The Eastern Cape: Historical Legacies and New Challenges
A conference is planned on the Eastern Cape, hosted by the Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Fort Hare, in East London and co-sponsored by the Chair of Race Relations, St Antony's College, University of Oxford. The dates are from Thursday 28th to Saturday 30th of August 2003. The main purpose of the conference is to bring together academics from the social sciences, geography, humanities, and related disciplines, who are interested in the past and future of the province, in order to share their research and perspectives. Participation by those involved in government and NGOs is also welcomed.
The Eastern Cape: Historical Legacies and New Challenges
Conference
28-30th August 2003 in East London, South Africa
The Eastern Cape: Historical Legacies and New Challenges
Conference, 28-30th August 2003 in East London, South Africa
Call for papers
A conference is planned on the Eastern Cape, hosted by the Institute of
Social and Economic Research, University of Fort Hare, in East London and
co-sponsored by the Chair of Race Relations, St Antony's College, University
of Oxford. The dates are from Thursday 28th to Saturday 30th of August
2003.
The main purpose of the conference is to bring together academics from the
social sciences, geography, humanities, and related disciplines, who are
interested in the past and future of the province, in order to share their
research and perspectives. Participation by those involved in government
and NGOs is also welcomed.
The Eastern Cape was a key area of conflict and interaction between
colonisers and colonised in South Africa. In the nineteenth century, it was
also a major centre of economic growth. It became a focus for the
development of African Christianity and education and can claim to have been
at the heart of new political movements, and early African nationalism.
During the apartheid era, the Transkei became the lynchpin of the government
's homeland policy. Yet the province was also a major centre for the
struggle against apartheid - both in producing central figures in South
Africa's history, such as Nelson Mandela and Govan Mbeki, and as a site of
political protest.
Despite the advent of a democratic state, and an ANC government, the area
faces acute social and economic difficulties. It is often ranked as the
second poorest of South Africa's nine provinces. We hope that papers to
the conference will address the province's economic, political, social and
environmental legacy. We hope also that they will explore central
contemporary issues. The intention of the conference is not to formulate
policy. However, it may help to provide context and insight into the
province's current dilemmas and to provide a vehicle for innovative ideas in
research, teaching, cultural developments, and planning.
Some of the most important recent books on South Africa's economic and
political history have focussed on the Eastern Cape region. It has
attracted a number of significant economic, anthropological and sociological
studies, both in the rural areas, and in urban centres such as East London.
There is also a strong record of major inter-disciplinary research
programmes in the province. Our aim is to bring together the authors of
such work, whether based in the province or outside, to draw on the strength
of all the local University and research institutions, and to strengthen the
networks that may continue this tradition. The conference also marks the
transfer of the East London campus of Rhodes University, including its
branch of the Institute of Social and Economic Research, to the University
of Fort Hare.
Paper proposals, including a title and 200 word abstract, should be sent,
preferably by email, to Anne King at [email][email protected] as soon as possible
and before 28th February 2003. Panel proposals of two linked papers are
also invited. It is our intention to allow as much time as possible for
discussion and we will therefore not load the panels with papers. If we
are oversubscribed, a selection of papers will be made by the organisers.
Although funding is being sought, participants should expect to make and pay
for their own travel arrangements.
Leslie Bank (Rhodes/Fort Hare), William Beinart (Oxford), Luvuyo Wotshela
(Fort Hare)
Areas of particular interest include:
Historical change
Literary and cultural legacies
Religious expressions
Educational institutions and provision
Agriculture
Land tenure and land reform
Urban society and culture
Employment, formal and informal
Poverty and livelihoods
Health
Democratisation and governance
Traditional authorities
National/local relations
Population movements and housing
Trade and transport networks
Environmental history and policy
Urban and rural planning, past and present
Economic development
Museums, archives, libraries and heritage sites
Tourism
Media