Decolonizing Ourselves

Carol J. Pierce Colfer is semi-retired from the Center for International Forestry Research in Bogor, Indonesia, where she worked from 1994 until 2009 as Principal Researcher and Program Leader. In 2009, she chose a loose affiliation as a Senior Associate and moved to Ithaca, New York. In 2024, she received the prestigious Scientific Achievement Award from the International Union of Forestry Research Organizations in Sweden. Between 2009 and 2024, she was also affiliated with Cornell University. She has authored and co-edited numerous books, her most recent being two collections are Adaptive Collaborative Management in Forest Landscapes (Taylor & Francis 2022) and Responding to Environmental Issues through Adaptive Collaborative Management (Taylor & Francis 2023).

“This is a most important and much-needed contribution to the literature on applied anthropology. Its most valuable quality is braiding first-hand experience of an immense number of international locations, ethnic groups, social classes, and political circumstances with a chronological account of her own growth as a person and as an anthropologist.” • Megan Biesele, Director Emerita, Kalahari Peoples Fund.“This book is a nuanced example of ethnography and how it can be practiced. It makes a powerful argument for socially committed social science.” • Robert Fisher, University of Sydney

• List of IllustrationsNarrativesAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Where We Are HeadedPart I: AwakeningCase 1. Ankara, Türkiye (1955–1961): A Little Girl’s Perspective on Global InequityCase 2. Leaderlong Indian School (1971): Colonialism in the USACase 3. Iran and Inequality (1972): More Homegrown Colonialism Case 4. Bushler Bay, Washington (1973–1977): “Class,” Women, and Seeds of American Political Polarization Case 5. Family Planning Goes International (1975–1976): Stepping into the Multicultural and International Worlds of Wealth Case 6. East-West Center Workshop on Family Planning (1978): Further Inklings of the Power of Quantification in American ColonialismCase 7. Family Planning in Bali (1979): Encountering the International Donor World and Balinese MasculinitiesCase 8. East Kalimantan (): Defined as Elite and Reaping the Benefits Part II: GatheringCase 9. Women in Development at the University of Hawaii (1980–1982): Scientists in an American University Caught Up in ColonialismCase 10. Sitiung, West Sumatra, Indonesia (1983–1986): A Sifting of Colonial DetritusCase 11. The Consulting Experience, USAID (1983–1990): An Introduction to the World of Consulting Case 12. The Sultanate of Oman (1986–1990): Coping with Dismissal as a Woman in an Arab WorldCase 13. Consulting with International Organizations (1990–): Enduring Disillusionment Case 14. Danau Sentarum, West Kalimantan, Indonesia (1992–1993): Life and a Year of NegotiationPart III: Crafting Case 15. Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (1994–1995): Exposure to New Worlds, Confronting Linguistic IncompetenceCase 16. The Social Science Methods Tests (1996–1998): External Actors, Voice, and “Development” in ActionCase 17. Headquarters, Center for International Forestry Research (1995–2009): In the Belly of the Beast—Striving to ImproveCase 18. Adaptive Collaborative Management in Concept (1998–1999): Aiming for a Decolonizing ConceptCase 19. Putting ACM into Practice: Our Shortcomings on the Road to DecolonizationCase 20. Expanding ACM’s Scope in Central Sumatra (2002–2006): Coping with Finance, Authority, and Cultural Difference Case 21. Colonialism in Switzerland, Madagascar, Tanzania, and LaosPart IV: ReflectionCase 22. On : Into an Elite StrongholdCase 23. Revisiting Adaptive Collaborative Management (2020–2023): Broader-Scale Case 24. “Town” vs. “Gown” (2020–2025): Is This Really a Matter of Class?ConclusionCall to Action! What We Do and Don’t Do Matters!AppendicesGlossaryIndex