The emergence of global knowledge societies is recently questioning the meaning and relevance of local knowledge in the context of Southern countries. Women have proved to be the central actors in the multiple channels of local-global networking, using these new social ties for the negotiation of old and new elements of knowledge, scientific knowledge and development discourses. The inherent politicisation of knowledge and the direct objective of transforming societal institutions are not only signs of resistance against global hegemony, but serve for a new definition and for a defence of local culture and of local knowledge.

Autorentext

Christine Müller (Dr. rer. soc.) has recently become a scientific transmigrant being a Post-Doc at National Centre of Competence in Research North-South (NCCR North-South), University of Berne (Switzerland), and a lecturer at Sociology of Development Research Centre, University of Bielefeld (Germany). She has switched her research focus on virtual governance in Southern Africa and South East Asia.