He often uses his Indian archive to raise and pursue these broad social, cultural and epistemological questions.

Programme (📎 PDF)

10h00: Welcoming and introductory remarks, by Matheus Serva Pereira (ICS — ULisboa) and José Neves (IHC — NOVA FCSH)

10h15: The Politics of Knowledge: Postcolonial Theory and the Social Sciences, by Sanjay Seth (Goldsmiths College, London).

11h15h: Modernity and the Social Sciences
The session will be moderated by Rita Narra Lucas (IHC — NOVA FCSH) and will start with comments by Ricardo Roque (ICS — ULisboa) and Manuela Ribeiro Sanches (CEC — FLUL) on the essay «’Once was blind but now can see’. Modernity and Social Sciences».

13h00: lunch

14h30: Eurocentrism and History
The session will be moderated by Marcos Cardão (CEC — FLUL) and will start with comments by and Teresa Cravo (CES — UC, FEUC) and Rui Lopes (IHC — NOVA FCSH) on the essays «Postcolonial Theory and the Critique of International Relations» and «Historical Sociology and Postcolonial Theory: Two Strategies for Challenging Eurocentrism».

16h30: Concluding session – introductory remarks by Bruno Peixe Dias (CFUL)

17h15: coffee break

17h30: Launching of the journal Práticas da História (issue 8, with a dossier on the Commemoration of the Portuguese Discoveries).
Presentation by José Ferreira (ICS — ULisboa) e Elisa Lopes da Silva (ICS — ULisboa).

Coordination

Matheus Serva Pereira (ICS — ULisboa), José Neves (IHC — NOVA FCSH), Marcos Cardão (CEC — FLUL), and Rita Lucas (IHC — NOVA FCSH).

With the support of the project Amílcar Cabral, da História Política às Políticas da Memória (PTDC/EPH-HIS/6964/2014), from IHC — NOVA FCSH.