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Rescuing the Enlightenment from the Europeans: Critical Theories of Decolonization

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In Rescuing the Enlightenment from the Europeans, Nikita Dhawan puts the critical project of decolonization into conversation with the Enlightenment. She explores the ethical-political challenges faced by postcolonial thought, which must be articulated using the very language of Enlightenment discourses on human rights, democracy, international law, sovereignty, and justice—even as these norms are subjects of postcolonial critique. Bridging postcolonial and Holocaust studies while also highlighting differences from decolonial approaches, she engages with thinkers ranging from Kant to the Frankfurt school to defend them against accusations of normative nihilism, antisemitism, and epistemic servitude to Europe. Dhawan argues that criticizing the Enlightenment and its legacies does not necessarily entail rejecting them, nor does engaging with Enlightenment principles mean endorsing them unconditionally. Instead, she makes a case for rescuing the best aspects of the Enlightenment in order to further the critical project of decolonization.

Author(s)
Nikita Dhawan
Publication Year
2026
Publication date
February 3, 2026
Pages
382
Binding
Paperback
Language
English
Publisher
Duke University Press
ISBN
9781478032939
Dimensions
5.98 × 2.0 × 9.02 in
Weight
1.19 lb

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