Academic Imperialism: A Critical Interrogation

Abstract

Both ‘tradition’ as well as ‘modernity’ have been differently phrased and discussed; predominantly in the realms of philosophy, anthropology, archeology, sciences, aesthetics, sociology, political, and cultural discourses. Marxists view globalization as a new phase of capitalism and conclude debates about the relationship between modern capitalism, imperialism and globalization dating back to Lenin. However, imperialism, later has assumed a soft and indirect approach of economic and ideological influence than that of the direct colonial rule. Place of bullets is now given to thoughts. Extensive capitalistic exploitation is masked by the decorations of postmodern social institutions, information society for example. Academic imperialism as an academic discourse, describes how the ‘institution’ of education is being abused by imperial powers to sustain the exploitation and escape from its certain death. It can also be defined as the newest addition to the list of disciplines that are discussed in postcolonial scholarship. The notion of academic imperialism, first attempts to denote the influences of imperialism on education, and secondly, how it is being used to perpetuate imperialism. This paper examines how the manifestation of academic imperialism, in largely postcolonial contexts, has depreciated non western doctrines, philosophies and use the conquest of intellectual sphere for the imperial project. It places the European enlightenment project at the center, which is considered to be the foundation for most of the modern western theories and so-called academic progression. This paper critically interrogates the progression of academic imperialism through western scholasticism, impact on academics, theoretical invasion, issues on anthropology, the notion of education industry, lack of reflexive and plural cognition, linguistic imperialism, and finally the destiny of academic research. Towards the conclusion, the paper stresses that academic imperialism should be critically examined and subversively resisted. It also emphasizes importance of subscribing critical postcolonial scholarship in order to get rid of this intellectual domination