The Colonial Elephant in the Room: An Examination of North-South Academic Partnerships

Abstract

<p>International collaborations have been steadily increasing in frequency as academic institutions in the global north and south continue to make connections with each other. However, the rate of our increasing interaction is outpacing the emergence of a structural analysis aimed at minimizing the power imbalances inherent in the colonial relationship between the global north and south. As actors within international social work continue to participate in collaborations tainted by professional imperialism and epistemological hegemony, we continue to disadvantage those in the south through the formation and implementation of these partnerships. The exploration of this topic is primarily informed through the use of the author's critical reflection of an academic seminar she participated in during the summer of 2004 in Malawi Africa. It is hoped that the subsequent analysis can be used as tool to inform the development of truly equitable international partnerships.</p>