The Americas in Early Modern Political Theory

States of Nature and Aboriginality

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Politics, History & Theory, Government
Cover of the book The Americas in Early Modern Political Theory by Stephanie B. Martens, Palgrave Macmillan US
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Author: Stephanie B. Martens ISBN: 9781137519993
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan US Publication: May 31, 2016
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan Language: English
Author: Stephanie B. Martens
ISBN: 9781137519993
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication: May 31, 2016
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan
Language: English

This book examines early modern social contract theories within European representations of the Americas in the 16th and 17th century.  Despite addressing the Americas only marginally, social contract theories transformed American social imaginaries prevalent at the time into Aboriginality, allowing for the emergence of the idea of civilization and the possibility for diverse discourses of Aboriginalism leading to excluding and discriminatory forms of subjectivity, citizenship, and politics.  What appears then is a form of Aboriginalism pitting the American/Aboriginal other against the nascent idea of civilization.  The legacy of this political construction of difference is essential to contemporary politics in settler societies.  The author shows the intellectual processes behind this assignation and its role in modern political theory, still bearing consequences today.  The way one conceives of citizenship and sovereignty underlies some of the difficulties settler societies have in accommodating Indigenous claims for recognition and self-government.

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This book examines early modern social contract theories within European representations of the Americas in the 16th and 17th century.  Despite addressing the Americas only marginally, social contract theories transformed American social imaginaries prevalent at the time into Aboriginality, allowing for the emergence of the idea of civilization and the possibility for diverse discourses of Aboriginalism leading to excluding and discriminatory forms of subjectivity, citizenship, and politics.  What appears then is a form of Aboriginalism pitting the American/Aboriginal other against the nascent idea of civilization.  The legacy of this political construction of difference is essential to contemporary politics in settler societies.  The author shows the intellectual processes behind this assignation and its role in modern political theory, still bearing consequences today.  The way one conceives of citizenship and sovereignty underlies some of the difficulties settler societies have in accommodating Indigenous claims for recognition and self-government.

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