Dr Sanjay Sharma and Reading Decoloniality members warmly invite you to discuss Multicultural Encounters (2006) during the launch of the Reading Decoloniality publication and reading group.

Claire Alexander’s review of Sharma’s Multicultural Encounters describes the contribution as both ‘ambitious’ and ‘challenging’ in how it questions the relevance of the term ‘multiculturalism’ during a period of its supposed demise. Sharma asks ‘how do we, as academics and as teachers, confront the idea and the reality of difference?’ and how might this ‘inform an ethical and transformative anti-racist engagement in the classroom?’

Sharma’s important monograph allows us to examine the disruptive ability of academia grounded in decolonising pedagogies as we wrestle with the often used, yet always insufficient collective terms ‘diverse’, ‘BAME’ and ‘global majority’.

Sharma will discuss the third chapter ‘Teaching Difference: Representations and Rhizomes’, set as the reading for the event, before we invite participants to share thoughts on the reading.

Reading Decoloniality members Dr Claire French and Dr Giulia Champion will conclude the discussion with an overview of the speakers in the coming summer programme, June to August 2023, while contextualising this new outlet for thought, collaboration and organisation.

This is a hybrid event with in-person speakers and participation at IAS, University of Warwick (click for interactive map) and online participation via Zoom