ABSTRACT
This chapter offers an account of the role historical analysis can play in decolonising existing political frameworks in political philosophy. The chapter examines the question of what constitutes preconditions for the formation of historical knowledge and argues for their historicity. This allows decolonial critique not only to target pre-existing historical narratives but also to challenge presuppositions concerning what counts as historical knowledge. In contrast to generally accepted universal views in political philosophy, I argue that history can offer a local analysis of the appearance of specific political concepts and practices. Accordingly, pursuing a historical method allows for putting forward a basis for how critique ought to be conducted without beginning by assuming universal ideals. At the same time, I contend that we can avoid a thoroughgoing relativism by emphasising the need for an objective standard for historical knowledge. Consequently, I argue that the problem of relativism can be resolved by a clearer understanding of how historical social conditions contribute to the formation of historical accounts.
