Paper
Decolonizing Knowledge: Unveiling Colonial Legacies in Post-Soviet Extractivism
presenters
Dr.Rano Turaeva
Nationality: Germany
Residence: Germany
Ludwig Maximilian Universityof Munich
Presence:Face to Face/ On Site
The paper delves into the entrenched colonial legacies underpinning post-Soviet extractivism
in Central Asia and the Caucasus, examining how historical and present-day patterns of
resource extraction, labour exploitation, and brain drain perpetuate epistemic and material
inequalities. I argue that the extractive practices inherited from colonial histories extend beyond
the mere extraction of minerals and oil to encompass the extraction of knowledge, labor, and
intellectual capital, exacerbating power differentials and hindering sustainable development.
Drawing on anthropological insights and empirical research, I dissect the mechanisms through
which colonial heritage continues to shape extractivist practices and knowledge production in
the region. The paper highlights how the extraction of natural resources has been intertwined
with the extraction of indigenous knowledge systems, local labour, and intellectual talent,
reinforcing hierarchies that privilege Western epistemologies and institutions. By
foregrounding the intersectionality of extraction—both material and epistemic—I propose
pathways for decolonizing knowledge production and extractive practices. Through
collaborative research methodologies that center local perspectives, promote knowledge
sovereignty, and resist brain drain, I envision a reconfiguration of extractivist paradigms
towards more equitable and sustainable futures.
The paper is based on results from anthropological research on Central Asia (2005-2024),
projects on mining shrinking cities in Caucasus and Central Asia (2015-2020), a decade
research on post-Soviet economies ad migration from Central Asia to Russia (2016-2024).
Keywords:
post-Soviet extractivism, decoloniality, knowledge extractivism