Islamabad, Dec 16,(APP):The Islamabad Policy Research Institute hosted a seminar titled “Decolonizing the Discourse in International Relations” featuring a diverse and eminent panel. The participants included Dr. Nadeem ul Haque from Pakistan, Dr. Erik Ringmar from Turkey, and Raymond Baidoo from Africa. The webinar is the first of its kind to host a rigorous discussion on the discourse of decolonization.
Dr. Nadeem ul Haque is currently the Vice Chancellor of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Quaid-e-Azam University Campus, Islamabad. Raymond Baidoo is a lawyer, with license to practice in Nigeria. Dr. Erik Ringmar professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at İbn Haldun Üniversitesi, Istanbul, Turkey.
Some interesting vignettes were thrown by the learned scholars on the westernized narratives of the International Relation theory. Dr Erik discussed how independence was gained on western terms which till date remains problematic. Colonized States have to depart from the western ideas and progress on their own terms. Dr Nadeem ul Haque mentioned while foreign aids have been pouring into Pakistan, ability to set up competitive markets rather than relying on interventions from foreign/developed countries is critical. Raymond explained how the colonized states, Africa in particular, lack behind in knowledge, and technological development, and thus colonialism perpetuates in the form of cheap raw materials serving the economies of developed states.
