17th January 2024, GRIP seminar-Towards non-hegemonic social sciences

Speaker: Meta Cramer, University of Freiburg – Germany

Title: Negotiation zones of knowledge: a sensitising concept of global social knowledge production 

Abstract: While contributions to postcolonial sociology, Decoloniality, and Southern Theory have critically analysed colonial legacies and global inequalities in the production and circulation of knowledge over the last decades, the practical dimension of knowledge production – as studied in the sociology of science – often remains overlooked. In my talk, I will first briefly present an argument to combine the two fields and then focus on my fieldwork and in-depth interviews with senior scholars in the Anglophone Caribbean in which I learnt about the collective practices of i.a. publishing, teaching, and networking of this scholarly community in dealing with their marginalised position. I will then present a theorisation of the recounted work practices in a middle-range analytical concept of ‘Negotiation Zones of Knowledge‘. This ’sensitising concept’ emphasises the creative engagement of scholars based in the South with global inequalities and colonial legacies of knowledge production and their dynamic change and might inform further comparative studies. 

In modelling the social scientists’ practices of knowledge and career-making, I first draw on the notion of negotiation by Stuart Hall, which underlines the relationality and situatedness of knowledge-making practices in power structures. I furthermore specify these negotiation practices as creative action in reference to Hans Joas’ pragmatist work. Thirdly, I employ the concept of zones, building on Marie-Louise Pratt’s work on ‘contact zones’ to capture the different areas of scholarly work practices. Subsequently, I distinguish four zones of knowledge production – public outreach, collaborating, publishing, and teaching – that advance existing conceptualisations of knowledge production as structured in fields or social worlds/ arenas. Overall, model aims to grasp the dynamic, creative and community-oriented practices in which knowledge production in marginalised, formerly colonised spaces is negotiated. 

All sessions will take place in room 279F at Halle aux farines, except on 3 April when we will be in 375F, also at Halle aux farines, 9-15 esplanade Pierre Vidal-Naquet 75013 Paris.

Map-Halle aux farines

https://u-paris.zoom.us/j/2347692003?pwd=Y2JIY0NKM3V5bXozVWJwTFkvUmQ5QT09