"Challenging the ‘White Gaze' of Development During COVID-19" with Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey

Oxford Society for International Development

In this podcast with Liberian academic, activist and author Dr. Robtel Neajai Pailey, we discuss the intersections between her recently published Al Jazeera English commentary, “Africa does not need saving during this pandemic”, and Development and Change journal article, "De-centring the 'White Gaze' of Development". We use race as a lens of analysis to interrogate assumptions that Western whiteness and modernity are the primary signifiers of progress and expertise. In exploring the pitfalls of adopting a “colour blind” outlook on development, we consider how scholars, policy makers and practitioners can challenge the 'white gaze' by imagining "a better world beyond flattened curves".

Read "Africa Does Not Need Saving During This Pandemic" at www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/africa-saving-pandemic-200408180254152.html and "De-centring the 'White Gaze' of Development" at doi.org/10.1111/dech.12550.

Interview by Mia Simovic. Music by Lorcan Cudlip Cook. Learn more about the Oxford Society for International Development at oxsid.org