Decolonial Approaches to International Relation Training Course

Decolonial Approaches to International Relation Training Course

Introduction

Decolonial Approaches to International Relation Training Course provides a crucial and timely intervention into the dominant, Eurocentric paradigms that have long defined the discipline. The field of International Relations (IR) has historically been shaped by the intellectual traditions of the Global North, often obscuring and devaluing diverse knowledge systems, historical experiences, and political agency from the Global South. This course aims to critically unsettle these foundational assumptions and empower participants to develop a more inclusive, just, and pluriversal understanding of global affairs. It will examine how concepts like sovereignty, security, and development are not universal truths but are products of specific colonial and imperial histories.

By interrogating the colonial matrix of power, this program goes beyond simply adding non-Western case studies to an existing curriculum. It encourages a fundamental rethinking of how knowledge is produced and practiced in IR. Participants will engage with subaltern perspectives, epistemic justice, and Southern theories to challenge the status quo and imagine alternative futures for international relations. The course content is designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of how colonial legacies continue to shape contemporary global issues, from economic inequalities to conflict dynamics. It's a space for critical reflection and the development of actionable strategies for decolonial praxis.

Course Duration

5 days

Course Objectives

1. Critically analyze the Eurocentric origins and colonial legacies of modern International Relations theory.
2. Deconstruct core IR concepts such as the state, sovereignty, and security from decolonial perspectives.
3. Evaluate the role of epistemic violence and knowledge hierarchies in global knowledge production.
4. Engage with Southern theories and non-Western epistemologies as legitimate frameworks for understanding world politics.
5. Apply decolonial research methodologies to analyze contemporary global issues and power dynamics.
6. Understand the historical and ongoing impact of neo-colonialism and imperialism on the Global South.
7. Explore the intersection of decolonial thought with other critical theories, including postcolonialism, feminism, and critical race theory.
8. Recognize and challenge the monocultural nature of academic institutions and the IR curriculum.
9. Develop a reflexive praxis to identify and address personal and institutional biases.
10. Unpack the relationship between development, aid, and coloniality within the global economy.
11. Analyze resistance movements and emancipatory politics from a decolonial lens.
12. Foster an appreciation for pluriversality and the coexistence of multiple worldviews in international relations.
13. Formulate strategies for promoting epistemic justice and inclusion in academic and professional settings.

Target Audience

1. Students and Academics
2. Policy Analysts and Government Officials
3. NGO and Civil Society Practitioners
4. Journalists and Media Professionals.
5. Educators and Curriculum Designers.
6. Researchers and Data Scientists.
7. Activists and Community Leaders.
8. General Learners.

Course Outline

Module 1: The Coloniality of Knowledge and Power

• The origin story of International Relations and the myth of 1648.
• Understanding the colonial matrix of power and its enduring structures.
• Distinguishing between postcolonialism as a historical moment and decoloniality as a project.
• Unmasking epistemic violence and the politics of knowledge production.
• Case Study: The silencing of non-Western thinkers in the historical canon of IR theory.

Module 2: Theorizing from the Global South

• Introducing key thinkers and concepts from Southern theories.
• Exploring pluriversal alternatives to Western universalism.
• Analyzing the role of dependency theory and world-systems analysis.
• Examining alternative conceptualizations of the "international" from African, Latin American, and Asian traditions.
• Case Study: The Bandung Conference and the emergence of non-aligned politics as a decolonial project.

Module 3: Decolonizing Security and Conflict

• Challenging the state-centric, Eurocentric conception of security.
• Examining how colonial legacies shape modern-day conflict and militarism.
• Introducing postcolonial security studies and the concept of human security.
• The politics of intervention and peacebuilding from a decolonial lens.
• Case Study: The persistence of ethnic and territorial conflicts in post-colonial states as a result of colonial borders and policies.

Module 4: The Coloniality of Development

• Deconstructing the Western-centric notion of development and its civilizing mission.
• Analyzing the role of international financial institutions and structural adjustment programs.
• Examining alternative economic models and Indigenous approaches to well-being.
• The politics of foreign aid and the creation of dependency.
• Case Study: The debt crisis in the Global South and its connection to colonial economic structures.

Module 5: Race, Gender, and Intersectionality

• The central role of race and racism in the formation of International Relations.
• Analyzing the intersection of coloniality with gender and sexuality.
• Exploring feminist and queer theories from the Global South.
• How global racial hierarchies continue to shape international migration and labor.
• Case Study: The racialization of refugees and the selective application of international law in migration crises.

Module 6: Indigenous and Environmental Epistemologies

• Centering Indigenous knowledge systems and their relationship with the environment.
• Critiquing the Western, anthropocentric approach to climate change and environmental politics.
• The politics of environmental justice and decolonial struggles for land and resources.
• Examining how colonial resource extraction created the current ecological crisis.
• Case Study: The struggles of Indigenous communities against extractivist projects and their advocacy for environmental sovereignty.

Module 7: Decolonial Activism and Resistance

• Analyzing historical and contemporary resistance movements from a decolonial perspective.
• Exploring the role of subaltern agency in shaping international politics.
• Understanding different forms of resistance, from armed struggle to cultural and epistemic movements.
• The politics of anti-colonial solidarity and South-South cooperation.
• Case Study: The movements for land reform and food sovereignty in Latin America as a challenge to global agri-business and neocolonial policies.

Module 8: Practicing Decoloniality in the Real World

• Tools and strategies for decolonizing institutions and curricula.
• Applying decolonial principles to policy analysis and organizational practice.
• The ethics of research and representation in a decolonial framework.
• Developing a personal decolonial praxis for lifelong learning and action.
• Case Study: The "Rhodes Must Fall" movement and its lasting impact on academic decolonization worldwide.

Training Methodology

This course utilizes an interactive and critical pedagogy approach that moves away from traditional top-down teaching models. The methodology is designed to foster engaged reflexivity and co-creation of knowledge. Key components include:

• Dialogic Learning: The course prioritizes seminar-style discussions, peer-to-peer learning, and structured debates rather than one-way lectures.
• Case-Based Learning: Participants will analyze real-world case studies to apply decolonial theories to practical situations.
• Participatory Action Research (PAR): The training will introduce PAR as a methodology that centers community voices and aims for tangible social change.
• Reflective Practice: Participants will engage in individual and group reflection to critically examine their own positionality and biases
• Guest Facilitators: The course will feature guest speakers from diverse backgrounds, including scholars and practitioners from the Global South

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: [email protected] or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.