ABSTRACT
The chapter begins by arguing that political modernity is currently undergoing a significant transformation. It focuses on the structural evolution of two key institutions emblematic of modernity: the academic field and the nation-state. These institutions have historically served as foundational pillars in the fields of knowledge and governance. Their decline as dominant frameworks marks either the end of modernity, or at least the urgent need to reconceptualise its foundations. This reconceptualisation calls for a profound shift in the way the social sciences are understood, and this shift is captured through the lens of dialogical pluralism at the metatheoretical level. The chapter critiques both classical theories of modernisation and the more recent ‘multiple modernities’ approach, suggesting instead that the idea of a plural modernity – comprising several distinct variants – is more compelling. Central to this perspective is the conviction that any thorough analysis of political modernity must integrate the historical legacies of colonialism, decolonisation, and the ongoing dynamics of neo- and postcolonial contexts, recognising these as essential to the West's self-conception as the cradle of modernity.
