The Contemporary Politics of Knowledge Systems: A Critical Reflection Through the Decolonisation Lens

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-630-7_24How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Ecological Balance; Knowledge Economies; Modernisation; Sustainable Development

Abstract

This reflection piece critiques the contemporary politics of knowledge systems, exploring the contestations of power dynamics between hegemonic and marginalised knowledge systems and the decolonisation of the curriculum. Societies or economies are anchored by production, distribution, and consumption systems, fundamentally and historically shaped by power and contestations. Notably, colonialism and modern knowledge systems displaced and marginalised local and indigenous knowledge systems in favour of industrialisation and market-oriented economies. We believe pre-colonial African systems harmonise human and ecological values, whereas post-colonial policies tend to prioritise modernisation. However, hegemonic (modern) knowledge systems’ dominance displays significant flaws, including ecological imbalance, sustainability issues, and social inequality, among other societal ills. These contemporary challenges not only pose a threat to humanity but also to planetary health. On the other hand, the local and indigenous knowledge systems resemble local development, historical profundity, and adaptability, which offer a sustainable alternative to hegemonic knowledge paradigms rooted in local ecologies and long-standing innovation. An epistemological critique of the hegemonic knowledge systems is a necessary battle to harness local and indigenous knowledge systems effectively. The need to document and preserve local and indigenous knowledge forms systematically while integrating them with modern technologies where possible and developing supportive policies is paramount. Again, engaging local communities will be critical to incorporating local and indigenous knowledge systems and providing education to ensure local knowledge transmission. Further research and innovation should focus on local and indigenous knowledge systems’ contemporary challenges and opportunities, including market opportunities for local and indigenous knowledge systems-based products and services to warrant economic sustainability. Addressing inherent social inequalities within local and indigenous knowledge systems and fostering collective grassroots movements are essential for their comprehensive integration. Again, decolonisation of the curriculum will be vital to unlocking the potential of local and indigenous knowledge systems.

Copyright

© 2024 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - M. Sibanda
AU  - N. Z. Khumalo
AU  - F. N. Fon
AU  - Z. L. Ndou
PY  - 2024
DA  - 2024/12/31
TI  - The Contemporary Politics of Knowledge Systems: A Critical Reflection Through the Decolonisation Lens
BT  - Proceedings of the Focus Conference (TFC 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 452
EP  - 467
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-630-7_24
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-630-7_24
ID  - Sibanda2024
ER  -