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”.
Interview by Mia Simovic. Music by Lorcan Cudlip Cook
Oxford Society for International Development 