Postcolonial Discourse of the Global South in International Relations 2100-ERASMUS-PDGS
Full Description
1. Introduction: to provide course overview and foundations.
2. Understanding complex conceptualisation of postcolonial discourse in IR: Introduction to the postcolonial theory of orientalism and transition to postcolonial perspective in IR.
3. Understanding Global South: Historical Context of the Global South, colonial histories and their legacies and the Bandung Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
4. Decolonisation, freedom struggles and independence movements: the discussion of decolonising the mind, case studies of decolonisation and selected speeches from leaders.
5. Theoretical debates between the postcolonialism and IR theory: It aims to identify and discuss key issues, actors and dynamics of the postcolonial literature and IR theories.
6. Identity, power, and representation: To discuss the construction of identities in postcolonial contexts. Global South’s representation and power dynamics in global politics.
7. Grievances as a factor in Global South: Political grievances, economic grievances and nationalist (populism) grievances.
8. North-South divide: industries and infrastructures, AI and technology, development and underdevelopment.
9. Globalisation and Global South: Economic and political challenges, the impact of globalisation.
10. In-depth analysis of postcolonial issues: Case studies of specific countries or regions e.g., Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
11. Emerging powers of Global South and IR: Roles in LIO, issues of UNSC and perspectives on emerging conflicts and challenges.
12. Decolonising IR: a critique of traditional IR theories and contributions from the Global South scholars
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Learning Outcome
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
a) To understand key concepts of postcolonial discourse and its relevance in IR
b) To develop a critical evaluation of historical contexts and legacies of colonialism in the Global South.
c) To engage with 21st-century issues and challenges facing the Global South and explore future directions for postcolonial studies in IR.
Assessment criteria
Assessment Methods and Criteria: Class Participation: 20%
Attendance: 10 %
Final Exam: 70%
Bibliography
Bibliography
1. Gandhi, L. (2018). Postcolonial theory: A critical introduction. Columbia University Press.
2. Childs, P., & Williams, P. (2014). An introduction to post-colonial theory. Routledge.
3. Said, E. W. (2023). Orientalism. In Social theory re-wired (pp. 362-374). Routledge.
4. Spivak, G. C. (2023). Can the subaltern speak? In Imperialism (pp. 171-219). Routledge.
5. Grovogu, S. (2011). A Revolution Nonetheless: The Global South in International Relations. The Global South, 5(1), 175–190. https://doi.org/10.2979/globalsouth.5.1.175.
6. Ngugi wa Thiong’o. (1998). Decolonising the Mind. Diogenes, 46(184), 101-104. https://doi.org/10.1177/039219219804618409.
7. Tan, Lena (2017). Postcolonialism and International Relations. OBO in Political Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199756223-0214.
8. Dornelles, F. K. (2002). Postmodernism and IR: From Disparate Critiques to a Coherent Theory of Global Politics. Global Politics Network, 19.
9. Visoka, G. (2019). Critique and alternativity in international relations. International Studies Review, 21(4), 678-704. https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viy065.
10. Acharya, A. (2016). Advancing global IR: Challenges, contentions, and contributions. International Studies Review, 18(1), 4-15. https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viv016.
11. Smith, K., & Tickner, A. B. (2020). Introduction: international relations from the global south. In International Relations from the Global South (pp. 1-14). Routledge.
12. Caballero-Mengíbar, A. (2015). Critical discourse analysis in the study of representation, identity politics and power relations: a multi-method approach. Communication & Society, 28(2), 39-54.
13. Watson, J. K., Wilder, G., Abbas, S., Alessandrini, A. C., Chari, S., & Forment, C. A. (2018). The Postcolonial Contemporary. New York: Fordham University Press.
14. Buzan, B. (2009). Non-Western international relations theory (pp. 11-35). A. Acharya (Ed.). Taylor & Francis.
15. Darby, P., & Paolini, A. J. (1994). Bridging international relations and postcolonialism. Alternatives, 19(3), 371-397.
16. Epstein, C. (2014). The postcolonial perspective: an introduction. International Theory, 6(2), 294-311.
17. Ndlovu-Gatsheni, S. J. (2013). Why decoloniality in the 21st century? The Thinker, 48(10), 10-15.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: