Page 12 - Issue 61
P. 12
Vol.1 Issue 61 November 2023 ELITE
the marginalized of earth
mariam elsafty-senior-political science
mariam.yasser2020@feps.edu.eg
When you search for any topic in political
On the other hand, non-native speakers and
research, chances are you will find articles researchers from non-western countries may
written by western scholars at the top of the struggle with language barriers, such as
results. Whether it is about Africa, the Middle proficiency, accent, writing style, and academic
East, or any other region, western voices seem norms that may affect their credibility and
to dominate the academic discourse. But is quality of work. Another factor that shapes the
this a coincidence or a consequence of academic landscape is the cultural and
colonialism? And how does this affect the philosophical influence of the west. Western
local researchers who study their own societies academic knowledge and values are often based
and cultures? Academia is not a fair game, but on western traditions and worldviews, which
a system that reflects and reinforces the may not capture or appreciate the diversity and
existing power structures and biases in the complexity of other cultures and ways of
world. Colonialism may have officially ended, knowing. Western countries, especially those in
Europe and North America, have a long
but its effects are still felt in the academic
history of colonialism, imperialism, and global
sphere, where western researchers have an
dominance that allowed them to build and
edge over their non-western counterparts. This
expand their academic institutions, networks,
is not to say that western scholars are
and influence around the world. They also
intentionally marginalizing others, but rather
gained from the exploitation of resources,
that they are part of a larger picture that
labor, and knowledge from other regions,
favors them. One of the main factors that
especially the Global South. These historical
gives western researchers an advantage is the
legacies continue to affect the current academic
language of academia: English. English is the situation, where western countries have more
dominant medium of communication, resources, funding, prestige, and power than
publication, and dissemination of academic others. Western researchers have more
knowledge, which means that native speakers opportunities and access to publish in high-
and those who can access English education impact journals, attend and present at
and resources have a better chance of international conferences, collaborate with
succeeding in the academic field. other researchers, and secure grants and
12 fellowships.
