Abstract:

How do enduring structures of coloniality shape the study of political change in societies affected by violent conflict? And what are emerging practices pointing to the decolonization of research contexts, methods, and concepts in a way that challenges the reproduction of such hierarchies? This panel will explore these questions by gathering scholars of peace and conflict studies who engage with research on conflict transformation and violence in post-colonial settings. In line with the theme of the VAD conference entitled "Africa-Europe: Reciprocal Perspectives," the panel puts this work in conversation with decolonial perspectives on knowledge production. These point to the need of identifying and overcoming the structures of privilege that have for too long organized the modalities of academic cooperation between researchers from the Global North and Global South. A decolonial stance to academic knowledge production emphasizes the key role of reciprocal approaches to both theoretical and empirical work. The panel will feature scholars participating in the Conflict Research Group (AEGIS) and the Bukavu Series, a cross-institutional initiative engaging with the ethical and practical implications of conducting research against the largely asymmetrical landscape of research centers engaging with the study of conflict and violence in post-colonial societies.

In addition, the newly established project “Postcolonial Hierarchies in Peace & Conflict” (HIERARCHIES), funded by the German Ministry of Education and Science (BMBF by its German acronym), will outline its conceptual and programatic approach to building a collaborative research network that expects to engage with the debates emerging from this roundtable.

Please note that HIERARCHIES will be hosting a reception (Apéro) for discussants and attendees after this session.