Special Topics in Global Health (390-0-34)
Topic
Decolonisation, Knowledge, and Global Health
Instructors
Sarah B Rodriguez
312/503-2887
1800 Sherman Ave Suite 1-200, Evanston
Folarin Oluseye Abimbola
Meeting Info
University Hall 218: Tues 2:00PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
The field that is currently called "global health" is going through a reckoning with its history and its present. Much of that reckoning is about the colonial origins and underpinnings of the field, with a particular focus on "unfair knowledge practices" or epistemic injustice. In this seminar, we will examine the landscape of unfair knowledge practices in global health - i.e., the pervasive wrongs related to knowledge making, knowledge use, and knowledge sharing in global health - many of which are taken for granted. We will start with the unfairness inherent in how we often define global health itself, and what decolonisation means in relation to "global health". Using a range of conceptual tools, we will then examine various common practices especially in academic global health (e.g., authorship practices, research partnerships, academic writing, editorial practices, sensemaking/interpretive practices, and the choice of research audience, framing, topics, questions, and methods) and discuss when, how, and under what circumstances they may be deemed fair or unfair. We will use practical examples of each category of knowledge practice to think critically about what makes them fair or unfair. Using these examples, we will also examine what strategies might be required to promote fairness or epistemic justice, including the potential roles and responsibilities of the broad range of individual and institutional actors within the knowledge ecosystem of "global health".
Class Materials (Required)
All required materials will be available on Canvas.
Class Attributes
No Freshmen