Call for Papers
Development and Colonialism: The Past in the Present
Thursday 20th to Saturday 22nd September 2007
International Development and Governance Research Group
Governance Research Centre, Department of Politics
University of Bristol
Development and colonialism have a close interconnection. The urge to protect and better through exerting an educative and awakening trusteeship over others was a defining characteristic of liberal colonialism. It was found in the theory and practice of indirect rule as well as community development. A similar will to power informs Western interventions in contemporary zones of crisis and state failure. The purpose of this interdisciplinary conference is to explore the interconnection between development and colonialism, including how the practices and dispositions of the latter continue to shape the former. The conference explores different aspects of liberal governance in relation to imperialism, colonialism, humanitarian emergency, NGOs, human security and gender together with contemporary examples of
development intervention, social reconstruction and nation-building.
An indicative range of issues includes:
? development and the abolition of slavery,
? liberalism and Empire,
? colonial forms of development practice,
? links between the European welfare state and decolonisation,
? liberalism and emergency,
? NGOs and governance,
? the contemporary rehabilitation of Empire,
? the reproduction of colonial practice within development discourse,
? contemporary examples of liberal trusteeship.
The conference will be of interest to people from a wide range of backgrounds including Anthropology, Development Studies, Geography, History, International Relations, Law, Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology and Security studies.
Anyone wishing to present a paper should email a title and short abstract to Matt Merefield (matt.merefield@ bristol.ac. uk). The closing date is Friday 19 January. The organisers are currently seeking funding to cover the travel and accommodation costs of presenters and a publisher to produce an edited collection of the proceedings.
Mark Duffield
Professor of Development Politics
Department of Politics, University of Bristol
[sursa e-nass]
