Introduction

This introduction establishes theoretical foundations for investigating emancipatory critique from privileged positions, focusing on men in leadership roles within Switzerland’s financial sector. It challenges prevailing assumptions that critique can only emerge from marginalised experiences, arguing instead that coalition politics require including privileged voices in emancipatory transformation. The chapter builds on and refines the idea of “self-critique of hegemony”, develops the key concept of “emancipatory eutopian critique” and addresses contentions around the relationship between social position and political standpoint. Drawing on historical examples, it demonstrates that critique from powerful positions has always existed. The introduction outlines the study’s qualitative methodology analysing 23 interviews with financial sector leaders and five autobiographical accounts. It explains the critical empathetic reading approach employed to identify moments of hegemony critique.