The intellectual biography of Syed Farid Alatas: Hegemonic orientations, epistemic decolonisation and the School of Autonomous Knowledge

Moosavi, Leon ORCID: 0000-0002-1639-5049 and Alatas, Syed Farid (2024) The intellectual biography of Syed Farid Alatas: Hegemonic orientations, epistemic decolonisation and the School of Autonomous Knowledge CURRENT SOCIOLOGY, 72 (6). pp. 1163-1184. ISSN 0011-3921, 1461-7064

PDF moosavi-alatas-2023-the-intellectual-biography-of-syed-farid-alatas-hegemonic-orientations-epistemic-decolonisation-and (2).pdf - Open Access published version Download (334kB) | Preview

Abstract

Syed Farid Alatas is a Malaysian sociologist who has been highly influential in discussions about decolonising knowledge. He has also continued the legacy of his esteemed father, Syed Hussein Alatas, by furthering ‘the School of Autonomous Knowledge’ in the Malay Archipelago and beyond. This article presents a wide-ranging, comprehensive and rich dialogue between Farid and Leon Moosavi. In this conversation, pertinent questions are asked: How does Farid’s approach to decolonising knowledge differ from other decolonial scholars? What exactly does Farid mean when he talks of ‘intellectual imperialism’, ‘alternative discourses’ and ‘academic dependency’? This dialogue also explores Farid’s extensive engagement with the Islamic/Muslim sphere, including topics such as: Ibn Khaldun, Muslim revivalism, Muslim sectarianism and the Islamisation of knowledge. The discussion also explores some potential critiques of Farid’s intellectual contributions with challenging questions: Can Farid’s theoretical ideals be applied in ‘the real world’ or are they confined to an audience of intellectual elites? Is Farid anti-Western? Or, actually, does his work inadvertently fall into the trap of Westerncentrism? This article offers a unique insight into the intellectual biography of one of the most notable social theorists of the current era.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Epistemic decolonisation, Eurocentrism, social theory, sociology of knowledge, Syed Farid Alatas, decolonisation epistemique, eurocentrisme, sociologie de la connaissance, theorie sociale, descolonizacion epistemica, eurocentrismo, sociologia del conocimiento, teoria social
Divisions:	Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Law and Social Justice
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	30 Aug 2023 10:22
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 11:30
DOI:	10.1177/00113921231194094
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3172417
Disclaimer:	The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.