From heterogeneous worlds: western privilege, class and positionality in the South

摘要: The aim of this paper is to meet a repeated challenge that comes from within postcolonial writing: turn theory and strategies ‘inward’, examine our postcoloniality. Specifically I use social class interrogate the idea western privilege in context, examining whether postcolonialism can enable politics intersect with ‘Otherness’ such way open up ethnography more ethical geographical praxis. first presents genealogy figure privileged researcher, drawing attention historical contingency subsequent issues positionality South. Taking figure, discussion then guided by two ‘heteros’ writing – heterogeneity heterotemporality disrupt assumption contingency. my own history as insist on heterogeneous conceptualisation postcoloniality accounts for varied experiences British working classes. closes crucial question what largely theoretical work might offer empirical business (especially) poor areas South, asking explicitly: class, like gender ethnicity, qualify reduces researcher–researched power imbalance? main argument made geography's imperial past an elite historiography cannot draw contours researcher relations ‘Others’. Consequently, propose aspect subjectivity moves hyper self-reflexivity towards praxis across difference.