Muller, Lorraine (2023) Decolonisation: More Than a Trendy Word. Australian Social Work, 76 (3). pp. 259-299.

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Abstract

Decolonisation has become a fashionable word. A jingoistic mantra repeated because it sounds grand, and one that can be misused and distorted to further colonise and strengthen colonisation. Trendy words occur in academic writing, commonly used, yet rarely defined, and embraced without being fully understood. Words like “decolonisation” have been appropriated, taken from legitimate scholars and used as a metaphor by “experts” in positions of power to further reinforce the colonialist social structures, intellectual agendas, and workspaces (Tuck & Yang, Citation2012). In my view, blithely or intentionally, academic articles, research funding applications, and media rhetoric can sometimes be scripted using trendy key words to progress agendas that on the surface looks reasonable, yet do not reflect the intent of words used. Decolonisation is one such word. The intention in writing this short commentary is to promote interest in further reading about, and respectful use of the word and movement that is “Decolonisation”.

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