Convened by Anaïs Angelo (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna), Johannes Feichtinger (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna) and Nicole Immler (University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht)

Decolonization has become a buzzword in academia but what, precisely, is “decolonization”? The conference brings together scholars whose research expands the geographies, methods, and vocabularies through which decolonization is understood. By examining the “promises, problems, and practices” involved in defining decolonization, this conference frames it as both a practical and an epistemic challenge and pursues three main objectives. First, it seeks to reassess the historical and geographical boundaries of decolonization and to open new perspectives of research on its postcolonial forms. Second, it aims to uncover underexplored narratives by encouraging reflection on archival sources, fieldwork practices, and epistemic reflexivity. Third, it examines how the shift from decolonization to decoloniality takes shape across different academic and institutional contexts. Ultimately, this conference seeks to address the “so what?” question by asking how debates on decolonization can help us take the next step: to think about—and conduct—research differently.  

Keynote lecture: Prof. Frederick Cooper (New York University)