African Studies Global Virtual Forum: Decoloniality & Southern Epistemologies – Mohsen Nagheeby

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The talk provides a valuable critical perspective on water diplomacy, challenging the dominant security-peace paradigm and introducing the concept of hydro-decolonisation. The argument is well-structured, moving from a critique of existing paradigms to a proposal for a new one. Nagheeby effectively uses metaphors (Tintin’s gaze, capitalist black hole) to illustrate complex ideas. However, the argument is primarily theoretical and lacks concrete case studies or empirical evidence. The presentation is persuasive but could benefit from more specific examples of how hydro-decolonisation would be implemented in practice.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The speaker demonstrates scientific rigor by grounding his argument in critical hydropolitics and decolonial theory, referencing his own published work and that of others. However, the talk does not provide a comprehensive list of sources, and some claims are made without direct citations. The title accurately reflects the content, which is a forum on decoloniality and southern epistemologies. The talk is well-aligned with the forum’s theme.

The title accurately reflects the content: a forum on decoloniality and southern epistemologies, with the speaker presenting his concept of hydro-decolonisation.

8/10

The speaker is an interdisciplinary scholar at Newcastle University Centre for Water, with publications in leading journals. The talk is well-structured, theoretically grounded, and draws on critical hydropolitics and decolonial thought. However, it is an opinion/expert talk rather than a peer-reviewed study, and some claims lack direct citations.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 02:00Introduction: Dr. Nagheeby introduces the topic and poses the question 'whose peace?'
• 10:00Discussion of the three dominant paradigms in water politics: water war, water peace, and critical hydropolitics.
• 20:00Critique of the materialist bias in water diplomacy.
• 30:00Discussion of representational asymmetry and how the global south is narrated as unstable.
• 40:00Introduction of the 'capitalist black hole' concept and its implications for water governance.
• 50:00Placement of rivers within colonial and imperial histories, using examples from the Middle East and India.
• 1:00:00Discussion of the distinction between peace and pacification, and the role of narratives.
• 1:10:00Conclusion: Call for a radical epistemological shift in water diplomacy, moving from security-peace to equity-identity.

• Decolonizing water diplomacy — Mentioned as recent work by the speaker and colleagues.
• Capitalist black hole in water governance — Concept introduced in the talk, based on five years of collaboration.

• Critical hydropolitics — The talk builds on critical hydropolitics literature, which is consistent with the speaker's argument.

• Water war paradigm — The speaker critiques the water war paradigm, which is a contrasting view that emphasizes scarcity leading to conflict.