The Africa Research Centre of the Department of Political Studies, University of Pécs, in co-operation with Hungary’s Africa Studies journal (Afrika Tanulmányok) and the African Studies MA Programme of ELTE University, Budapest will host an international interdisciplinary conference on Africa’s past 50 years and coming 50 years. Working languages: English and French.
I. Geography (explorations, hydrology, climate change, regulations, mining and extraction, energy, threats, population concentration, impact of the development/deterioration of the infrastructure)
II. History (colonialism, imperialism revisited, decolonization, military conflicts and their aftermath, new imperialism)
III. Politics (civil wars, nation-building and ethnic cleansing, failed and fragile states, African ownership, African Union, decentralization, role of INOs, GOs, NGOs, security issues, political culture, Africa in world politics)
IV. Economics (development plans and failures, old and new venture forms, strategic resources, raw materials and value-added production, old and new investors, FDI, IT’s impacts and the growing “industry” of the Nigerian 419 scam, from zero sum to win-win, impact of the global crises)
V. International law (colonial heritage, ICC, uti possidetis still valid?, reemerging border disputes, federation tendencies, secessionism)
VI. Linguistics (old and new local languages, vernacular languages, di-, triglossia, slang, impact of European languages, Arabic in Africa)
VII. Arts (literature in European and in local languages, music, dance, theater, movie, sculpture, painting)
VII. Biology and agriculture (discoveries of animals, plants, GMO, biodiversity in danger, WWF, DDT and other chemicals, old and new methods in agriculture)
VIII. Medicine (evolution of tropical medicine, AIDS prevention, virology, epidemiology, threats, prevision)
IX. Sociology (interethnic co-operation, impact of education, illiteracy, new elites–old poverty, reconciliation, demobilisation, child soldiers)
X. Humanitarian aid and voluntary action (role of INOs, GOs, NGOs, assessment)
XI. Anthropology (social- and cultural anthropology, new and old folklore, tradition and tourism)
XII. Religion (missions to and from Africa, old and new religious movements, situation of the religions, intolerance: respect or hatred)
Those interested in presenting their research findings and scientifically-backed opinions are requested to take the steps of registration as follows:
- Send your abstracts of maximum 300 words to tarrosy@publikon.hu not later than midnight 28 February 2010. The final selection will be concluded by the Scientific Board of the Conference until 16 March 2010.
- After having been selected for the conference, transfer the conference fee of 60 EUR to the conference account provided for you in a separate e-mail. The fee includes full participation in the conference lectures, the buffet lunches and the conference dinners. The optional cultural programme on 29 May costs 12 EUR per person.
- Arrange your accommodation well in advance as long as 2010, the European Capital of Culture Year and its programmes keep the hotels in Pécs booked and busy all year long. The organisers will assist you with information on optimal bookings and related issues.
- Arrange your travel accordingly. The organisers will help you find the best ways to get to Pécs.
- After having arranged the necessary administration with the conference organisers, and your travel and accommodation are settled, participate in the conference, after which submit your papers to the above e-mail address by midnight 27 June 2010. We will publish a proceedings volume until the end of the year.
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
27 May (Thursday)09:00 – 10:00 Registration
10:00 – 10:30 Welcome addresses
10:30 – 11:30 Keynote address
including debate
11:30 – 13:00 Panel sessions
13:00 – 14:30 Buffet lunch
14:30 – 18:00 Panel sessions
20:00 Conference dinner
28 May (Friday)
09:00 – 12:00 Panel sessions
12:00 – 14:00 Buffet lunch
14:00 – 17:00 Panel sessions
17:00 – 18:00 “Füssi Nagy Géza” Memorial Lecture
18:00 – 18:30 Final remarks and future follow-up
20:00 Conference dinner
29 May (Saturday)
Optional Programme in Pécs, European Capital of Culture 2010
09:30 Cultural tour in the City Centre, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and galleries, visiting the exclusive Torday Memorial Expedition in the DRC Photo Exhibition in Nádor Gallery
SCIENTIFIC BOARD
Paper proposals/abstracts will be considered and selected by the Scientific Board of the Conference composed of the following researchers/experts: Mihály Benkes (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest), Gábor Búr (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest), Sándor Csizmadia (Corvinus University, Budapest and University of Pécs), Attila T. Horváth (Budapest University of Technology and Economics), Edina Kicsindi (University of Pécs), Loránd Szabó (University of Pécs), István Tarrósy (University of Pécs), Gábor Ternák (University of Pécs), András Trócsányi (University of Pécs).
Department of Political Studies, Africa Research Centre, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pécs
organiser of the conference
Loránd SZABÓ, szabo@btk.pte.hu
Department of Modern History, Institute of History, Faculty of Humanities, University of Pécs
organiser of the conference
