The Code Noir as an Archive of Resistance
Abstract
What does it mean to examine political modernity from below, specifically from the position of the enslaved person – not as a metaphor or a footnote, but as a lens for analyzing foundational political and legal concepts? I argue that foregrounding the position of the enslaved provides a productive point of departure for understanding how colonial and racial epistemologies, imaginaries, and institutions have shaped core Western concepts, such as democracy and the rule of law.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Colonialism
slavery
and trade
Race
History
and American Society
Legal and cultural studies analysis
Publication details
- Publication date
- 6 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Preprint