Marcuse’s Brand of Critical Theory and Post-Colonialism

Abstract

Studies discussing critical theory and post-colonialism consider only the works of Horkheimer and Adorno and are largely focused on revealing disparities between the two approaches. Writings of Herbert Marcuse in which we discover the same themes and issues as in postcolonial studies are totally disregarded, which makes the argument about disparities between critical theory and post-colonialism false to a certain extent. This article argues that critical theory and post-colonialism are not two mutually opposed projects, at least not with Marcuse’s version of critical theory. Both approaches are critical of the established reality, both reject positivism, both are interdisciplinary, both are dedicated to the radical praxis and, both offer a blueprint of a new socialist society. At the outset, I discuss critical theory and post-colonialism arguing that postcolonial theory can function as a global critical theory. Subsequently, I analyse the theoretical closeness of Marcuse and Fanon while attempting to show how Marcuse’s form of activist critical theory influenced not only Fanon but other subaltern liberation movements too. In the closing part, I explore visions of socialism that in Marcuse’s and Fanon’s works serve both as a critical concept and as the point at which goals of postcolonial and critical theory are realised.