Political Theory

Research in Political Theory currently comprises three major focal points and projects:

1. Marx in a hand-to-hand fight. On the genealogy of modern social criticism
2. Dialectics of liberation: power, subjectivation and the limits of emancipatory theory
3. Remembering as social criticism. Theories and practices of post-Nazi and post-colonial entanglements

Marx in a hand-to-hand fight. On the genealogy of modern social critique (DFG project)

"What is critique?" For some years now, there has been an international debate in the social sciences and social philosophy about this question. In view of our socio-economic, political and socio-cultural situation, what must a practice of critique look like today? What are its conditions and what can the critical enterprise still refer to? The basic idea of the project is neither to develop a normative foundation of critique (social philosophy/moral philosophy of critique), nor to present a current sociological analysis of practices of critique (sociology of critique), but rather to provide a history, or more precisely a genealogy of critique. Through a historical recourse based on Michel Foucault's concept of genealogy, the aim is to uncover the layers, segments, registers or languages of critique to which a contemporary practice of critical questioning of our present could refer.

Within this comprehensive research framework of a genealogy of critique, the research project will now focus on a central author, an important turning point in the history of critique, namely Karl Marx. Marx was the first to transform the critique of domination and subjugation into a modern critique of society, and this modern critique of society must now be examined and reconstructed in more detail from the genealogical perspective of its origins. In particular, the praxeological, the political-polemical side of Marx's critique, the so-called “criticism in a hand-to hand fight”, comes to the fore and reveals that Marx formed and performed his social critique in three very different fields: (a) The journalistic field, in which Marx was active as a political journalist, editor, foreign correspondent and owner of the Neue Rheinische Zeitung. (b) The political field, in which Marx articulated his criticism of his opponents from the very beginning, above all of the "false" Friends (Weitling, Grün, Proudhon), the "false" socialisms (Owen, Fourier, St. Simon), anarchism (Bakunin) and social democracy (Lasalle). (c) The theoretical field in which Marx elaborates his fundamental critique of political economy as a practice of deciphering and unmasking the capitalist mode of production.

 Book publication Prof. Dr. Matthias Bohlender: Truth and Revolution in Marx's Critique of Society (external link)

 Information on the DFG research project

Dialectics of Liberation: Power, Subjectivation and the Limits of Emancipatory Theory

This research project deliberately and directly ties in with the results and considerations from the project on Marx and the genealogy of modern social critique. Here, a specific problem space had opened up that revolved around the question of to what extent and for what reasons a critical, liberating and emancipatory theory might "turn" into domination and violence and perhaps even has to turn. Is there therefore a "necessary" line: critique - emancipation - revolution - tyranny? Or has this line emerged solely with regard to a blind spot concerning a "critique of violence" (Benjamin)? With Marx it had turned out that there was indeed a blind spot with regard to the question of revolutionary subjects and, in particular, subject formations. The "proletariat" is therefore not only the result of comprehensive social liberation struggles (truth procedures), but also the result of power procedures that influence individuals and are intended to turn them into "proletarian", revolutionary subjects. The first central insight or thesis (Dialectics of Liberation I) from these considerations is that all modern concepts of emancipation and liberation tie social liberation itself to the production, manufacture or formation of a specific "liberated" subject. Without an internalized liberation of the subject, social liberation is not possible either. The second central insight and thesis to be examined (Dialectics of Liberation II) now states that the danger of liberation and emancipation turning into subjugation and oppression is to be found precisely in the processes, practices and procedures of subjectivation/ internalization itself (at least in part). In the moment of liberation, the modern subject subjugates itself because it can only become free through subjugation. The act of liberation requires procedures of power to which the subject of liberation must voluntarily submit ("voluntary servitude"); it forms its identity as a free subject in and through forms of discipline, etc.

In the course of the research project, these two theses, these two "dialectics of liberation" will be tested, further deepened and systematized on the basis of Marx using various concepts, narratives and ideas of liberation and emancipation (bourgeois emancipation, slave liberation and abolitionism, anti-colonial liberation, women's emancipation, etc.). On this basis, not only will the two theses be substantiated, but an initial system of different models/narratives of liberation will also be developed.

Remembering as social critique. Theories and practices of post-Nazi and postcolonial entanglements

This project aims to develop a specifically socio-critical political theory with regard to memory discourses in post-war Germany. It is based on the current perception that remembering National Socialism and remembering colonialism are separate and almost antagonistic practices. The current socio-politically charged situation is also due to the argument that social theories that criticise antisemitism and racism and are incorporated into such memory debates, are contradictory theoretical projects.

By contrast, the project initially identifies a common starting point for such socio-critical theories: a questioning of the Enlightenment. The project's central thesis is that theories critical of antisemitism and racism often have an underlying unease with the Enlightenment, linking this theory-immanent analysis with historical manifestations of colonial and National Socialist violence. The project's primary objective is to explore, through a reconstruction of various antisemitic and race critical theories, the ways in which these social critiques a) resemble each other and b) differ from one another. At the same time, these theoretical critiques of post-war German society are closely linked to post-Nazi and postcolonial memory practices. The second key focus of the project is therefore to recognise the interplay between social critiques and memory practices. Contrary to current perceptions, if one reconstructs these entanglements of theoretical social critiques as post-Nazi and postcolonial memory practices, it becomes apparent that neither the critiques nor the practices can be clearly separated from one another. Ultimately, the central argument of the project is that social theories critical of antisemitism, racism, and post-Nazi and postcolonial memory practices in Germany have always communicated closely with each other as well as learned and debated with each other. Focusing on this perception ultimately clarifies the common potential of social theories critical of antisemitism and racism, as well as post-Nazi and postcolonial memory practices: They are socio-critical memory practices that challenge state-institutionalised memory practices.

The teaching of Political Theory is anchored in most BA and MA courses at the Institute of Social Sciences. In addition to a general lecture on power and rule, the BA courses cover democratic theories, classics of political thought and important political currents of thought and movements.

In addition, there are always in-depth courses that deal with specific problems of contemporary political theory (e.g. racism, authoritarianism, relations of violence, civil disobedience, etc.) and which can also be attended by Master's students. The English-language Master's degree course in Conflict Studies and Peacebuilding itself regularly offers courses on the theoretical history of the modern state (The Modern States in History and Theory) and on the history of war theories and peace concepts (War and Peace in History and Theory). A course on the theory and history of European political thought is regularly offered in the Master's program European Governance in Transformation.

Teaching is characterized by intensive reading of the texts, communicative understanding of these texts in the seminars and critical discussion of their conceptual scope and limits. A critical and reflexive approach to the historically formative concepts, discourses and paradigms of thought of our political present is taught.

The team of the Political Theory Research Group currently consists of Prof. Dr. Matthias Bohlender (head of department), Liane Schäfer (research assistant and PhD student), Joshua Graf and Alessandro Cardinale (lecturers and PhD students), Lore Meindl (student assistant) and Saskia Schulte (secretary).