Steinmetz:Die kolonialen Ursprünge mode

The world we live in is shaped by the traces of modern colonial empires. What influence does this shaping have on the social sciences and on postmodern sociology? For the newly emerging discipline, colonial research was once of crucial importance. From the 1930s onwards, sociologists were called upon to apply their expertise to social issues such as detribalization, urbanization, poverty, and labor migration. This colonial orientation permeated all major areas of research.

Especially during the times of decolonization, colonial sociology was at the forefront of its field, particularly in imperial countries like Great Britain and the Netherlands, but especially in France. There, more than half of sociologists researched colonial topics, both in the colonies and in the metropolises; among them were not only apologists but also sharp critics of imperialism. Numerous institutions emerged, including universities, research institutes, government organizations, and museums dedicated to the study of empires.

This comprehensive study presents surprising insights and compellingly demonstrates that the ambivalent legacy of colonial sociology has a tremendous impact on contemporary social scientific thought.