The GLOBALISE Conference (took place in Amsterdam, March 3โ6, 2026) showcased how to un-build colonial archives. By using machine-readable transcriptions on the Dutch East India Company (VOC) archives, researchers are shifting the focus away from European governors and toward the vernacular voices of local communities in Asia and Africa.
- The Question: Does digitizing a colonial archive "democratize" it, or does it simply move the power imbalance to whoever controls the server?
- Context: Consider the Imperial Boomerang - the idea that methods of colonial control eventually return to haunt the metropole.
- Discussion Point: How can we ensure that "AI-enhanced" history doesn't just automate old colonial biases?
