[teampractices] [FYI] Coloniality (a presentation from Wikimania)

[Kevin Smith]

While at Wikimania, I attended a talk titled "Coloniality of Power in
Wikimedia". It was an intentionally provocative look at how the WMF, and
the broader movement are treating the "Global South".

Coloniality is a descendent of colonialism, and if I can paraphrase, refers
to some powerful group assuming that members another group are inferior,
and treating them with paternalism. I agree with much of the presentation,
and disagree with portions.

For me, and from a Team Practices perspective, the most interesting part
was on slide 11 (of 20): Does Wikimedia assume that "What is not measurable
is not valuable"? With our current focus on metrics, it seems the
foundation is at least at risk of devaluing what is not measurable. Is a
focus on measurable value a cultural artifact of the so-called global
north, and is it helpful or harmful (or both)?

[1]
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coloniality_of_power_in_Wikimedia.pdf


Kevin Smith
Agile Coach
Wikimedia Foundation



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