Course No: SOC 501

Course name: Post-modernism and Contemporary Sociology

Presentation on: Decolonial Sociology

Course instructor:
Dr. Khairul Islam Chowdhury
Professor
Department of Sociology
University of Dhaka
Submitted by: Group-19
Name Roll No
Md. Mahmudul Hasan Masum 25
Md Hafizur Rahman 28
Md. Raisul Islam 50
Hawlader Parves 53
Baishakhi Das 76
Washe Hasan 99
Sayeeda Noor 114
Akhi Akter 118
Juhayna Majumder 143
Raju Akter Urmi 180
Contents
 Concept of colonization
 Sociology and its colonial root
 Features of colonial sociology
 Colonial Sociology in Bangladesh
 Decolonizing Sociology
 Process of decolonizing sociology
 Postcolonialism and decoloniality
 The Importance of decolonizing sociology
 The role of researchers and students
 Decolonizing sociology in Bangladesh
 Conclusion
Concept of colonization

Colonialism is a historical process where a country

extends its territory in different ways like establishing
territory through settlements and exploiting resources.
It also includes various forms of domination and control
including political, economic and cultural.

For example: British colonial India and Africa

Sociology and its colonial root
❑ Emerged in Europe in as a result of western modernity in
mid-nineteenth century
❑ All the classical sociologists belongs to Europe
❑ Colonies supplied information for the enrichment of the
discipline
❑ Knowledge and views are dominated by the western
modernity
Features of colonial sociology
❖ Eurocentrism
❖ Marginalization of indigenous knowledge
❖ Less importance/ no importance on the histories of
colonized countries
❖ Reproduction of power dependency
❖ Dependency on European knowledge system
Colonial sociology in Bangladesh
 Sociology was introduced as discipline in Bangladesh the
assistance of UNESCO following the report of Claude
Levi Strauss in 1957
 western sociologists were the main foundation of the
discipline and they trained local faculty members and
that led the starting of practising western sociological
ideas based on the modernity of Europe.
 Curriculum is dominated by the western views
Decolonizing Sociology
In social science the specialized meaning of Decolonization is
the process of changing something such as a curriculum ( a list
of books, ideas, etc. to be studied) in a way that considers the
cultural beliefs behind it, for example the belief that European
writers, artists, or ideas are better and more important than
ones from countries that were colonized ( controlled) by
Europe, and that gives more importance to non-European
writers, artists, etc.
Postcolonialism and decoloniality
 Postcolonialism and decoloniality are two distinct intellectual
traditions that emerged from the work of scholars from the
Middle East and South Asia. Postcolonialism, based on ideas
from Edward W Said, Homi K Bhabha, and Gayatri C Spivak,
focuses on material and cultural issues.

 while decoloniality, rooted in world-systems theory and the

Frankfurt School critical social theory tradition, focuses on
the emergence of the modern world in the broader histories
of colonialism, empire, and enslavement.
Process of decolonizing sociology
❖ Develop new epistemic perspective outside western ideologies
❖ Inclusion of indigenous knowledge and experiences
❖ Decolonizing the curriculum
❖ Deconstruction of power dynamics
❖ Addressing epistemic injustice
❖ Changes in episteme and social practices embedded to
episteme
❖ Promoting global dialogue
Continue…
❖ Integrating folk narratives, oral traditions, and
community-based knowledge
❖ Developing contextually grounded theoretical
frameworks and methodologies
❖ Challenging Western universalism and claims to
objective truth
❖ Embracing holistic and interdisciplinary approaches
❖ Radical transformation of knowledge production
needed in decolonizing sociology
Decolonizing sociology in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, local perspective and inclusion of

indigenous knowledge, experience and history outside
the colonial explanation are coming out gradually.
Specially, intellectuals and students from university of
Dhaka and other universities are more concerned about
the importance of including indigenous knowledge on
curriculum, journal and research work.
The Importance of decolonizing sociology
▪ Decolonizing involves critically examining and dismantling
colonial systems of power, oppression, and domination,
especially in the realms of culture, education, and
governance.

▪ Decolonizing sociology will help in addressing the

historical and ongoing impacts of colonization on
indigenous peoples and their lands, while centering their
voices, knowledge, and rights.
Continue…
Decolonizng sociology is also important for-
➢ Promoting diversity and inclusion
➢ Addressing epistemic injustice
➢ Challenging the domination of European modernity based
colonial sociology
➢ Ensuring the representation of all the people and different
societies
➢ Empowering marginalized communities which are regarded as
‘the other’ in mainstream study
➢ Revising teaching and learning practices
➢ Invention of new methodologies to form new episteme
Continue…

 Overall, decolonizing sociology is crucial for

making more equitable, inclusive and socially
relevant field that serves better based on the
needs of different societies around the world.
The Role of the researcher and students
 Researchers play a crucial role in challenging dominant narratives,
questioning assumptions, and amplifying diverse voices and
perspectives in academia. They can contribute by conducting
inclusive and interdisciplinary research, engaging with marginalized
communities, and collaborating with scholars from non-Western
contexts.

 Similarly, students have the power to disrupt hegemonic knowledge

systems by demanding curriculum reform and engaging critically with
course materials. They can also contribute to knowledge production
by pursuing research topics that center on non-Western perspectives
and experiences.
The Role of the researcher and students

Together, researchers and students can foster a

more equitable and pluralistic intellectual
environment that recognizes the contributions of
diverse cultures and knowledge systems,
ultimately challenging the dominance of Western
epistemologies.
Conclusion
Sociology has the capacity to speak the critical
issues of contemporary society. As Raewyn
Connell (2019) suggested that without repeating
what Marx, Durkheim and Weber said, when the
sociologists are willing to take intellectual and
personal risks, it may hamper their personal
gaining from western countries but it might help
to change the world.
References
 Connell R (2018) Decolonizing sociology. Contemporary
Sociology 47(4):399-407.
 Patel, S. (2023). Anti-colonial thought and global social theory.
Frontiers in Sociology, 8, 1143776
 Connell R (2019) Canons and colonies: the global trajectory of
sociology. Estudos Históricos (Rio de Janeiro) 32:349-367.
 Quijano, A. (2007). Coloniality and modernity/rationality.
Cultural studies, 21(2-3), 168- 178.
 Hossen, M. Anwar (2022) Decolonizing Sociology for social
justice in Bangladesh: delta scholarship matters, sage: 1-17
Thanks to all