Call for Abstracts: 3rd Annual Australian National University African Studies Network Conference

Theme: Decolonising Knowledge: Reframing Australia-Africa Relations in the New Era
Dates: November 28-29, 2024
Location: Australian National University (ANU) Campus, Canberra (Virtual participation available)

The Australian National University African Studies Network is pleased to announce the call for abstracts for its 3rd Annual Conference. We invite submissions from all disciplines related to the conference theme. The conference aims to explore the evolving dynamics of Australia-Africa relations, with a focus on decolonising knowledge and reshaping intellectual exchanges.

Submission Guidelines

Abstract Length: Maximum 250 words
Bio and Institutional Affiliation: Maximum 100 words
Submission Deadline: October 30, 2024, by 11:59 AEST
Email: africanstudiesnetwork@anu.edu.au with your name, followed by “ASN 2024” and complete the short online registration form.

Eligibility and selection criteria
We welcome submissions from students, senior academics, policymakers, corporates, and civil society leaders. Abstracts will be considered on a rolling basis. Presenters can choose to participate either virtually or in person.

For any questions, please contact us at africanstudiesnetwork@anu.edu.au.

We extend our gratitude to the Student Extracurricular Enrichment Fund (SEEF) at ANU and the ANU Research School of Social Sciences (RSS) for their support. More information can be found in the attached flyer. Please share this call with your networks.

Contextual Background

Australia-Africa relations are evolving, with recent years seeing a shift toward ‘new engagement’ or ‘re-engagement’ with the continent (Mickler & Lyons, 2013). The Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) notes that Australia engages with all 54 African UN member states in politics, trade, investment, development cooperation, peace, and security (DFAT, 2024). Australia also maintains warm relationships with African regional blocs, including the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

In trade and investment, DFAT reported AU$9 billion in total trade between the two continents in 2020. Over 170 Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) listed companies operate in about 35 African countries, with PwC (2024) reporting more than 200 companies. Despite recent aid cuts, the Australian government allocated AU$148.2 million to Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa for the 2022-23 fiscal year. However, Australia’s overall aid generosity has declined, with its ranking dropping from 14th to 26th among the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries from 2015 to 2023 (Development Policy Centre, 2024).

The 2020 census recorded over 400,000 people of African origin living in Australia (Abur, 2020). Australian Defence Force personnel currently serve in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and assist the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai, Egypt. Historically, Australian personnel have participated in UN missions across various African countries.

Despite these advances, the decolonisation of knowledge in Australia-Africa relations remains incomplete, as argued by Davis & Blackwell (2023) and other scholars. Reassessing how knowledge is produced, valued, and shared is essential. Decolonial approaches are crucial in the new era of Australia-Africa relations, reshaping intellectual exchanges, research collaborations, and educational partnerships.

We look forward to your contributions and wish you the best in your application!

References

Abur, W. (2022). Migration and Settlement of African People in Australia. In I. Muenstermann (Ed.), Human Migration in the Last Three Centuries (1st ed.). IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107083

Davis, A. E., & Blackwell, J. (2023). Decolonising Australia’s International Relations? A Critical Introduction. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 69(3), 405–421. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajph.12947

Development Policy Centre. (2024). Comparisons. Australian Aid Tracker. https://devpolicy.org/aidtracker/comparisons/

DFAT (2024) Africa region brief, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Available at: https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/africa-middle-east/africa-region-brief#:~:text=Australia’s%20two%2Dway%20goods%20and,Kenya%2C%20Egypt%2C%20and%20Sudan.

DFAT. (2024). Africa region brief. Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/africa-middle-east/africa-region-brief#:~:text=Australia.

Mickler, D., & Lyons, T. (2013). New Engagement. Melbourne Univ. Publishing.

PwC. (2022, August). Australia Africa Practice. PwC. https://www.pwc.com.au/mining/australia-africa-practice.html