De‐centring the 'White Gaze' of Development. Issue 3 (1st October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pailey, Robtel Neajai
• Is Part Of: Development and change. Volume 51:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 729
• Page End: 745
• Publication Date: 2019-10-01
• Subjects: Social sciences -- Periodicals; Economic development -- Periodicals; Social change -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Periodicals; 303.483
• DOI: 10.1111/dech.12550
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-155X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In its crudest form, development has traditionally been about dissecting the political, socio‐economic and cultural processes of black, brown and other subjects of colour in the so‐called global South and finding them regressive, particularly in comparison to the so‐called progressive global North. However, in the midst of a 21st century, de‐colonial scholarly pivot, 'opening up development' fundamentally demands turning the colonial, 'white gaze' on its head. In particular, contemporary social media movements challenging white supremacy such as #BlackLivesMatter have gained prominence while non‐white development actors such as China have emerged as enticing alternatives. These phenomena have pried open development with both positive and negative results, intended and unintended consequences. This article seeks to put Critical Development Studies into fluid conversation with Critical Race Studies in an examination of how scholars, policy makers and practitioners have simultaneously succeeded and failed in subverting the 'white gaze' of development.