The Lancet and colonialism: past, present, and future

Area of Science:

• Medical history
• Colonial studies
• Scholarly publishing

Background:

• Medical and health journals have historically aligned with colonial practices, perpetuating the idea of the inferiority of non-Western knowledge systems.
• Colonialism exploited people and places, with academic institutions playing a key role in sustaining its legacies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the historical and contemporary alignment of medical journals with colonial practices.
• To analyze The Lancet's role in legitimizing and promoting specific knowledge and perspectives in health and medicine due to its global influence.
• To encourage broader contestation regarding the practices, audience, positionality, and ownership of journals in global knowledge production.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of The Lancet's content and its relationship with colonialism.
• Examination of past and present examples illustrating the journal's role.
• Comparative analysis with other publications within the British Empire.

Main Results:

• The Lancet has historically legitimized and continues to promote specific knowers, knowledge, perspectives, and interpretations in health and medicine, aligning with colonial agendas.
• The journal's role is not unique, as other publications within the British Empire also supported colonial expansion.
• Evidence suggests a pattern of devaluing and marginalizing non-Western ways of knowing and being.

Conclusions:

• Medical journals, exemplified by The Lancet, have been complicit in colonialism and its enduring legacies.
• There is a need for critical examination of the influence and practices of journals in global health knowledge production.
• Further investigation into journal practices, audience engagement, positionality, and ownership is crucial for decolonizing medical and health scholarship.