Discussion with Ximena Gonzalez Broquen on Venezuela's Struggle for Liberation and Moral Implications

Rebel Research: A Fresh Approach for a Revolutionized Society

Listen up, fellow trailblazers! In this no-holds-barred chat, we're chatting with Dr. Ximena González Broquen, a fierce social scientist leading the charge at Venezuela's renowned Institute for Scientific Research [IVIC]. She's here to spill the beans on a mind-blowing concept: Liberation Ethics. Buckle up!

So, doc, you're rocking this Liberation Ethics thing. What's that all about?

Enrique Dussel's Liberation Ethics is my jam for tackling research and knowledge creation. It's all about putting life at the forefront. In the realm of knowledge production, it's a political animal. With this philosophy, we carve a path towards liberation that starts with recognizing oppression, dismantling systems of oppression, and ultimately constructing a new system.

Alright, let's dive into the nitty-gritty. How's knowledge built in systems dominated by capitalism, colonialism, or neo-colonialism?

In the Liberation Ethics world, the collective approach to knowledge creation is key. Contrast this with the mainstream science model that views knowledge as the solitary accomplishment of a genius experimenting in a lab. In the mainstream, knowledge is patented, commodified, and circulated through the market.

Liberation Ethics flips this script. Knowledge emerges by acknowledging various ways oppression affects us. From there, we co-create knowledge through dialogue with others, deconstructing the traditional hierarchical structure of science. Voilá! We're turning the tables on the old school system.

How does this paradigm shift impact the landscape of research?

When applying the Liberation Ethics lens to the world of science, we're left with one mission: knock down the hierarchical structures that govern conventional research institutions. That's exactly what we're doing at IVIC's Center for the Research of Social Transformations. We've been grinding for over a decade to foster collective knowledge creation through various dynamics, processes, and projects. It ain't easy, but we're committed!

Now, tell us about this dream team you're working with. What's the main objective of the center?

Our center, founded at the IVIC, has been a thorn in the side of the mainstream research establishment since 2012. Our vision is unique: we aim to study socio-political transformation processes in Venezuela, the region, and the world using Liberation Ethics, Liberation Politics, and Liberation Philosophy. Think of us as the rabble-rousers quietly infiltrating the institution, turning its resources into fuel for life!

OK, let's talk IVIC. Is it like the Rockettes or something, or does the center fit in there somehow?

Ah, IVIC. Founded in 1959, it's an institution that's been stuck in the old ways. It mirrors a pyramid structure, with researchers on top, workers below, and janitorial staff at the bottom. But don't worry, at our center we're fighting to dissolve this hierarchical monster. We consider everyone who works there to be a researcher. We meet, we plan, and we build bridges between academic knowledge, knowledge from popular organizations, and public policy.

Let's talk seeds, the unfortunate example of knowledge extraction. How does it go down?

Seeds, my friends, are a perfect example of how knowledge is extracted. The modern seed production system leans on biotechnology to make and patent seeds which are then sold on the market. But here's the kicker: seeds are the product of centuries of knowledge passed down from generations in campesino and Indigenous communities.

Often, a researcher arrives from the city, collects a few samples from the field, makes a few tweaks, and claims the seeds as a new creation. This individual disregards the deep roots of these seeds and the work of those who cultivated them for generations.

The same pattern happens in the social sciences. A researcher might visit a community, gather stories, reflections, and present them as their own intellectual property, effectively exploiting the knowledge of the community.

Excellent! Now let's discuss the objectives of your center. What are you all about?

Our center aims to investigate socio-political transformation processes in Venezuela, the region, and the world through the lens of Liberation Ethics. We're working to build connections between academic knowledge, popular knowledge from communities, and public policy. Our work is all about transparency, cooperation, and leveling the playing field.

One last question: What's the deal with the Seed Law and how does it bring together the three spheres of knowledge?

The Seed Law was a dream of campesino organizations, who came together to create a new definition for seeds and combat the National Assembly's bill that would have legalized GMOs and privatized seed production. Our center was there from the start, facilitating the transformation of popular knowledge into a legal form, ensuring that ancestral wisdom wasn't lost in translation.

In the end, the Seed Law protects the knowledge and interests of producers, gets rid of extraction practices, and offers a new vision for living and caring for our planet.

Whew, that was quite a ride. Thanks for spilling the beans on Liberation Ethics, Dr. González Broquen!

My pleasure, fellow rebel! Keep your eyes peeled for more transformations in the world of science and research. Solidarity!

Additional Insights:

The Liberation Ethics approach, like the work of Enrique Dussel and others in the liberation philosophy tradition, critiques capitalism, colonialism, and neo-colonialism for the violence they impose through knowledge extraction and appropriation from marginalized communities.
It advocates for decolonizing knowledge systems by centering the perspectives and epistemologies of those who have been historically excluded or silenced. This involves acknowledging diverse forms of knowledge beyond Western dominant paradigms.
Liberation Ethics seeks to transform the circulation of knowledge to ensure it benefits the communities from which it orgininates rather than enriching colonial or capitalist interests.
Knowledge extraction practices, such as the collection of ancestral remains and racial science, have been used to justify systemic oppression.
Through community-based knowledge production, Liberation Ethics promotes ethical practices that prioritize consent from involved communities.
Equitable distribution of knowledge benefits, ensuring that the communities whose knowledge and resources are utilized also share in the benefits and decision-making processes, is a key focus of the Liberation Ethics approach.

Dr. Ximena González Broquen applies Enrique Dussel's Liberation Ethics in her work at the Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC) to reconstruct research systems, ensuring that the lives and perspectives of the marginalized are placed at the forefront.
In Liberation Ethics, knowledge is co-created through dialogue, deconstructing traditional hierarchies, and acknowledging the ways various forms of oppression affect us.
At IVIC's Center for the Research of Social Transformations, knowledge is collectively created through various dynamics, processes, and projects, with the goal of leveling the playing field and promoting transparency, cooperation, and mutual benefits for the communities involved.