Decolonizing Epistemologies, Methodologies and Ethics: Postcolonial-Feminist Interventions

International Conference

Frankfurt Research Center for Postcolonial Studies at the Cluster of Excellence “The Formation of Normative Orders”

Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany

2 July 2015

Panel Discussion “Postcolonial Europe” with Sanjay Seth (Goldsmiths, University of London), Gregory Lee (University of Lyon), Gunlög Fur (Linnaeus University), Francisco Carballo (Goldsmiths, University of London) and Iain Chambers (Università degli Studi di Napoli)

From research design to data collection, from data analysis to communicating findings, research practices and procedures are implicated in the reproduction and reinforcement of asymmetrical relations of power between the ‘subjects’ and ‘objects’ of knowledge production. By silencing heterodox approaches, privileging norms of rationality, neutrality and universality as standards for measuring scientific validity, and policing the borders of what qualifies as legitimate knowledge, the academia functions as a key site for the perpetuation of Eurocentric and Androcentric epistemologies, methodologies and ethics.

Contesting the epistemic violence inherent in the processes of generation and dissemination of hegemonic discourses, postcolonial-feminist scholarship foregrounds questions of positionality, self-reflexivity and reciprocity in critical research frames and practices. It also draws attention to the importance of emancipatory epistemologies and methodologies in order to facilitate social and political transformation.

The aim of this international conference is to rethink epistemologies, methodologies and ethics within an intersectional and transnational framework. The focus will be on the power effects of knowledge-seeking practices as well as the urgency of transforming academic research towards more ethical and responsible production of knowledge in a postcolonial world.

Submission of Paper Proposals

We invite paper proposals that address the key challenges for a power-sensitive postcolonial-feminist approach to questions of ethical dimensions of epistemic and methodological practices.

Please submit abstracts (max. 350 words) and a short bio-note (max. 100 words) by 15th April 2015 to: dhawan [at] normativeorders.net

Registration

Participation is free of charge, but regustration is required. Please register for the conference by 20th June 2015 at frcps.mail [at] googlemail.com.