Olivia Umurerwa Rutazibwa

Dr. Olivia Umurerwa Rutazibwa is a Rwandan-Belgian political scientist and Senior Lecturer at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in the Department of Sociology. Previously, she taught International Development and European Studies at the University of Portsmouth for eight years before joining LSE in 2021.

• PhD in Political Science/International Relations from Ghent University (2013)
• Doctoral training at European University Institute (2001-2006)
• Affiliated Research Fellow at Johannesburg Institute of Advanced Studies (South Africa)

Her research focuses on decolonial theory and epistemic Blackness, particularly examining anticolonial solidarity through:

• Epistemic justice and knowledge decolonization
• Recovery of postcolonial dignity and repair practices
• Critical analysis of liberal humanitarianism and development paradigms
• Narrative methodologies for political science

Recent publications explore:

• Epistemic Blackness as methodological framework (2024)
• Comparative analysis of postcolonial dignity practices (2024)
• Critical reflections on inclusion and anticolonial thought (2023)
• Colonial knowledge production in Rwanda studies (2014)

She co-edited:

• Routledge Handbook of Postcolonial Politics (2018)
• Decolonization and Feminisms in Global Teaching (2018)

Active in academic governance as:

• Former Associate Editor of International Feminist Journal of Politics
• Editorial Board member of International Politics Review and Review of International Studies

Her work challenges structural whitewashing in commemoration practices while maintaining critical engagement with epistemic violence in global politics.