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THE POWERFUL PRESENCE OF THE PAST
HISTORICAL DIMENSIONS OF INTEGRATION AND CONFLICT
IN THE UPPER GUINEA COAST, WEST AFRICA
Conference organised by the Research Group:
“Integration and Conflict in the Upper Guinea Coast”
Halle/Saale, Germany, October 18-20, 2006
In 2005 a new research group was established at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle/Germany (http://www.eth.mpg.de). It aims at a systematic and comparative analysis of processes of integration and conflict in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape Verde. These processes are regarded and studied as interrelated dimensions of cultural tradition, historical experience as well as social and political dynamics. Our first conference will be dedicated to the historical dimensions of processes of integration and conflict. It is the aim of the conference to assess the impact and repercussions of specific historical experiences on current processes and practices of (re-)integration and conflict in the Upper Guinea Coast and to elucidate the potential for comparative research.
We would welcome papers dealing with (inter alia):
the impact of different colonial powers on colonial and postcolonial processes of integration and conflict as well as on nation-building and statehood
settler communities’ role in processes of integration and conflict and in the construction and obstruction of postcolonial nation-building and statehood
the role of local rulers in processes of social and political (re-)integration and conflict
the experience of the transatlantic slave trade (and its interior counterparts) with regard to concepts and strategies of inclusion and exclusion
the role of traditional institutions (e.g. secret societies) in processes of (re-)integration and conflict
the interaction of traditional authorities and new social and political practices in processes of integration and conflict
continuity and change in the role of local authorities within circumstances of long-term violence and processes of (re-)integration
continuity and change of intergenerational and gender relations with regard to current processes and practices of (re-)integration and conflict
Travel expenses will be refunded and accommodation provided for those invited to present a paper.
Please send abstracts (not exceeding 500 words and no later than 19 May 2006) and inquiries for further information to Jacqueline Knörr: knoerr@eth.mpg.de
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