CONFERENCE CALL
The Italian Association for African Studies (ASAI) in partnership with the Interdisciplinary Centre for African Studies of the University of Macerata is organising its Third Conference: September 17 -20, 2014
Africa on the Move
In the recent years, in spite of the frequent tragic events related to African migrations toward Europe and the Middle East, there have been clear evidences of substantial transformations involving African societies. This has been matched by broad improvements in terms of economic performances, though not always supported by political stability. On the average, Africa is showing a strong propulsive capability and the ability of assuming an increasingly relevant role in the system of international relations as well as in cultural and economic policies. This trend is noticeable not only in relations to Europe. Indeed, the new composite international arena, marked by regions with different growth paces, questions the prevalence and uniqueness of the African-European relation, as it has developed through the last centuries. Nowadays Africa is the object of increasing attention from international actors, from Asia to the Middle East, from Latin America to the USA. These developments contribute to determine a scenario in which people mobility and the exchange of competences, information and goods both within Africa and from Africa to the outer world, tends to become increasingly more complex and intertwined.
It is high time for Europe to examine Africa, with the specificities of different disciplinary approaches, as an area holistically marked by movement. The starting point for this approach should be to take into account the cultural, social and territorial diversity of the Continent as the result of the connections activated by mobility. Mobility, in spite of its multifaceted physiognomy, which leads more and more to affirm the existence of more Africas, is the major source of these differences. A second element has to be identified in the deeply spacial nature of this holistic element. Needless to say, nomadism, migrations, ethnic intertwining, temporal nature of settlements and even traditional political statutes are the results and the condition of this approach to the space.
ASAI biennial conference aims at exploring this perspective in a dynamic interdisciplinary approach. The ambition is to contribute also to the renewal and strengthening of the relations between Italy and African countries in a framework of mutual bnefit and effective partnership.
In the conference will be particularly welcomed papers suggesting reflections on Africa perceived diachronically as a place of various social, economical and cultural exchanges both inside the continent and toward the rest of the world, assuming mobility as a keyword of the African past and present..To this regard as broad thematic areas suggested for the presentation of panels and papers are the following:
- Internal and transcontinental mobility
- Migrations and social mobility
- Diasporic communities and political-economic transformations in Africa
- New networks and new economic and trade routes
- The impact of international cooperation policies on the development of transnational development networks.
- Circulation of cultural products in Africa and from Africa toward Europe.
- New trends in language policies in Africa
- Migrations and citizenship rights
The deadline for the submission of proposals for panels is May 20, 2014
Proposal for panels should be sent to the following address: conferenza2014@asaiafrica.org .
Panel proposals should include a title, a short abstract of no more than 250 words and a short academic profile of the convenor no longer than 50 words.
The deadline for the submission of paper's proposals is June 30, 2014
Proposal for panels should be sent to the following address by June 30, 2014: conferenza2014@asaiafrica.org.
Paper proposals addressed to specific panels will be evaluated by the convenor. Paper proposals with no indication of panels will be evaluated by the Scientific Committee of the Conference and then organised into panels.
All paper's proposals should include a title, a short abstract of no more than 250 words and a short academic profile of the proposers convenor no longer than 50 words
Registration
In order to attend the conference participants should pay the registration fees. Payments will be possible from June 15 through wire transfer to ASAI bank account ( IBAN: IT 11 P 07601 11300 001007872490). In the reason for the payment must be written the full name of the participant and " Conferenza 2014”.
Registration Fees are the following:
100 Euro for ASAI members with a position in a national or international research institution or professionals. This fee includes 60 Euros for ASAI biennial membership (2014-2015) and 40 Euro for the Conference registration.
50 Euro for all other ASAI members with no permanent position. This fee includes 30 Euros for ASAI biennial membership (1014-1015) and 20 Euro for the Conference registration. For those who have already paid 2014 membership fees will amount to 30 Euro.
130 Euro for those who are not ASAI members
It will also be possible to settle registration fees directly at the conference with an additional charge of 50 Euro to any of the previous fees.
ASAI grants
The Board of ASAI will provide grants to cover travel and/or accommodation expenses of ASAI members with no permanent positions or of scholars from disadvantaged areas. The expenses will be covered partially or completely, according to the availability of funds.