CALL FOR PAPERS - International Conference- After the Crisis: which economic and geopolitical role for Africa?, May 24, 2011 – Luanda (Angola)
The Conference will have as the Keynote Speaker Prof. James Galbraith (University of Texas – Austin, USA).
Prof. Jurgen Brauer (Augusta University, USA and Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand) will be in the closing session
Organization
Universidade Lusíada de Angola
SOCIUS-ISEG/UTL (Portugal)
EPSJ (The Economics of Peace and Security Journal) (UK)
Organizing Committee
Mário Pinto de Andrade (ULA-Angola)
Manuel Ennes Ferreira (SOCIUS-ISEG/UTL)
Jurgen Brauer (Augusta University, USA and EPSJ, UK)
Ricardo Soares Oliveira (Oxford University, UK)
Local Organizing Committee
Belarmino Van-Dúnem
Manuel Correia
Fernando Macedo
António Luvualu
Context
After decades of difficulties in achieving economic growth and development as well as political and social stability, Africa, and specifically Sub-Saharan Africa, has shown encouraging evidence of positive change with the beginning of the 21st century. This led, for example, to a slight increase in its share in international trade and foreign investment. At the same time, the diversity of country cases reveals huge differences among African countries in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. However, Africa appears to start standing up to and for itself. Increasing demand for raw materials has pushed up sharply the price of its commodities, benefiting African exporters. Oil is at the forefront of this process but it is not the only commodity whose price improved. In this regard, the contribution of new international players can not be omitted. China, first and foremost, but also India, Brazil and Russia are among those new players vying with traditional partners (EU, US, former colonial powers) for African markets.
The new economic importance of Africa is changing its geostrategic position. While the African renaissance initiaded ten years ago by the African Union and NEPAD as the path to the future, and relying on internal driving forces, has been losing its momentum, external factors are now powering Africa’s resurgence, even as the 2008/9 international financial crisis turned out to be disastrous for the continent. The intensification of social conflicts arising from the uneven distribution of benefits, in particular the income distribution problem, remains on the agenda. Similarly, domestic armed conflicts and civil wars continue in several countries affecting African development. Now it is time to find solutions at the continental and global level, perhaps involving a re-arrangement of the current economic and political balance of power. Would this make a difference to Africa? Are there opportunities for African countries to benefit from a new ‘economic and political order’ that might emerge in the coming years?
Goal and Conference themes
The central aim of this conference is to consider the terms of Africa’s economic and geopolitical post-crisis scenario. Could this be a window of opportunity that is distinct from the past? How can Africa profit from post-crisis changes? How can it promote economic growth as part of the development process? How to ensure social stability that promotes a fair income distribution and ensures poverty reduction? On which sectors should development policies focus? Is there any new development model to implement? What kind of new domestic and international strategies should be adopted, and with which partners? What role for international aid? What is the importance of regional agreements in the context of globalization? Which African actors could play a decisive role in the process of development on the continent? These questions do not exclude other topics and participants are free to present abstracts as long as they fit the general theme of the Conference. Papers are welcome on any sub-Saharan African country and/or group of countries.
Calendar
The deadline to submit paper proposals is March 15, 2011. Proposals should include a 250-word abstract and title, as well as the author’s name, address, telephone number, email address, and institutional affiliation. Abstracts can be submitted in English or in Portuguese.
Please submit all abstracts to
Mário Pinto de Andrade: mariopintoandrade@gmail.com
and
Manuel Ennes Ferreira: mfereira@iseg.utl.pt
Response to authors: a reply will be sent in a few days
It is expected that all participants will raise the funding to attend the Conference. The Organizers do not provide participants with any form of funding support or travel expenses.
This article was originally posted on Sustainable Development Africa Platform
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