Critical Theory Stands up to Abuses of Power

Abuses of power are everywhere, in government, in economic systems, in the workplace, and in families.

Critical theory gives both a vision and a vocabulary with which to talk about power, its uses and abuses. Critical theorists want to promote fairness, justice, and care, and they want to undermine abuses of power and the unequal distribution of money, status, and worth wherever these abuses appear.

They make judgments about power and its use and misuse using a values framework that revolves around justice and care. There are many varieties of critical theory and no one way to do actions based on critical theory.

Power, Fairness, and Care

Critical theorists look at power issues and then judge the fairness and care that exists in various systems, such as government and business. Business people and government manipulate world-wide systems, such as the economic system. Critical theorists asks who benefit from the unequal distribution of power and who are they taking advantage of. In economic systems, the concern of critical theorists who is makes the money and who can barely feed themselves and others for whom they are responsible.

Besides applications to systems like the economic system, critical theorists apply these ideas to interpersonal relationships. Child sexual abuse is a typical issue where there is abuse of power. In child sexual abuse, older, stronger, more knowledgeable persons take advantage of children in order to experience emotional and sexual gratification.

Claims of Benevolence

People who abuse power through systems such as government often claim that they are looking out for everyone’s interests, not just their own and not just the interests of people they think are like them. Persons who abuse power on the interpersonal level typically make similar claims. Perpetrators of child sexual abuse, for example, often claim that the desire for sex is mutual and that the children enjoy the sex.

Critical race theory looks at race and power, again using the values of justice and care. They call upon laws and social contracts that state that all persons are equal. They know well that some people have more power, money, and status than others. This unequal distribution of these goods often is related to race.  Critical race theory seeks to liberate persons of all races from the subordinated statuses under which they live their lives.

African American scholars in the US first put forth critical race theory. Scholars then applied it more widely to other races, including the white race. Colonized and formerly colonized people find critical race theory to be of great help to them as they work toward equal treatment and equal access to opportunity, income, and social status.

Counter-Stories

An important idea in critical race theory is counter-story, where those who seek a more equal distribution of good put forth subordinated points of view and experiences that add color to typically white-washed views on various dimensions of social life. For example, Barack Obama’s entire life is a counter-story to views and practices that create conditions where African Americans are viewed as inferior and incapable of competing successful intellectually, politically, and socially with white American men.

Critical theory originated in Germany in response to the rise of Hitler, who embodies the abuse of power through manipulating German citizens and German social and economic systems. Horkheimer and Ardono are two of several social philosophers who were so concerned with Hitler’s massive abuse of power that they formulated critical theory. They lived and worked in Frankfurt, Germany, and their work became known as the Frankfurt School. They left Germany when they learned that Hitler planned to kill them.

The Uses of Critical Theory in the U.S.

The United States was fortunate enough to become the home for these critical theorists. Their ideas have helped U.S. citizens to stand up to the abuses of power that the government perpetuates. The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights are consistent with critical theory. The combination of critical theory and the laws of the U.S. are powerful starting points to counter the abuse of power that characterizes many governmental policies and actions.