Horizons of Justice in a Pluriverse World

Dübgen, Franziska

Abstract

In this epilogue to the special issue Decolonising Legal Pluralism, Decentring Epistemological Paradigms, the author interrogates what kind of methodological strategies the contributors have used to adopt a ‘decolonial’ form of critique. Six approaches are identified as particularly relevant to this kind of perspective: an awareness of historicity, the deconstruction of binaries, the critique of asymmetrical power relations, a sensitivity to social ontologies informing law, a plea for epistemic diversity, and finally a decentration of the modern state system. Subsequently, the article reflects on the ethical basis of these critical perspectives and suggests a ‘transcultural universalism’ from below as normative horizon(s). By way of conclusion, it considers whether and how law could contribute to achieving more ‘justice’ in a postcolonial, pluriversal world.