Dear Hamid,

You asked the following: What is the principal difference between "Agency" and "Subjection" in the postcolonial sense?

As I see it, there is a big difference between "Agency" and "Subjection" in the postcolonial sense. Suffice it to say, that "Agency" has to do with autonomous individuals, that is, individuals who do not accept ready made or estallished truths or truths imposed on them from outside. So, they do not share anymore colonizers' values and want to share their countries' values, traditions, and so forth. In contrast to this, subjection has to do with heteronomous individuals, that is, individuals who passively accept the mainstream and the status quo. So, subjection reminds us of individuals who have difficulty to adapt to changes in their physIcal and social milieu. It is likely that heteronomous indviduals continue to espouse the beliefs, traditions and rituals of their colonizers, not the the values, biliefs, rituals and so forth of their independent country. Agency appeals to a sense of self and autonomy; subjection appeals to conformity, heteronomy and the like.

This is a short answer to your question. I hope it gives you some hints regarding the question you raise.

Kind regards,

Orlando

Without nearer theoretical background it is difficult - and supports perhaps misunderstanding - to say something about a intermediary concept of both words (concepts). Perhaps you think or you assert that "agency" means - open or hidden - "subjection". But that's not clear. If there is not a clear thesis or proposition it doesn't make sense to answer reasonably.

Supplemental remark: Homi Bhabha uses many concepts from many authors, but sometimes ideas are not very clear, in my understanding, so the question must be developed within a theoretical or linguistic network of his ideas.