Sub-Saharan Africa in the 1970s.


Crises, Conflicts and Transformations

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Center of Historical and Political Studies on Africa and the Middle East based at the Department of Politics, Institutions, History (University of Bologna), in co-operation with the Working Group on “Transitions in (Southern) Africa” of the European Association of Development Institutes (EADI) will host the international conference: “Sub-Saharan Africa in the 1970s. Crises, Conflicts and Transformations” in Bologna (Italy) on 21-22 January 2011.

During the 1970s Sub-Saharan Africa experienced deep political, economic and social transformations. The crises of the post-colonial nation-building processes were compounded by growing authoritarian practices and faltering economic growth under the notion of a “developmental state”, which failed to achieve such development for the majority of people. State institutions were further weakened by armed conflicts deeply embroiled in Cold War rivalries. This process was particularly pronounced in the Horn of Africa, where the Ethiopia-Somalia war paved the way to further superpowers’ involvement in regional politics, and in Southern Africa. The late decolonization of Angola and Mozambique was followed by deeply internationalized civil wars in both countries. While Namibia’s independence was denied by South Africa’s military occupation, a new wave of popular protest within the latter was met by violent repression. Finally, only in December 1979 the Lancaster House Agreement put an end to the armed conflict in Rhodesia.

Papers are invited that address the following issues:

  • the political, economic and social factors that undermined the nation-building processes in Sub-Saharan Africa during the 1970s,
  • the exhaustion of the state-led economic development model and the origins of the debt crisis.
  • the armed conflicts and the military and diplomatic role of regional and international actors,
  • the independence struggles in Southern Africa.

Abstracts (500 words maximum) should be sent to Dr. Arrigo Pallotti (arrigo.pallotti@unibo.it) and Dr. Mario Zamponi (mario.zamponi@unibo.it) before 15 July 2010. Authors of accepted papers will be contacted by 31 August 2010 at the latest. Final papers should be submitted by 15 November 2010. 

Speakers will be offered accommodation in Bologna, but they are requested to cover their travel costs. A limited number of travel grants may be available for speakers coming from Africa.

Scientific Board

Members of the scientific board are: Prof. Anna Maria Gentili (University of Bologna), Dr. Mario Zamponi (University of Bologna), Prof. Ian Phimister (University of Sheffield), Dr. Henning Melber (Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, Uppsala), Dr. Arrigo Pallotti (University of Bologna), Prof. Mario del Pero (University of Bologna).