The legendary Jamaican reggae artist Bob Marley, visited Bournemouth University to highlight the link between international relations and the dehumanisation of people of African descent through slavery and colonisation as expressed through his lyrics – in a politics guest lecture.
The global icon, who passed away in 1981 was of course not present, though his advocacy around social issues and their relevance to political engagement and international relations were embedded in critical pedagogy through Robbie Shilliam, Professor of International Relations at Queen Mary University London (and a valued member of the Black British Academics community). A key strand of his research focuses on decolonising international relations theory.
Prof Shilliam argues that while most postcolonial theory focuses on the relationship between the colonised and coloniser, his research explores ways to theorise the global relationships between differentially situated (post)colonised subjects, and seeks to map out how these relations have inspired and engendered critiques of a colonially inflected global modernity.
“What might Bob Marley have to say about international relations? Or, how might a concern for Black Liberation orient us differently towards an understanding of international relations?” These were questions posed by Professor Shilliam at the start of the guest lecture, organised by myself and colleague Dan Weissmann, an Associate Lecturer and tutor on the International Relations unit, which forms part of the BA Politics degree taught in the Faculty of Media and Communication.
I should add that it was a proud moment for me – given that Dan, who is currently undertaking a PhD, is one of my former students who engaged really well with critical elements I endeavoured to embed into a curriculum that would benefit from far more critical perspectives around race.
Now a lecturer, it is wonderful to see Dan take a culturally democratic approach to his own teaching, and embrace rather than avoid issues around whiteness and White privilege. It was evident how this approach benefited his students (also former students of mine) who engaged well in discussion and raised salient points throughout the two-hour interactive lecture.
Prof Shilliam drew on both Bob Marley and Jamaican poet Mutabaruka, to demonstrate how their lyrics politicise and critique the institutionalised oppression and dehumanisation of people of African descent; which drew parallels to current political demands for independence in many parts of the world, such as Catalonia.
In addition to international relations students, other attendees of the guest lecture – which was open to all staff and student faculty members, included Darren Lilleker, Associate Professor in Politics and Head of the Politics and Media Research Centre; Dr Simon Frost, Principal Academic in journalism, English and Communication and member of the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice, and members of the newly formed Black Students Campaign.
I’m sure most would agree, that Prof Shilliam aptly demonstrated that the issues Bob Marley speaks to through his music, around slavery, freedom and oppression are central, not peripheral to international relations.
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Delighted to host @RobbieShilliam via @BLACKBAcademics to @bournemouthuni next week for a politics/international relations guest lecture on Bob Marley: https://t.co/t02dd8bHZD
— Dr. Deborah Gabriel (@deborahgabriel) November 21, 2017
