Politics and Pedagogy

About Politics and Pedagogy

Welcome to “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (https://ctis.leeds.ac.uk/) in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. In this podcast we speak to scholars, educators and pedagogical practitioners about all things teaching and learning for political studies. The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in Political Pedagogy and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Associate Professor in Global Security Challenges. Follow CTIS: @ctisleeds.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/ctisleeds.bsky.social)

Publisher

Madeleine Le Bourdon and Louise Pears

Category

news · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Apr 2023

Latest episode

9 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

9 of 15 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   9 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Pedagogical Research Centres and Communities

   Welcome to Season Four of Politics and Pedagogy 'Championing Education Communities', where we will be speaking to game changers in the field of higher education about the importance of communities for political studies. This week we are joined by Co-Directors of Pedagogical Research Centres from three Politics and International Studies departments across the UK: Prof. Simon Lightfoot (https://water.leeds.ac.uk/profiles/prof-simon-lightfoot/) from the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (https://ctis.leeds.ac.uk/) at POLIS, University of Leeds Dr John Wilesmith (https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/37009-john-wilesmith) from the UCL Centre for the Pedagogy of Politics (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/political-science/research/ucl-centre-pedagogy-politics). Dr Michael Toomey (https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/staff/michaeltoomey/) of the University of Glasgow School of Social and Political Sciences Innovative Pedagogy Hub (https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/innovative-pedagogy-hub/) We chat about the importance of PedR and Scholarship communities in HE and how we can work together to support colleagues within, across and beyond our institutions. Follow us! BlueSky-@ctisleeds.bsky.social (mailto:BlueSky-@ctisleeds.bsky.social) @mlebourdon.bsky.social (http://mlebourdon.bsky.social)@louisepears.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/louisepears.bsky.social)

2. 

   26 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Communities disrupting hierarchies: The Journal of Global Higher Education

   Sylvie Lomer, Charles Mathies, Jenna Mittelmeier, and Melissa Whatley discuss the Journal of Global Higher Education's mission to disrupt traditional academic publishing hierarchies and promote community-driven scholarship in an interview.

3. 

   7 Jan 2026

   The Power of Education Communities

   Welcome to Season Four of Politics and Pedagogy 'Championing Education Communities', where we will be speaking to game changers in the field of higher education about the importance of communities for political studies. In this first episode we are joined by Professor Rose Gann (https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/social-sciences/rose-gann) and Dr Emma Foster (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/gov/foster-emma). Rose Gann is Professor of Politics Education at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), the Chair of Political Studies Association (https://www.psa.ac.uk/) and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Emma Foster is Associate Professor of International Politics and Gender at the University of Birmingham and Trustee of the Political Studies Association.

4. 

   3 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT

   BONUS Student Voice: Student-led exhibits

   BONUS EPISODE: In this bonus episode on student voice we speak to Sean Wong and Chloe Simpson, second year International Relations Students (BA) Hons at the University of Leeds, about their exhibit Memory, Resistance and Survival: Legacies of the Latin American Imaginary. You can also read Chloe's brilliant blog here (https://ctis.leeds.ac.uk/expanding-academic-horizons/). Podcast: The Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (CTIS) (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj01fagjrmCAxXhQUEAHepQDiUQFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fctis.leeds.ac.uk%2F&usg=AOvVaw1VaYRqmQB2shRTSf1_mAdg&opi=89978449) at the University of Leeds presents “Politics and Pedagogy” , The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in Political Pedagogy and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Associate Professor in Global Security Challenges. Follow us! BlueSky-@ctisleeds.bsky.social (http://ctisleeds.bsky.social) @mlebourdon.bsky.social (http://mlebourdon.bsky.social)

5. 

   29 Apr 2025TRANSCRIPT

   ASPIRE Network Launch

   Dr. Jeremy Moulton, Dr. Jillian Terry, Dr. M. Sudhir Selvaraj, and Dr. Hillary Briffa introduce the ASPIRE Network, which supports academics on teaching-intensive career paths in politics and international relations, empowering members to navigate careers and develop teaching scholarship in this interview episode.

6. 

   4 Dec 2024TRANSCRIPT

   Student Voice: Student-led pedagogy 'Thinking inside the box'

   Dr Anna Grimaldi and POLIS graduates Elisa Martinez Relano and Caroline Tonglet discuss the transformative power of student-led pedagogy in delivering depth, agency, and connection in learning.

7. 

   18 Nov 2024TRANSCRIPT

   Student Voice: English for Academic Purposes Support

   Season 3: We are back for Season 3 which is all centered on Students Voice. This season we will hear from students studying or graduating from Politics and International Studies programmes. Episode 2: In this episode we welcome Dr Gary Hernandez, Lecturer in English for Academic Purposes, and Hafizh Armaghani, who is studying a MA in International Relations, both at the University of Leeds. The conversation reflects on the intersection of language and disciplinary knowledge, inclusive teaching for international students, and how to create belonging beyond the classroom. Podcast: The Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (CTIS) (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj01fagjrmCAxXhQUEAHepQDiUQFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fctis.leeds.ac.uk%2F&usg=AOvVaw1VaYRqmQB2shRTSf1_mAdg&opi=89978449) are delighted to launch the first series of “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Lecturer in Global Security Challenges. Follow us! @CTISLeeds (https://twitter.com/CTISLeeds) @DrMLeBourdon (https://twitter.com/DrMLeBourdon) @LouiseKPears (https://twitter.com/louisekpears?s=20)

8. 

   30 Sept 2024TRANSCRIPT

   Student Voice: Foundation Year Students

   Season 3: We are back for Season 3 which is all centered on Students Voice. This season we will hear from students studying or graduating from Politics and International Studies programmes. Episode 1: Our first episode is the most powerful conversation we have had on 'Politics and Pedagogy'- we hear from students who entered their degrees through the Social Science Foundation Year (https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/a926/social-science-foundation-year-ba) programme at the University of Leeds. Ato Ampiah- Haagh, Dieudone Bila and Gemma Carlier are interviewed by Dr Metter Wiggen (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/108/dr-mette-wiggen), an outreach officer for the Social Science Cluster, Mette is a lecturer in the School of Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. She holds a PhD from the University of Leeds and researches and publishes on racism, welfare chauvinism and mainstreaming of the far-right. She has contributed to several books and published in CARR, Open Democracy, Fair Observer, The Conversation, and Institute for Public Policy Research – Radical Review. Thank you to the wonderful students and graduates for sharing their experiences and Mette for such wonderful questions. Podcast: The Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (CTIS) (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj01fagjrmCAxXhQUEAHepQDiUQFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fctis.leeds.ac.uk%2F&usg=AOvVaw1VaYRqmQB2shRTSf1_mAdg&opi=89978449) are delighted to launch the first series of “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Lecturer in Global Security Challenges. Follow us! @CTISLeeds (https://twitter.com/CTISLeeds) @DrMLeBourdon (https://twitter.com/DrMLeBourdon) @LouiseKPears (https://twitter.com/louisekpears?s=20)

9. 

   3 May 2024TRANSCRIPT

   Care and joy in teaching and learning

   In Season 2 we are exploring ideas of Criticality, Creativity and Care. In this episode we are joined by Dr Laura Loyola Hernández (https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/geography/staff/1067/dr-laura-loyola-hernandez), Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Leeds and Dr Roxani Krystalli (https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/international-relations/people/rk70/)Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Feminist Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of St Andrews. In this conversation we talk about the importance of care both for our students and ourselves, as well as the need to seek and honour joy through learning. Podcast: The Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (CTIS) (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj01fagjrmCAxXhQUEAHepQDiUQFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fctis.leeds.ac.uk%2F&usg=AOvVaw1VaYRqmQB2shRTSf1_mAdg&opi=89978449) are delighted to launch the first series of “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Lecturer in Global Security Challenges. It is produced by Dr Harrison Swinhoe (https://css.leeds.ac.uk/profiles/harrison-swinhoe/). Follow us! @CTISLeeds (https://twitter.com/CTISLeeds) @DrMLeBourdon (https://twitter.com/DrMLeBourdon) @LouiseKPears (https://twitter.com/louisekpears?s=20)

10. 

    23 Feb 2024TRANSCRIPT

    Creativity within and beyond the classroom

    Welcome back to Season 2! This season we will explore ideas of Criticality, Creativity and Care. Episode: In this episode we are joined by Dr Maha Rafi Atal (https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/staff/maharafiatal/) Lecturer in Political Economy at the University of Glasgow, Dr Rhys Crilley (https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/staff/rhyscrilley/) Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Glasgow, and Prof. Jack Holland Professor (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/84/professor-jack-holland-)of Global Security Challenges at the University of Leeds. In this episode we talk all things creative- from walking tours to performance art to comedy. Maha, Rhys and Jack provide inspiration for innovative pedagogical practices that can shape affective learning experience. Podcast: The Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (CTIS) (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj01fagjrmCAxXhQUEAHepQDiUQFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fctis.leeds.ac.uk%2F&usg=AOvVaw1VaYRqmQB2shRTSf1_mAdg&opi=89978449) are delighted to launch the first series of “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Lecturer in Global Security Challenges. It is produced by Dr Harrison Swinhoe (https://css.leeds.ac.uk/profiles/harrison-swinhoe/). Follow us! @CTISLeeds (https://twitter.com/CTISLeeds) @DrMLeBourdon (https://twitter.com/DrMLeBourdon) @LouiseKPears (https://twitter.com/louisekpears?s=20)

11. 

    10 Nov 2023

    Questioning ideas of criticality

    Welcome back to Season 2! This season we will explore ideas of Criticality, Creativity and Care. In this first episode we invite Dr Ida Birkvad (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjJjdeNjrmCAxWCiFwKHZoABIUQFnoECBcQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lse.ac.uk%2Finternational-relations%2Fpeople%2Fbirkvad&usg=AOvVaw0PieihnLnMPK6xFyKJ3jwm&opi=89978449), Fellow in Political Theory in the Department of International Relations at LSE, and Dr Alexander Stoffel (https://www.alexanderstoffel.com/), Lecturer in International Politics in the School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London, to discuss the idea of criticality. This episode was inspired by their article "Abstractions in International Relations: on the mystification of trans, queer, and subaltern life in critical knowledge production (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13540661231176907)" in the European Journal of International Relations and subsequent blog piece in E-International Relations. (https://www.e-ir.info/2023/08/25/against-mystification-or-what-went-wrong-with-critical-ir/) Suggestions from Ida and Alex: Histories of the Transgender Child, (https://history.jhu.edu/faculty-books/histories-of-the-transgender-child/#:~:text=Histories%20of%20the%20Transgender%20Child%20shatters%20this%20myth%2C%20uncovering%20a,and%20all%20sex%20and%20gender.) Gill-Peterson, J. Podcast: The Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (CTIS) (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj01fagjrmCAxXhQUEAHepQDiUQFnoECAYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fctis.leeds.ac.uk%2F&usg=AOvVaw1VaYRqmQB2shRTSf1_mAdg&opi=89978449) are delighted to launch the first series of “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Lecturer in Global Security Challenges. It is produced by Dr Marine Guéguin (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/pgr/875/marine-gueguin-) and Dr Harrison Swinhoe (https://css.leeds.ac.uk/profiles/harrison-swinhoe/) both Post-doctoral researchers in the Centre for Global Security Challenges. Follow us! @CTISLeeds (https://twitter.com/CTISLeeds) @DrMLeBourdon (https://twitter.com/DrMLeBourdon) @LouiseKPears (https://twitter.com/louisekpears?s=20)

12. 

    15 Sept 2023

    Reflections and takeaways: white fragility, positionally & community

    In this mini episode Louise and Madeleine discuss their key (un)learnings and takeaways from Season One. Reflecting on their positionality they examine where their own white fragility came up in the series, intellectualizing vs practicing reflexivity and the importance of community. Season Two is coming soon! If you have an idea for an episode please get in touch with Madeleine (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) or Louise (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears). Episode mentions: Maria Barros Hoffman (https://laflordepapel.cl/book-author/ana-maria-barros-hoffmann/) Madeleine's article on privileges and positionality (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/16094069221081362) Skunk Anasie- Intellectualise My Blackness (https://open.spotify.com/track/6DaoyRwWwyBBV99Zlix1Pj?si=492f9abc3122437f) “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. This first series is funded by The COST Action DecolDEV which takes on the challenge to reconstruct the concept and practice of development after its deconstruction. This series showcases conversations from academics in Politics, International Relations and Development as they reflect on decolonial practices in education. The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Lecturer in Global Security Challenges. It is produced by Dr Marine Guéguin (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/pgr/875/marine-gueguin-) and Dr Harrison Swinhoe (https://css.leeds.ac.uk/profiles/harrison-swinhoe/) both Post-doctoral researchers in the Centre for Global Security Challenges. Follow us! @CTISLeeds (https://twitter.com/CTISLeeds) @DrMLeBourdon (https://twitter.com/DrMLeBourdon) @LouiseKPears (https://twitter.com/louisekpears?s=20) Funding Provider: This podcast is funded by the EU's Cost Action Decolonising Development (CA19129): www.cost.eu (http://www.cost.eu). The Action works towards a resetting and diversification of the structures, institutions and spaces in which knowledge about and for development is produced, shared, contested and put into practice. Decolonisation of knowledge about ‘development’ cannot mean to maintain a paternalist binary of those already developed and those less developed but must scrutinize the structures and institutions that maintain power imbalances and the ideas that support paternalistic relations and assumptions of superiority according to intersectional (read: gendered, racialized, classed etc.) objectification of the Other

13. 

    21 Jul 2023

    What is the distinction between good pedagogy and decolonial pedagogy?

    Episode Three: For the last our conversations we welcome to the podcast Prof. Robbie Shilliam (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjAtZeClJuAAxWsSjABHYfQDpsQFnoECBgQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoliticalscience.jhu.edu%2Fdirectory%2Frobbie-shilliam%2F&usg=AOvVaw2bm1IvrFsuwj7xvwbNSIGS&opi=89978449), Professor in International Relations at Johns Hopkins University and Dr Olivia U. Rutazibwa (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjVhIi5k5uAAxWqVTABHbBvDXoQFnoECCYQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lse.ac.uk%2Fsociology%2Fpeople%2Folivia-rutazibwa&usg=AOvVaw097sDgb06Q9y9jxUaTARWe&opi=89978449), Assistant Professor in Human Rights and Politics at London School of Economics. In this episode we explore the difference between good pedagogy and decolonial pedagogy, hierarchies in the classroom, as well as Beyonce's Superbowl performance as a stimuli for teaching International Relations theory. Podcast: The Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (CTIS) are delighted to launch the first series of “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. This first series is funded by The COST Action DecolDEV which takes on the challenge to reconstruct the concept and practice of development after its deconstruction. This series showcases conversations from academics in Politics, International Relations and Development as they reflect on decolonial practices in education. The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Lecturer in Global Security Challenges. It is produced by Dr Marine Guéguin (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/pgr/875/marine-gueguin-) and Dr Harrison Swinhoe (https://css.leeds.ac.uk/profiles/harrison-swinhoe/) both Post-doctoral researchers in the Centre for Global Security Challenges.Follow us! @CTISLeeds (https://twitter.com/CTISLeeds) @DrMLeBourdon (https://twitter.com/DrMLeBourdon) @LouiseKPears (https://twitter.com/louisekpears?s=20)Funding Provider: This podcast is funded by the EU's Cost Action Decolonising Development (CA19129): www.cost.eu (http://www.cost.eu). The Action works towards a resetting and diversification of the structures, institutions and spaces in which knowledge about and for development is produced, shared, contested and put into practice. Decolonisation of knowledge about ‘development’ cannot mean to maintain a paternalist binary of those already developed and those less developed but must scrutinize the structures and institutions that maintain power imbalances and the ideas that support paternalistic relations and assumptions of superiority according to intersectional (read: gendered, racialized, classed etc.) objectification of the Other.

14. 

    2 Jun 2023

    Confronting Coloniality

    Episode Two: For our second episode we are joined by Dr Sharon Stein (https://edst.educ.ubc.ca/stein-sharon/)Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Studies at the University of British Columbia, and Dalila P. Coelho (https://www.fpce.up.pt/ciie/?q=researchers/dalila-coelho) a Ph.D researcher at the University of Porto. In this episode we ask if 'confronting coloniality' provides a better framing for our pedagogical work, what we can (un)learn from the field of Global Education and explore the importance of language in teaching on global challenges. .Podcast: The Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship (CTIS) are delighted to launch the first series of “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. This first series is funded by The COST Action DecolDEV which takes on the challenge to reconstruct the concept and practice of development after its deconstruction. This series showcases conversations from academics in Politics, International Relations and Development as they reflect on decolonial practices in education. The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Lecturer in Global Security Challenges. It is produced by Dr Marine Guéguin (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/pgr/875/marine-gueguin-) and Dr Harrison Swinhoe (https://css.leeds.ac.uk/profiles/harrison-swinhoe/) both Post-doctoral researchers in the Centre for Global Security Challenges. Follow us! @CTISLeeds (https://twitter.com/CTISLeeds) @DrMLeBourdon (https://twitter.com/DrMLeBourdon) @LouiseKPears (https://twitter.com/louisekpears?s=20) Funding Provider: This podcast is funded by the EU's Cost Action Decolonising Development (CA19129): www.cost.eu (http://www.cost.eu). The Action works towards a resetting and diversification of the structures, institutions and spaces in which knowledge about and for development is produced, shared, contested and put into practice. Decolonisation of knowledge about ‘development’ cannot mean to maintain a paternalist binary of those already developed and those less developed but must scrutinize the structures and institutions that maintain power imbalances and the ideas that support paternalistic relations and assumptions of superiority according to intersectional (read: gendered, racialized, classed etc.) objectification of the Other.

15. 

    18 Apr 2023

    Decolonial Approaches in Higher Education

    Episode one: In our first episode we are joined by Dr Lata Narayanaswamy (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/93/dr-lata-narayanaswamy) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development at the University of Leeds and Dr Sayan Dey (https://sayandey.com/) Postdoctoral Fellow at WITS Centre for Diversity Studies, University of Witwatersrand who generously share their thoughts on the possibilities and limits of decolonial approaches to education, the value of silence and reflection in the classroom and the need to open up and hold spaces for decolonial potential.Podcast: We are delighted to launch the first series of “Politics and Pedagogy” a podcast run by the Centre for Teaching Innovation and Scholarship in Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. This first series is funded by The COST Action DecolDEV which takes on the challenge to reconstruct the concept and practice of development after its deconstruction. This series showcases conversations from academics in Politics, International Relations and Development as they reflect on decolonial practices in education.The podcast hosts are Dr Madeleine Le Bourdon (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1483/dr-madeleine-le-bourdon) Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development and Dr Louise Pears (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/staff/1266/dr-louise-pears) Lecturer in Global Security Challenges. It is produced by Dr Marine Guéguin (https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/politics/pgr/875/marine-gueguin-) and Dr Harrison Swinhoe (https://css.leeds.ac.uk/profiles/harrison-swinhoe/) both Post-doctoral researchers in the Centre for Global Security Challenges.@CTISLeedsFunding Provider: This podcast is funded by the EU's Cost Action Decolonising Development (CA19129): www.cost.eu (http://www.cost.eu). The Action works towards a resetting and diversification of the structures, institutions and spaces in which knowledge about and for development is produced, shared, contested and put into practice. Decolonisation of knowledge about ‘development’ cannot mean to maintain a paternalist binary of those already developed and those less developed but must scrutinize the structures and institutions that maintain power imbalances and the ideas that support paternalistic relations and assumptions of superiority according to intersectional (read: gendered, racialized, classed etc.) objectification of the Other.

Inside a recent episode

Pedagogical Research Centres and Communities

Published 9 Feb 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] It's really interesting to hear about the ways that different inspirational moments that reach you at different points on your journey matter be that through being taught by encountering colleagues at your own institutions and that's where I guess to move this back into a question that focuses on communities I wanted to ask how education communities have been important in shaping that career so we've spoken a bit about individuals but how those groups of individuals or how you've found kind of joy in those faces. […]

Who has been a guest on Politics and Pedagogy

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sylvie Lomer
• Charles Mathies
• Jenna Mittelmeier
• Melissa Whatley

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5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 18 / 100

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8

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Engagement

68

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