Sociology formally developed at the high point of colonialism in the 19th century. In this period, sociology came to be a central academic discipline for producing and reproducing colonial difference.
In this regard, sociology greatly contributed to the logic of the imperial episteme. Over a century later, and sociology has yet to shake off its commitment to this imperial episteme. In this talk, I will focus on firstly an act of disciplinary remembering, in order to see how sociology became entangled with colonial ways of thinking and knowing. I will then trace how sociology has maintained its commitment to this coloniality of knowledge into the present day. I will finish the talk by arguing that for sociology to be a critical discipline in the future, it must embrace the decolonial option. I will highlight sociology’s need to embrace the decolonial option by considering two key problems of our time: the global resurgence of the far-right, and the climate crisis.
Dr Ali Meghji is a Lecturer in Social Inequalities at The University of Cambridge.
Dr Clive James Nwonka is an LSE Fellow in Film Studies within the Department of Sociology, LSE.