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Conclusion

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Responsibility, privileged irresponsibility and response-ability

Part of the book series: Palgrave Critical University Studies ((PCU))

Abstract

In our conclusion to the book, we emphasise the new theoretical, political and ethical openings for higher education internationalisation by utilising Corey Walker’s (Transmodernity, 1(2), 104–119 (2011)) notion of the ‘ethics of opacity’ as an approach that interrogates the dominant logics of neoliberalism and coloniality/modernity and along with them the perpetuation of privileged irresponsibility. We suggest that the ethics of opacity, as a form of decolonial ecological ethics, provides ethical and political recognition to the opaque sites of colonised humans and more-than-human species, thus providing a viable opening for response-ability. We discuss the implications of the ethics of opacity for a renewed agenda in internationalisation practices and policies of higher education. We develop eight propositions which can be enacted in higher education, with specific attention to coloniality and ecological damage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Higher Education, Research, Teaching and Learning, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa

    Vivienne Bozalek

  2. Program of Educational Studies, Open University of Cyprus, Latsia, Cyprus

    Michalinos Zembylas

Authors
  1. Vivienne Bozalek
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  2. Michalinos Zembylas
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Bozalek, V., Zembylas, M. (2023). Conclusion. In: Responsibility, privileged irresponsibility and response-ability. Palgrave Critical University Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34996-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34996-6_7

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-34995-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-34996-6

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