Robtel Neajai Pailey
Robtel Neajai Pailey | |
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| Occupation | Academic, activist, children's writer  |
Robtel Neajai Pailey is a Liberian scholar, author, and activist. After studying at Howard University, the University of Oxford and SOAS, University of London, she teaches at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
As part of her scholarly and literary publications, she is particularly interested in various phenomena affecting countries in the Global South, including Liberia, and introduces a critique of the 'white gaze of development', a term she coined, to challenge the racist underpinnings of mainstream development. For her, it is necessary to decolonize development, both in the Global South and Global North.
Biography
[edit]Robtel Neajai Pailey was born in Monrovia, Liberia. She began her studies at Howard University in 2000, followed by the University of Oxford in 2006,[1] where she received full scholarships to study at both institutions.[2] She then studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS),[2] a branch of the University of London. There, she defended her PhD thesis titled "The Love of Liberty Divided Us Here? Factors Leading to the Introduction and Postponement in Passage of Liberia’s Dual Citizenship Bill"[3] in 2014.[2] While still preparing her thesis, she was already involved in the fight against poverty and corruption.[4] During this time, she wrote articles for several international newspapers, such as Al Jazeera English, The New York Times, Africa Today and The Guardian.[4] In these articles, she highlighted the persistent colonial ties between Liberia and the United States.[5]
In 2013 and 2019, respectively, she published children's books titled Gbagba and Jaadeh!, which depict the journey of Liberian twin characters and address corruption and integrity as opposite phenomena.[4] The researcher later became an assistant professor at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).[6]
Analysis
[edit]Her scholarly contributions focus particularly on colonial and post-colonial issues.[5] She tackles 'white gaze of development' dynamics in struggles against poverty and inequality affecting countries that have experienced colonialism.[5] The researcher also aims to demonstrate that in many development institutions, decision-making often privileges whiteness [7] and Western forms of modernity.[5]
Furthermore, she critiques emphasis on the evolution of countries based on a productivist approach to economic development.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Maxwell, Jack; Tomlinson, Joe (2022-01-25), "Category Errors", Experiments in Automating Immigration Systems, Bristol University Press, pp. 50–73, ISBN 978-1-5292-1986-9, archived from the original on 2024-07-06, retrieved 2024-07-27
- ^ a b c Science, London School of Economics and Political. "Dr Robtel Neajai Pailey". London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ "Dr Robtel Neajai Pailey | SOAS". www.soas.ac.uk. 2021-12-10. Archived from the original on 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ a b c "Impact Interview: Robtel Neajai Pailey – ASAP – Academics Stand Against Poverty". Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ a b c d e Kuperus, Tracy (2023-11-03). "Decolonizing Global Development Theory and Practice through "Centering" the Work of Robtel Neajai Pailey". Christian Relief, Development, and Advocacy: The Journal of the Accord Network. 5 (1): 97–100. ISSN 2689-4394. Archived from the original on 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ "Robtel Neajai Pailey - Fifteen Eighty Four | Cambridge University Press". cambridgeblog.org. Archived from the original on 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
- ^ Nicholls, Brendon (2021-12-01). "Practical Magic: Shapeshifting As Survival Tactic". New Formations. 104 (104–105): 128–158. doi:10.3898/NEWF:104-105.06.2021.
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