Interdisciplinarity and Methodological Challenges in Area Studies

Description

This summer school is offered in the framework of the SUK-funded joint training module Methodological Challenges in Area Studies in cooperation between the Centre for African Studies Basel and the University Research Priority Programme Asia and Europe, Zürich. It is open to PhD students in area studies in general.

The aims of the Summer School can be broadly defined in the following ways:

• to encourage PhD students, under the guidance of senior scholars, to engage critically with new theoretical, conceptual and methodological developments in African Studies, and area studies in general, and make them relevant to their work;
• to stimulate PhD students to reflect on the potential relevance of knowledge produced in the framework of area studies to the task of improving our theoretical, conceptual and methodological tools both for the disciplines as well as for interdisciplinary work;
• to foster among PhD students a sense of belonging to a community of scholars in pursuit of knowledge and scholarship;
• to invite junior scholars to work towards carving a space for area studies in the broader field of scholarship and in this way help area studies to place themselves right at the centre of knowledge production.

Convenor

Elísio Macamo (University of Basel)

Organization

Centre for African Studies in cooperation with the URPP Asia and Europe

Workshops

Participants will engage in four workshops:

• Theory & Interdisciplinarity
• Working with Concepts
• Methodological Issues
• Theory Construction.

Invited Speakers

• Rose Marie Beck (University of Leipzig)
• Mamadou Diouf (Columbia University, N.Y.)
• Elísio Macamo (University of Basel)
• Raji Steineck (University Research Priority Programme Asia and Europe, University of Zurich)
• Ralph Weber (University Research Priority Programme Asia and Europe, University of Zurich)

Fee

CHF 100.– (covering the cost of coffee breaks and lunch)

Application & Registration

Participants will be selected on the strength and merits of a five-page application in which they explain (a) what they are working on, and (b) how their work relates to the topic of the Summer School. Applications must be supported by two letters of recommendation. In the case of PhD students from the Centre for African Studies at the University of Basel or the University Research Priority Programme Asia and Europe, Zürich, it is sufficient to indicate one academic referee.

Venue

Universität Basel, Zentrum für Afrikastudien, Petersgraben 11, 4051 Basel