In its critique of a “modern / colonial / capitalist / patriarchal world-system” decolonial theory addresses the continuity of colonial power relations through the categorization and representations of gender, race and class. It therefore aims for a transformation of Eurocentric epistemologies, stressing the importance of the production of knowledge in different (local) geopolitical contexts. By giving bodily experiences involved in the production of knowledge a central place, proponents of decolonial theory support a serious rethink of social sciences’ canons and methods.


During the three-day lecture series and workshop with Prof. Ramón Grosfoguel (Department of Ethnic Studies, UC-Berkeley), participants will focus on addressing the following questions: Which are the concepts of decolonial theory and how are they different from those of postcolonial theory? How is migration related to a decolonisation of the West? Central concepts such as pluriversalism, coloniality of power, border critical thinking and transmodernity will be discussed. Moreover, the discussion about the relevance of the decolonial turn in the context of research on processes of Europeanisation and migration in Europe will be opened.

PROGRAM

May 17, 2011
18.00 - 20.00, Room 311:
“What are the Differences between Postcolonial Studies and Decolonial Studies?“

May 18, 2011
16.00 - 18.00, Room 107:
Lecture: “Migration, Coloniality of Power and the Decolonization of the West”

18:00 - 20:00, Room 107:         
Workshop

May 19, 2011
16:00 - 18:00, Room 211:
Lecture: “Decolonizing Western Universalisms: A Decolonial Pluriversal Perspective from the Americas“

18:00 - 20:00, Room 211:
Final discussion

FURTHER INFORMATION

Andrea Meza Torres
Institute for European Ethnology
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Unter den Linden 6
10099 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 2093-3703/-3704
Email: decolonialperspective@yahoo.de
Web: http://www.euroethno.hu-berlin.de/