GLOBALISATION AND IDENTITY: Australian scholar advocates unified, inclusive path forward

Islamabad : In a globalised world, where societies are increasingly multicultural, adopting a relational and decolonised approach to identity can bridge divides, foster inclusivity, and reshape cultural connections, emphasised Australian critical race scholar Prof Debbie Bargallie.

"This perspective not only promotes a more equitable and interconnected future, but also resists the exploitation of values, focusing instead on the shared humanity that unites us all," Prof Bargallie told a seminar on “Reshaping Cultural Connections in a Globalised World” at the Institute of Policy Studies here.

The event, chaired by member of the Supreme Court's Shariat Appellate Bench Dr Khalid Masud and attended by IPS chairman Khalid Rahman, served as a precursor to an international seminar to be organised by the IPS on Dec 5 on "The Role of Religions in Fostering Peace, Harmony and Justice.”

Prof Bargallie, an associate professor and principal research fellow at the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research and the Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University, Australia, said highlighted the interconnectedness of cultural histories and identities, emphasising how relationality and positionality shape knowledge and social research.

Drawing from cultural theorist Stuart Hall’s concept that all narratives are “in context” and positioned, she called for revisiting sidelined histories to foster a more inclusive understanding of cultural connections and identities.

Prof Bargallie shared insight from her research and personal experiences, exploring the historical links between Australia, Islam, and cultural relations.

She noted that trade and cultural exchanges between Muslims and Aboriginal Australians were established long before European colonisation, as evidenced by ancient maps by Al-Khwarizmi drawn in 820AD and Kilwa Sultanate coins found in Australia, which reveal a period of mutual engagement that predates European settlement.

The scholar also said 19th-century Muslim immigrants, including Afghans, Indians, Algerians, and Malays, shaped Australia’s industries as cameleers, farmers, and hawkers, whose contributions underscored the early foundations of Australia’s multicultural fabric.

She, however, she noted the challenges faced by these communities under the racially exclusionary White Australia policy, which marginalised non-European migrants.

Sharing a personal connection, Prof Bargallie recounted how her great-grandfather, a Muslim from Punjab who migrated in the 1890s, was unable to leave Australia due to discriminatory policies like the English dictation test.

"Despite such challenges, the resilience and growth of Australia’s Muslim community have significantly enriched the nation’s multicultural identity. Pakistani migrants, now the 17th largest migrant group in Australia, exemplify this vibrancy. Moreover, Islam, as the fastest-growing religion in the country, now accounts for 3.2 per cent of the population, highlighting the increasing acceptance of cultural diversity," she said.

The scholar called for a decolonised approach to cultural studies that values indigenous epistemologies, marginalised voices, and non-Eurocentric frameworks, and narratives that emphasise shared histories, fluid identities, and relationality to address systemic challenges like displacement, marginalisation, and loss of cultural heritage.

She added that national frameworks rooted in inclusivity could serve as powerful tools for promoting harmony and coexistence under a shared identity.

Dr Khalid Masud noted that unlike political identity, which imposed boundaries, cultural identity offered a more inclusive and expansive sense of belonging.

He said in the digital era, where identities were increasingly shaped and politicised, there was a need to resist the exploitation of values and instead focus on the shared humanity that connected all the people.