Decolonial Immanent Critique as Transformative Methodology in Policy Analysis: the Case of Freedom of Religion or Belief

This paper proposes immanent critique as a transformative methodology in policy analysis. Immanent critique is a methodology of Frankfurt School Critical Theory that focuses on the discrepancy between the normative ideals professed in a society and those realised within it. On the one hand, contemporary scholars such as Rahel Jaeggi and Nancy Fraser use critical theory to address structural causes of alienation and injustice in today’s globalised society. On the other hand, scholars such as Gurminder Bhambra and Amy Allen point out critical theory’s limitations, especially regarding its notion of progress and its struggles to tackle decolonial and postcolonial challenges. First, we integrate and further develop the decolonial critiques this theory has faced. Then, we show its potentiality as a transformative methodology in policy analysis by applying it to the case concerning the EU’s appointment of a Special Envoy to promote Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and the creation of a parliamentary intergroup on FoRB and religious tolerance in 2011. We focus on 1) the contrast between secularism as a value informing EU external action and the intertwining of religion and politics therein; 2) religion as a staple of resistance against the reproduction of colonial hierarchies and Orientalist tropes in the Middle East and North Africa. Methodologically, this paper applies immanent critique through Critical Discourse Analysis, challenging the Habermasian vision, adopted by Critical Discourse Studies, of 'critical' as synonymous with uncovering a linear, Eurocentric paradigm of progress. In doing so, the paper proves how immanent critique enables us to challenge secularism as a central narrative in EU policies by looking at its external action as the most relevant case. More broadly, this paper advances our understanding of how prioritizing religion/spirituality elucidates the complexity of today’s international interactions.