Theoria Speaks Back Thinking the Political from the Perspective of the Global South (An Interview with Lawrence Hamilton)

• Published in: Theoria (Pietermaritzburg) Vol. 70; no. 177; pp. 77 - 100
• Main Authors: Hamilton, Lawrence, Piper, Laurence
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Afrikaans; English
• Published: New York Berghahn Books, Inc 01-12-2023
• Subjects: Decolonization; Developing countries; Editors; Evolution; Global perspective; History of ideas; Industrialized nations; Intellectual development; LDCs; Philosophy; Political philosophy; Political theory; Politics; Theory; World problems
• ISSN: 0040-5817; 1558-5816
• DOI: 10.3167/th.2023.7017704

Abstract
In this interview, the previous editor-in-chief of
Theoria
, Lawrence Hamilton, describes the evolution of
Theoria
to become a journal with more Southern political theory scholars and ideas, and how this was inspired by the limitations of Northern theory alone in understanding real world political problems in South Africa especially. He traces the evolution of this thought in becoming a more ‘decolonial’ type thinker through his own work, and how this intersected with
Theoria
's focus, with specific reference to special issues of the journal including ‘Freedom and Power’ in 2013, ‘Empire and Economics’ in 2016 and a series of African-focussed editions in 2018, 2019 and 2021. At the heart of this lived experienced of intellectual development is a validation of the importance of context-based theory and theorising that is nevertheless still engaged with northern thought and global issues. This intellectual history helps clarify
Theoria
's current substantive focus.