Violence, theory and the subject of international politics:a Derridian analysis of the partition of India

Kapur, Saloni (2012) Violence, theory and the subject of international politics:a Derridian analysis of the partition of India. Peace Prints: South Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, 4 (2).

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Abstract

The aim of this essay is to conduct a Derridian analysis of the Indian Partition. Using Jacques Derrida’s concepts of ‘undecidability’, the justice of a decision, responsibility, and forgiveness the author analyses the Partition. It is argued here, firstly, that the decision to divide India was an ‘undecidable’ one. Secondly, it was neither a fully just decision nor was it just at any particular moment. Thirdly, it is argued that the various decision-makers had to sacrifice certain responsibilities in order to fulfil others. And lastly, that the hostile relations between India and Pakistan that emerged in the aftermath of the bloody Partition may not be permanent since forgiveness by the victims of the Partition is possible. The aim is to demonstrate that Derrida’s ideas may be usefully applied to conduct an analysis of the Partition that is fresh in its approach.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Peace Prints: South Asian Journal of Peacebuilding
ID Code:
73199
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
05 Mar 2015 14:26
Refereed?:
No
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
11 Jun 2019 02:03