Bernard Forjwuor

Bernard Forjwuor is Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Notre Dame and a concurrent faculty member with the Department of Political Science. He serves as a Kellogg Faculty Fellow, conducting research at the intersection of political theory, African studies, and critical race theory.

His research focuses on:

• Black Political Thought
• African Political Thought/Philosophy
• Critical Theories of Race and Colonialism
• Postcolonial and Decolonial Theories

Forjwuor's scholarly work critically examines the relationship between colonialism and political independence, arguing that formal independence does not necessarily equate to political decolonization. His research demonstrates how colonial structures often reconstitute themselves in new legal and ideological forms despite territorial dissolution. He challenges conventional understandings of decolonization by asserting it is primarily a question of justice.

His significant publications include the 2023 book Critique of Political Decolonization (Oxford University Press) and journal articles such as On a Concept of Black Politics (2022) and Colonizing 'Free' Will: A Critique of Political Decolonization in Ghana (2020). His work constructs conceptual bridges between politics, history, law, African studies, economic history, and philosophy.

His current research projects include:

• Colonial Construction of Race (second book project)
• Reimagining Democracy: Decolonizing the Colonial Spatial Fix (2023-2024 Kellogg grant)

Forjwuor's educational background includes:

• PhD in African American studies from Northwestern University
• Master's degree in theater studies from the University of Guelph
• Dual master's degrees in African studies and political science from Ohio University

His research has significant implications for understanding democratic backsliding globally, particularly through his investigation of how colonial roots connect to contemporary democratic fragility in African nations.