Romanticizing decolonization and Asian epistemology: reflections on identity and space

Abstract Recent calls for the decolonization of academy demand recognition diverse canons knowledge . Asia’s economic ascent also imparts rising confidence among Asian scholars and institutions to promote indigenous knowledge. While these global emancipation are invigorating, decolonial scholarship is prone sterile theorization, historical fixity, an overt romanticization Global South. Drawing on my lived experiences as academic, I reflect epistemology from five different spaces in life: (1) Northern Europe, (2) Toronto, (3) Southeast Asia, (4) Kazakhstan (5) United Kingdom. analyze by using concepts intellectual captivity Syed Hussein Alatas Kuan-Hsing Chen. Specifically, tendency movements descend into nationalism, nativism, civilizationalism provides provocative insights epistemic justice (Chen, 2010). demonstrate how practice can reveal a colonial mindset even academics who engage social discourse international work. highlight examples that reinforce inequality based race, gender, sexual orientation religion. As more individuals with hybrid identities (race, culture, nationality) enter academe pursue careers require mobility, it imperative moves beyond reductive categories identity reproduce stereotypes. conclude reflections role comparative education research movements.