2023/01/09 by Théophile Deslauriers · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Political Theory and Influence #Legal and Social Philosophy #Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes
paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/14748851221143610
openalex publication_date 2023/01/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
This paper examines the relationship between the critique of civilization, anti-imperialism, gender and representative government in the political thought of the neglected communist, environmentalist, and gay liberationist Edward Carpenter (1844–1929). In recent years, there has been a dramatic growth in the historical literatures on anti-imperialism and representative government, yet these two topics are rarely connected. Meanwhile, a voluminous literature on the concept of civilization and its role in British imperialism has largely ignored its role in justifying social and political domination in Britain itself. Carpenter's writings on these topics are important because he offers a defense of the value of representative government that is grounded in his anti-imperialism. Furthermore, his critique of civilization led him to connect problems of social domination in India to the struggles of women, homosexuals, and the working class. These groups ought in turn to be enfranchised and given roles in the functioning of the state.