Epistemicide

Epistemicide refers to the systematic killing, silencing, or devaluation of a knowledge system, often associated with the suppression or erasure of alternative or marginalized perspectives. It’s a form of intellectual genocide that can occur through various means, including colonization, cultural suppression, censorship, and intellectual property theft. 

Key aspects of epistemicide:

• Systematic Destruction:

  Epistemicide involves a deliberate and organized effort to dismantle or marginalize particular ways of knowing. 

• Silencing and Devaluation:

  It encompasses the erasure or devaluing of knowledge systems that don’t align with dominant paradigms. 

• Structural Oppression:

  Epistemicide can be viewed as a form of structured and systemic oppression of particular ways of knowing. 

• Examples:

  Colonization, cultural suppression, book bans, and the marginalization of Indigenous knowledge systems are all examples of epistemicide. 

Causes and consequences of epistemicide:

• Power dynamics:

  Epistemicide is often rooted in power imbalances between dominant and marginalized groups. 

• Loss of knowledge:

  It can lead to the loss of valuable knowledge and perspectives that are essential for understanding the world. 

• Erosion of cultural identity:

  The destruction of cultural heritage and knowledge systems can have a devastating impact on cultural identity and community. 

Examples in the context of libraries and information professions:

• Curricular injustice: The exclusion of diverse perspectives and marginalized voices in curricula and collections. 
• Limited access to resources: Restricting access to knowledge and information for certain groups. 
• Marginalization of specific knowledge systems: Suppressing or devaluing alternative ways of knowing. 

The concept of epistemicide is crucial for understanding:

• Historical and ongoing injustices: Recognizing and addressing the historical and ongoing impact of epistemicide on marginalized communities. 
• The importance of diverse perspectives: Promoting inclusivity and equity in knowledge creation and dissemination. 
• The need for decolonization: Challenging dominant narratives and promoting a more inclusive and equitable approach to knowledge. 

In summary, epistemicide is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences that requires a critical examination of power dynamics, knowledge systems, and the role of libraries and information professionals in fostering inclusivity and equity.

Epistemicide — coined in 1998 by Portuguese sociologist Boaventura de Sousa Santos — The killing, silencing, erasure, annihilation or devaluing of a knowledge system. It is a deliberate tactic of colonisation and supremacy. We are shaped by our environment just as we shape the environment we inhabit