Uncovering power asymmetries in North-South research collaborations – An example from sustainability research in Tanzania
(2024) In Futures 156.- Abstract
North - South collaboration between scientists and collaborators is increasingly prominent and promoted in research. This study examines power dynamics within a North-South research collaboration project conducted between institutions in Tanzania and Germany. The research design is guided by postcolonial considerations of knowledge production and seeks to amplify underrepresented voices from the South. The analysis reveals power manifestations in project setup, processes, and outcomes, through three perspectives: resources, social relations, and discourses. The study confirms the prevailing impression of the Northern partner as the donor and conceptualizer, directing the research path, while the Southern partner remains in a peripheral... (More)
North - South collaboration between scientists and collaborators is increasingly prominent and promoted in research. This study examines power dynamics within a North-South research collaboration project conducted between institutions in Tanzania and Germany. The research design is guided by postcolonial considerations of knowledge production and seeks to amplify underrepresented voices from the South. The analysis reveals power manifestations in project setup, processes, and outcomes, through three perspectives: resources, social relations, and discourses. The study confirms the prevailing impression of the Northern partner as the donor and conceptualizer, directing the research path, while the Southern partner remains in a peripheral position as the local implementor. Both parties benefit from the collaboration, but the Northern partner gains more in terms of academic recognition and reproduction, furthering the asymmetrical power distance. This study concludes that to approach the ideal mutual knowledge co-production, collaborations should reconsider funding structures, question ways of knowing, increase the importance of equal capacity building, and challenge established Western academic knowledge production structures.
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- author
- Choquez-Millan, Maria Fresia ; Lechtape, Charlotte Luise ; Löhr, Katharina ; Schröter, Barbara LU and Graef, Frieder
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-02
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Capacity building, International collaboration, Knowledge co-production, North-South research, Power asymmetries in academia, Research for development
- in
- Futures
- volume
- 156
- article number
- 103316
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85183566296
- ISSN
- 0016-3287
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.futures.2023.103316
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- b37a52ef-1a23-4291-a6eb-59ed1b955585
- date added to LUP
- 2024-04-10 14:57:51
- date last changed
- 2024-04-10 14:58:11
@article{b37a52ef-1a23-4291-a6eb-59ed1b955585,
abstract = {{<p>North - South collaboration between scientists and collaborators is increasingly prominent and promoted in research. This study examines power dynamics within a North-South research collaboration project conducted between institutions in Tanzania and Germany. The research design is guided by postcolonial considerations of knowledge production and seeks to amplify underrepresented voices from the South. The analysis reveals power manifestations in project setup, processes, and outcomes, through three perspectives: resources, social relations, and discourses. The study confirms the prevailing impression of the Northern partner as the donor and conceptualizer, directing the research path, while the Southern partner remains in a peripheral position as the local implementor. Both parties benefit from the collaboration, but the Northern partner gains more in terms of academic recognition and reproduction, furthering the asymmetrical power distance. This study concludes that to approach the ideal mutual knowledge co-production, collaborations should reconsider funding structures, question ways of knowing, increase the importance of equal capacity building, and challenge established Western academic knowledge production structures.</p>}},
author = {{Choquez-Millan, Maria Fresia and Lechtape, Charlotte Luise and Löhr, Katharina and Schröter, Barbara and Graef, Frieder}},
issn = {{0016-3287}},
keywords = {{Capacity building; International collaboration; Knowledge co-production; North-South research; Power asymmetries in academia; Research for development}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Futures}},
title = {{Uncovering power asymmetries in North-South research collaborations – An example from sustainability research in Tanzania}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2023.103316}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.futures.2023.103316}},
volume = {{156}},
year = {{2024}},
}