How are universities colonial? How are theoretical concepts in the economics field colonial? How may our teaching be colonial? What impact may this have in shaping the policy-making and society at large? In this talk we engage in an overarching conversation on the colonisation and decolonisation of the economic discipline. We specifically touch upon questions related to how the discipline of economics came to be colonised, what forms colonisation takes, before exploring what the process of decolonisation of economics may entail. Furthermore, we discuss to what extent heterodox strands within economics may be more amenable to a decolonised world view. We conclude by opening the discussion to explore the potential of the decolonisation movement to transform economic thinking through changes to teaching, research structures, and the discipline’s relation to society at large, as well as exploring how we can build broader coalitions with other disciplines and sectors.

As part of Spot On Economies – 1/2/8 Research Forum.

Initiated by Juliane Beck, Stefan Hilterhaus and Livia Andrea Piazza

A project within the framework of the Alliance of International Production Houses supported by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.