Research Meeting Visiting Speaker: Arjun Chowdhury

The next Research Meeting will feature a presentation by visiting speaker Arjun Chowdhury. Dr. Chowdury is Associate Professor of Political Science here at the University of British Columbia where his research and teaching focuses on conflict, security, and peacekeeping, foreign policy, international relations and qualitative methods. He is author of the book The Myth of International Order: Why Weak States Persist and Alternatives to the State Fade Away, along with numerous articles.

Title: “The Paradox of Postcolonial Time"
Speaker: Arjun Chowdhury, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of British Columbia
Date: 26th February 2025, Wednesday
Time: 3:00pm to 4:30pm PT
Location: Buchanan Penthouse (Entrance from Buchanan B)

Paper Abstract:

I offer a model of historical time that developed with the anti-colonial movements - 'postcolonial time' - to understand processes of change in the postcolonial world. Postcolonial time offers a different answer to the question - how can the future be different from the present? - than four other models of historical time - cyclical, providential, progressive, and static time. The model suggests that in postcolonial spaces there are constraints on progressive change, specifically constraints on individuals and groups who claim that past knowledge and practices are anachronistic and thus their societies must change. These constraints are not due to invariant pre-colonial 'traditions' but are part of a modern effort to claim a history distinct from European history.  

Please RSVP by February 19th: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_243HrThQRQWmcPY