Postkoloniale Kritik als immanente Modernekritik?

Abstract

Currently, Critical Theory and some of its theoretical aspects are increasingly being taken up in Theological Social Ethics, as is the case with Christof Mandry, who inserts it into his european socialethics project. In the following an attempt is made to bring Postcolonial Theory into the theological social ethical conversation as a kind of Critical Theory. On the one hand, this can possibly mitigate the accusation of Eurocentrism in relation to Critical Theory. On the other hand, this can help to ensure that the concept of subalternity is taken into account as a central critical concept in Theological Social Ethics. The position of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and in particular her criticism of human rights is presented in the text an brought into connection with the immanent criticism of modernity. The postcolonial perspective is clearly distinguished from a Cultural Relativism with which it is repeatedly mixed up. Finally, the need for the self-criticism of Theological Social Ethics is particularly emphasized and thus positively reinforces Christof Mandry’s suggestion that Theological Social Ethics should be critical.