We examine how traditional research partnerships between scholars from the Global North and Global South often perpetuate colonial dynamics and produce potentially flawed research outcomes. We argue that Northern researchers typically control research design, funding, and publication while treating Southern partners merely as data collectors, leading to research that may miss crucial local perspectives and context. To address this, we propose a new collaborative model based on critical reflexivity, radical equality, and reciprocal feedback, where all team members have equal input on research decisions and authorship, and research outputs are made accessible to Southern scholars. While this approach may slow down the research process, we contend it produces more reliable and accurate findings while fostering genuine partnerships that enhance the overall quality of civil society research.

URL: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/decolonizing-civil-society-research#