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----- Original Message -----
From: African Studies
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 7:59 PM
Subject: Researching Africa Day - Call for Papers
CALL FOR PAPERS
Please forward to anyone who might be interested.
6th Annual Researching Africa Day Workshop
St Antony's College, Oxford
The 6th annual Researching Africa Day will be held at St Antony's College,
Oxford on Friday 10th June 2005.
The day aims to bring together graduate students from universities across
Great Britain and Europe researching Africa in a variety of disciplines. The
workshop will provide an informal and friendly academic space to share ideas,
experiences and strategies and to meet other researchers in similar fields.
This year we specifically encourage papers from people working on
interdisciplinary projects and those who employ both qualitative and
quantitative research methodologies.
Format: Postgraduate researchers who are engaged in, or have recently
completed, work on Africa are invited to give brief presentations (10 - 15
minutes) that focus on research methodologies and on the process of turning
research into a thesis. Presentations will be divided into four themes, as
discussed below. Each panel will be followed by a substantial period of lively
discussion.
THEMES:
1. Research Methodology: From Theory, To Sources, To Text
Papers in this panel will address the theoretical and methodological
approaches used in African Studies. Is there an over-arching theory used in
African Studies? What are the current and most useful methodologies for
researching Africa? This panel will also address the identification of
sources. What are the implications of sources used for the final product? How
does the context of research affect the sources collected and outcome of
research? How do we research and write about highly politicized issues? Is the
work undertaken by Africanists relevant to the issues facing the people of
Africa? Additionally, presentations could address the process by which
information gleaned from sources is transformed into a finished text.
2. Interdisciplinary Research on African Topics
In this theme participants are encouraged to address issues surrounding the
use of interdisciplinary research methodologies. We encourage papers that
consider the use of both quantitative and qualitative research, and the
triangulation of sources. What can the practitioners of different disciplines
teach one another? Do we need disciplinary boundaries?
3. Non-Archival Research and Topics in African Studies
The third theme deals with the broad range of non-archival sources used in
African Studies. We encourage papers on the use of oral sources and encourage
presenters to consider the rewards and challenges associated with the
selection of interviewees, the use of focus groups, interview techniques, and
incorporating oral sources within the context of written material.
Presentations on the type of data that may be obtained from other non-archival
sources are also encouraged.
4. Negotiating Politics: The Personal and the Political
The final theme looks at how those studying Africa deal with the politics of
gender, culture, ethnicity, language and class while conducting field
research. Here we encourage papers that address the ways in which national and
sub-national politics shape and affect research, and the related processes of
networking, gaining access to interviewees, and establishing trust.
Presentations may also address the ethical and ideological aspects of
fieldwork.
Abstracts should be submitted to [log in to unmask] by no later
than Monday, 4 April 2005.
PLEASE NOTE THE SUBJECT LINE MUST READ:
"RESEARCHING AFRICA DAY ABSTRACT"
We will advise successful presenters by the 4th week of April. Full papers
should be submitted by Monday, 16 May.
NOTE: An exciting addition to this year's Researching Africa Day is the
possibility of a publication of an edited collection of selected papers from
the day.
To register for the Researching Africa Day, please email
[log in to unmask] by Monday, 16 May.
PLEASE NOTE THE SUBJECT LINE MUST READ:
"PRE-REGISTRATION RESEARCHING AFRICA DAY"
Conveners:
Carol Berger - St Cross College
Simonne Horwitz - St Antony's College
Kate Rogers - the Queen's College
--
Administrator,
African Studies Centre
St Antony's College, Oxford University
+44(0)1865 284996
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