Centre for African Studies
University of Mumbai
Mumbai

CALL FOR PAPERS
Redefining South-South Cooperation: Africa on the Centre stage
23-25 February 2009

The concept of South- South cooperation is in the process of transformation. It is no longer limited to the government driven model of collaboration among the countries of the South to influence collectively the global, political and economic scenario. It has become broad based and includes not only the government but the private sector, educational, research institutions and civil society organizations as well.

Today South-South cooperation is not an option but an imperative for the developing countries to meet their common challenges.
Linked by commonalities of history, socio- economic and political challenges, the countries of the South can share their issues of common concern, diversify and expand their sources of support and restructure global institutions and develop equitable forms of global interdependence. Areas of collaboration include, inter- alia: technical, trade investments, human resource development, institution building, knowledge sharing on science, technology and health, democracy, good governance, human rights, environment, climate change, anti- terrorism, prevention of conflicts, promotion of gender equality, etc. Mutual aid among countries of the South can be at three levels: bilateral, regional and global.

The collaboration could further amplify the voice of the South on issues of importance to developing countries such as; reform of global governance institutions to create a more equitable world order, the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals, poverty, food security, energy security, climate change, and sustainable development to which the countries of the South have committed themselves to and hope to achieve through the advantages that globalization offers.

Africa is rapidly shedding its reputation as a conflict and poverty ridden ‘dark’ continent and emerging as a large market with vast untapped natural resources. This new profile has reinforced interest in the continent globally and specifically among the Asian drivers, mainly India and China. The China-Africa summit (2006) and India-Africa Summit (2008) bear testimony to the ascendant significance of Africa. Chinese and Indian engagement on the African continent is also seen as an alternative to Africa’s earlier engagement with the West that is largely perceived as discriminatory and exploitative. In addition to the Asian presence, the involvement of the Latin American countries in Africa can facilitate the redefinition of the South-South cooperation wherein Africa can emerge on the centre stage through co-operation at bilateral levels that can radiate to regional and eventually global issues of common concern such as the millennium development goals.

A parallel discourse that is in currency and has been the cause of much debate, reflection, and concern, more so in the context of China’s African safari is that South - South co-operation presages a new ‘resource imperialism' with complete disregard for accountable governance and human rights that will result in the rise of new hegemony. This pro -growth strategy, at the social, economic and environmental cost for the common man has little relevance

Central to the debate is if this new axis of South- South initiatives will lead to pro- people development with equity outcomes that will trickle down to the disadvantaged or will these convergent interests help Africa break away from its dependence on the north? The nascent engagement with Africa is however fraught with multiple challenges. However, some sections in the academia and civil society feel that with adequate legal and social safeguards mechanisms devised at the level of the Africa Union and the state and proper management by the Africans, the collaboration will greatly benefit the stakeholders in particular and the countries of the global South in general.

Within this broad remit we expect papers that will explore key areas (non- exhaustive) such as:
Civil society
Conflict, peace and terrorism
Democracy, good governance, human rights
Economic cooperation
Food security
Gender equality
Media
Regional organizations
Science and Technology
Strategic cooperation
Trade and investment; extractive and non extractive sector

Proposals are welcome from any discipline.
Empirical and contemporary perspectives are particularly welcome.
Abstracts should be about 300- 350 words in length as a word document.
Please also include the text of the abstract in the body of the message.
Kindly put your name and institution as the subject.
Please submit a short CV with your contact details (organization or institution, address, home. work phone, fax numbers and email address).
Funding: Currently, the Centre is unable to commit funding for travel. Local hospitability will be provided to all the participants for the duration of the conference.

Please submit your abstracts and papers by email at: [email][email protected] Please cc: [email][email protected]
Important dates:
Submission of abstracts -- 30 October 2008
Notification of acceptance – 25 November 2008
Submission of papers -- 25 January 2009