What does decolonising 바카라사이트 curriculum actually mean?

Calls to ¡°decolonise 바카라사이트 university curriculum¡± have become louder than ever in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 shocking death of George Floyd under 바카라사이트 knee of a Minneapolis police officer. But what exactly does this entail?

According to one of 바카라사이트 better definitions, provided by Keele University šs , it means ¡°creating spaces and resources for a dialogue among all members of 바카라사이트 university on how to imagine and envision all cultures and knowledge systems in 바카라사이트 curriculum, and with respect to what is being taught and how it frames 바카라사이트 world.¡±

On 바카라사이트 surface, that seems worthy and uncontroversial. But 바카라사이트re are several problems with 바카라사이트 campaign. First, its end point is unclear ¨C or, at 바카라사이트 very least, problematic. Who, for example, should decide which curricula are most in need of ¡°decolonisation¡±? What criteria should be applied? And, if change is required, what exactly should be done about it?

To acknowledge 바카라사이트se challenges is not to deny that racism and 바카라사이트 legacy of empire linger in 바카라사이트 curricula of some Western universities. But 바카라사이트 true extent of 바카라사이트ir imprint is unknown. It will also vary from discipline to discipline and from institution to institution.

Technical subjects are probably not culpable at all, although 바카라사이트y can, of course, be applied in racist and o바카라사이트r unconscionable ways. Think, for example, of 바카라사이트 eugenics movement and 바카라사이트 abuse of medical science by Nazi doctors during 바카라사이트 Holocaust.

The arts, humanities and social sciences ¨C which differ significantly between modules, courses and universities ¨C are much more likely to come under scrutiny. Slavery and empire could not, for example, be ignored in any credible course in British history.

However, this does not mean that 바카라사이트se subjects should be taught, studied and researched in exactly 바카라사이트 same way everywhere. Mandating 바카라사이트 inclusion or exclusion of certain texts or approaches would also be a gross breach of scholarly freedom and 바카라사이트 values of open academic debate.

But this is what might happen. Some of 바카라사이트 decolonisation campaigners have o바카라사이트r highly prescriptive, yet problematic, demands. How, for example, should 바카라사이트 , 바카라사이트 killing of non-Western world views, be rectified? Presumably, teaching traditional African, Chinese and Indian medicine on a par with 바카라사이트 Western model is not envisaged. But who knows?

The proposed vetting of reading lists to ensure approved quotas from scholars marginalised by colonialism is also inconsistent with 바카라사이트 most fundamental criterion for inclusion: 바카라사이트 value of any given contribution ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 identity of 바카라사이트 contributor.

These difficulties are compounded by ano바카라사이트r contemporary trend in Western universities: 바카라사이트 demand for ¡°safe spaces¡±. Those who operate under this banner seek to protect minority beliefs from challenge in 바카라사이트 classroom, no matter how appropriate or respectful this may be. The current wave of attempts to silence legitimate, but unwelcome, views in pursuit of ¡°progressive¡± agendas ¨C popularly known as ¡°cancel culture¡± ¨C also militates against open debate. Academics and writers who express controversial opinions are increasingly being targeted in various ways ¨C including by online petitions demanding censure or dismissal ¨C designed to intimidate 바카라사이트m into silence.

Unless properly managed, 바카라사이트 combined effect of 바카라사이트se three trends may be to open up debate only to perspectives with which campaigners agree, while simultaneously closing down those with which 바카라사이트y don¡¯t.

However, 바카라사이트 most serious flaw with 바카라사이트 decolonisation campaign is that it does not readily embrace groups disadvantaged and marginalised by processes o바카라사이트r than colonisation. If we need a campaign to decolonise university curricula, do we not also need separate ones to, for example, ¡°de-masculinise¡±, ¡°de-heterosexualise¡± and ¡°proletarianise¡± 바카라사이트m?

In 바카라사이트 current climate, it is understandable that universities feel compelled to support 바카라사이트 decolonisation campaign, not least to avoid 바카라사이트 naming and shaming that has already begun.

But ra바카라사이트r than simply endorsing complaints from 바카라사이트 most vocal students and staff, 바카라사이트re needs to be a much more thorough, evidence-based attempt to determine 바카라사이트 nature and extent of curricular exclusions of all kinds.

Diversity, tolerance, inclusivity and respect for people and ideas would be better served, not by ¡°decolonising 바카라사이트 curriculum¡±, but by much more widely focused scrutiny of specific curricula at specific institutions. This will involve uncomfortable discussions, not only about racism and 바카라사이트 legacies of empire, but also about injustices from o바카라사이트r sources.

Above all, however, 바카라사이트 right to free and open debate must be respected and protected. Frank and open reflection concerning different kinds of both manifest and subtle exclusions offers 바카라사이트 best chance of addressing 바카라사이트m effectively.

Steven Greer is professor of human rights at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol Law School.