The SOAS Centre for Pan-African Studies (CPAS) invites original paper submissions for a three-day workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focusing on Pan-Africanism in the contemporary world. This workshop will bring together scholars to explore Pan-Africanism from diverse cross-disciplinary perspectives and to examine its evolving significance and manifestations in today’s intellectual, political, and policy contexts.
Background
Pan-Africanism has a rich and complex history, evolving from its origins as a political, cultural, and intellectual movement into a multifaceted chain of resistance against colonial, imperial, and neocolonial forces. Originating among Africans in the diaspora, particularly in America and the Caribbean, it initially challenged racial segregation and advocated for emancipation. In the mid-20th century, it was adopted by African nationalists like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana as a framework for anti-colonial struggle and political independence. This vision promoted the idea of a self-sufficient continent with its own agency, distinct from Western influence and the excesses of Soviet communism. Subsequently, it became institutionalized in inter-state politics, serving as a foundational principle for the regional and continental politics of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and its successor, the African Union (AU), as well as for regional economic communities (RECs). Despite instances of co-optation to justify authoritarian rule and token anti-imperialist rhetoric, Pan-Africanism continues to underpin policy aspirations for political and economic transformation.
The ideas and values that shaped Pan-Africanism remain a highly relevant framework for analysing contemporary African and diaspora politics. This workshop seeks to explore both traditional and fresh interpretations of Pan-Africanism in the context of fast-changing contemporary global political and economic shifts. We aim to understand how Pan-Africanism can help us frame the realities of a connected yet fragmented world, where power dynamics, identity, and solidarity are continuously evolving.
We invite papers that explore how Pan-Africanism can be re-read and reimagined, either as a philosophical framework or as a basis for collective action and solidarity politics. We are particularly interested in contributions that delve into the historical ideals of Pan-Africanism and examine how these ideals can be interpreted to understand contemporary global challenges. We encourage submissions from diverse perspectives, including but not limited to global, African continental, regional, and diasporan viewpoints. We aim to foster a cross-disciplinary dialogue to deepen our understanding of complex global issues drawing on diverse examples and perspectives.
Themes
We welcome papers that provide innovative methodologies and fresh insights into the relevance and application of Pan-Africanism in contemporary intellectual, political, and policy discussions. We particularly encourage submissions that challenge conventional assumptions, address contradictions and tensions, and move beyond essentialized and romanticized narratives of Pan-Africanism. Potential themes include, but are not limited to:
- Pan-Africanism and multilateralism
- Africa in the Changing Multilateral World
- Pan-Africanism and African institutions (AU and RECS, etc.)
- Regional integration, Borders and Boundaries
- Neocolonialism, economic development and Inequality
- Elite Capture, political accountability and popular participation
- Pan-Africanism, Critical Pedagogy and the African University
- Migration, Racism, Cultural Identity and Diaspora Politics
- Transnationalism, Identity Politics, Solidarity Politics
- Pan-Africanism, Gender, and Intersectionality
- Collective action and Climate Change
Submission Guideline
The workshop will take place from January 8 – 10, 2025, in Addis Ababa. Lodging and meals will be provided, and some travel bursaries will be available.
Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words for an advanced research paper, along with a CV and a statement indicating your intention to participate in person in Addis Ababa, to cpas@soas.ac.uk by September 30, 2024. Please use the subject heading ‘Pan-Africanism workshop’.
Participants are expected to submit a full draft paper by December 30, 2024, to facilitate response, feedback, and peer reflection during the workshop. We aim to publish an edited collection of the papers after the workshop.
The workshop is organized by SOAS Center for Pan-African Studies at Department of Politics and International Studies. It is funded by the UKRI Future Leaders-funded project ‘Pan-African Frontiers and Identities: The Remaking of Africa in World Politics’ led by Dr. Daniel Mulugeta.
For more information on the project, visit Pan-African Frontiers. For details about the SOAS Centre for Pan-African Studies, visit https://www.soas.ac.uk/centre-pan-african-studies
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