South African Association of Political Studies

 

2013 Regional Colloquium

Call for papers

The African Union: Quo Vadis – the next 50 years

“We all want a United Africa, United not only in our concept of what unity connotes, but united in our common desire to move forward together in dealing with all the problems that can best be solved only on a continental basis.”  

Kwame Nkrumah

 
This year the African Union celebrated its 50th year. The Africa of today is a different place to what it was 50 years ago. As South Africa’s foreign minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane has pointed out ‘Not only is the decolonisation process almost complete, but significant progress has also been achieved towards African unity’. Africa has certainly seen progress in changing perceptions from that of the ‘dark continent’ to ‘the hopeful continent’, but what does this mean in terms of the continent’s political future, growing international interests in resources, and agency as an actor on the world stage? 

It is against this context that the South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS) is pleased to announce the call for papers to be presented at a regional colloquium, hosted by the Department of Political Sciences UNISA, and the Institute for Global Dialogue.

The colloquium will take place on Friday 4^th of October 2013 at UNISA from 09:00, providing a platform for participants to present and engage in discussion on their current research focus. Abstracts on research areas beyond Africa will also be considered.

Requirements:

All abstracts of no more than 500 words should be submitted to Ms Penelope Masenamela at before or on the 16^th of August to be considered.

Any queries should be directed to Prof C. J. Napier ; 

Ms A. Claassen   or
Dr L. Masters