Anti-secularisms of the left

This chapter surveys anti-secularisms of the left. These approaches are generally associated with the work of Michel Foucault as it intersects with postcolonial and postmodern theory (POMOFOCO for short). The key aspects of POMOFOCO critiques of secularism are explored as developed by Talal Asad and his school. These include the reluctance to define the term “secularism”; The placement of secularism’s genesis in Euro-American modernity; the emphasis on discourses, epistemes and embodiment; and the “false neutrality” critique. The chapter ends by assessing all of these claims and questioning the historical framework of the POMOFOCO school, while concurring with its “false neutrality” critique.