Kritikkanliggende

Kritikkanliggende is a concept in critical discourse analysis that designates the underlying conditions that make a critique possible or necessary. It refers to the constellation of assumptions, values, and normative commitments that give rise to a particular critical argument. The term is often used to distinguish the explicit target of critique from the hidden ground that motivates it.

Etymology: The term combines the Norwegian word kritik k (critique) with liggende (lying, located), signaling that what is criticized rests on something else lying beneath the surface.

Origins and usage: The concept emerged in scholarly discussions within Scandinavian critical theory in the 2000s and has since spread to broader discourse analysis. It is used to analyze how critiques presuppose or rely on broader political or ethical projects, rather than solely addressing the object.

Definition and applications: In practice, kritikkanliggende is used to examine whether a critique presupposes particular norms (for example equal rights, efficiency, harm avoidance) and whether alternative premises could yield different conclusions. It helps separate the object of critique (policy, text, institution) from the grounds that justify the critique (ideology, interest, or world view).

Methodology: Analysts identify kritikkanliggende by tracing the justifications used in argumentation, testing premises, and exploring historical or institutional contexts that shape the critique.

Limitations: The concept can be abstract and subject to interpretation; debates may arise over what counts as a kritikkanliggende and how explicitly it must be stated.

See also: Critical theory, discourse analysis, underlying assumptions, normative critique.