New Area Studies as an Epistemological Framework: Some Reflections of Knowledge Production and Positionality

New Area Studies can be seen as resulting from the debate in the Area Studies between the need for disciplinarity and the urgency of ethical research practices in the social sciences. As such, it is fertile ground for reflexions on methodology, knowledge production and the construction of epistemic...

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Main Author: Marianela Barrios Aquino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of East Anglia 2025-01-01
Series:New Area Studies
Online Access:https://account.newareastudies.com/index.php/up-j-nas/article/view/81
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author Marianela Barrios Aquino
author_facet Marianela Barrios Aquino
author_sort Marianela Barrios Aquino
collection DOAJ
description New Area Studies can be seen as resulting from the debate in the Area Studies between the need for disciplinarity and the urgency of ethical research practices in the social sciences. As such, it is fertile ground for reflexions on methodology, knowledge production and the construction of epistemic communities that go beyond disciplinary silos. In this paper, I argue that New Area Studies is useful as a lens through which to engage with decolonial and postcolonial critiques of the social sciences and humanities. To present New Area Studies as an epistemological framework, in this theoretical intervention, I first engage with its origins in the field of Area Studies and the critiques aimed at it. Next, I propose that taking such critique seriously involves necessarily a discussion of knowledge production and research practice. Finally, I propose that New Area Studies can be understood as an epistemological framework useful to address contemporary challenges faced by all social sciences, not only Area Studies. This paper weaves together decolonial and feminist approaches to research, to argue for the relevance of New Area Studies scholarship.
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spelling doaj-art-7fb9e31109984bfcb53c4fbe7ac5276d2025-02-11T05:40:29ZengUniversity of East AngliaNew Area Studies2633-37162025-01-014310.37975/NAS.8158New Area Studies as an Epistemological Framework: Some Reflections of Knowledge Production and PositionalityMarianela Barrios Aquino0Centre for European and International Studies Research, University of PortsmouthNew Area Studies can be seen as resulting from the debate in the Area Studies between the need for disciplinarity and the urgency of ethical research practices in the social sciences. As such, it is fertile ground for reflexions on methodology, knowledge production and the construction of epistemic communities that go beyond disciplinary silos. In this paper, I argue that New Area Studies is useful as a lens through which to engage with decolonial and postcolonial critiques of the social sciences and humanities. To present New Area Studies as an epistemological framework, in this theoretical intervention, I first engage with its origins in the field of Area Studies and the critiques aimed at it. Next, I propose that taking such critique seriously involves necessarily a discussion of knowledge production and research practice. Finally, I propose that New Area Studies can be understood as an epistemological framework useful to address contemporary challenges faced by all social sciences, not only Area Studies. This paper weaves together decolonial and feminist approaches to research, to argue for the relevance of New Area Studies scholarship.https://account.newareastudies.com/index.php/up-j-nas/article/view/81
spellingShingle Marianela Barrios Aquino
New Area Studies as an Epistemological Framework: Some Reflections of Knowledge Production and Positionality
New Area Studies
title New Area Studies as an Epistemological Framework: Some Reflections of Knowledge Production and Positionality
title_full New Area Studies as an Epistemological Framework: Some Reflections of Knowledge Production and Positionality
title_fullStr New Area Studies as an Epistemological Framework: Some Reflections of Knowledge Production and Positionality
title_full_unstemmed New Area Studies as an Epistemological Framework: Some Reflections of Knowledge Production and Positionality
title_short New Area Studies as an Epistemological Framework: Some Reflections of Knowledge Production and Positionality
title_sort new area studies as an epistemological framework some reflections of knowledge production and positionality
url https://account.newareastudies.com/index.php/up-j-nas/article/view/81
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