Introduction: Subaltern political subjectivities

This introduction outlines the ways in which the volume at hand approaches subaltern political subjectivities in (proto-)democratic, autocratic, and colonial contexts. It defines political subjectivities as being formed by perceptions, knowledge, and expressions of power, as well as by experiences gained from communicating with authorities. Subalternity, approached from a broad Gramscian perspective, is viewed not as a passive, paralyzing state, but as a dynamic that can be placed on a sliding scale. Moreover, the introduction sheds light on previous works in the fields of subaltern studies, colonial history, the history of writing upwards, and the histories of experience, emotions, and the senses, all of which can contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the political engagement of subaltern people.