Postcolonial Hierarchies

Virtual Encyclopedia

The Virtual Encyclopedia will represent a compilation of theory, research, and practice in peace and conflict studies from de- and postcolonial approaches, with an emphasis on the contributions from the research network. The Encyclopedia is both an outcome and a process. As an output, it will be an open-access platform offering an engaging and critical compendium of crucial theoretical and conceptual debates, rigorous empirical analyses, and thorough reflection on methods and knowledge production in the field. It will combine text, audio, video, and storytelling across different formats.

As a process, the Encyclopedia builds on the work of the collaborative research network and is envisioned as a long-term endeavour that will outlast the research project. Taking seriously the critique of the coloniality of knowledge advanced by postcolonial scholarship, the process aims to address epistemic hierarchies and inequalities by encouraging open and active formats for reflexivity, promoting the inclusion of multiple and diverse forms of knowledge, and fostering dialogic spaces and cooperative networks. The Encyclopedia will evolve gradually, and the initial results will be released in 2023.