Welcome to week two

Last week we identified the colonial structures that endure in universities, historicised contemporary calls to decolonise the curriculum, and considered the ongoing responsibilities of institutions.

This week we examine what decolonising the curriculum might entail in the social sciences and in law. Focusing on case-studies from the fields of economics, law, education and sociology, we explore different aspects of the theory and practice of decolonising the curriculum. This includes: critically examining the epistemic foundations of disciplines; building partnerships within and beyond institutions to social movements seeking liberatory change; and being reflexive about the challenges of enacting change within specific courses and across whole departments.

Learning Objectives

Through the material and activities this week you should be able to:

• Understand some of the ways in which disciplinary knowledge in the social sciences and law has been entangled with historical and political projects of colonialism.

• Appreciate the implications of decolonising curricula for a number of social policy domains including law, education and economics.

• Identify different approaches to, and the practical challenges involved in, decolonising the social sciences.