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Call for papers: for a panel at the 8th Iberian Conference of African Studies, ICAS8/CIEA8

In July 2002, African leaders dissolved the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and created the African Union (AU). By emphasising on democracy, good governance and respect for human rights as necessary pre-requisites for development, the AU makes a significant departure, at least in theory, from the modes operandi of its predecessor which was known for its long-held principle of ‘non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.’ In July 2012, the AU will celebrate its tenth anniversary. The event is an opportune moment in stocktaking the state of democracy in Africa since the establishment of the AU.

In July 2002, African leaders dissolved the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and created the African Union (AU). By emphasising on democracy, good governance and respect for human rights as necessary pre-requisites for development, the AU makes a significant departure, at least in theory, from the modes operandi of its predecessor which was known for its long-held principle of ‘non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states.’ In July 2012, the AU will celebrate its tenth anniversary. The event is an opportune moment in stocktaking the state of democracy in Africa since the establishment of the AU.

Initially the formation of the AU was described as a dawn of a new era in Africa. However, some critiques argue that the change of name from OAU to AU was a mere cosmetic gimmick devoid of any substance. Is this perceived bias or a well-grounded concern? With the objective of exploring this central question in a holistic manner, the panel encourages submissions of academic or policy papers focusing on the broader theme of ICAS8/CIEA8, particularly by giving attention to the following important issues:

- Has the AU lived up to its expectations in the first decade since its formation?
- Has the AU succeeded in becoming a people-centred organisation as opposed to its predecessor, which was frequently criticised for being ‘the exclusive club of dictators’?
- Is the AU ‘another toothless bulldog’ or is it an organisation with effective enforcement mechanisms, particularly as regards the prevention of ferocious conflicts and catastrophic natural disasters in the continent?
- How far has the AU gone in promoting democratic institutions, enhancing popular participation and good governance through its ‘peer review process/mechanism’?
- Or has it become a victim of ‘African politics’ and the adage of ‘old habits die-hard’?

Contributions are expected to address the above fundamental questions in line with the broader objectives of ICAS8/CIEA8. While these are meant only to provide the blueprint of the panel discussions, writers are encouraged to broaden the debate by addressing other important issues related to the main theme of the panel and the broader objectives of the conference. Contributions are also expected to provide the basis for re-orienting the state of democracy in Africa. By bringing speakers and participants from a diverse background, the panel strives to provide a means to fostering dialogue on the state of democracy in Africa.

Key words: accountability, democracy, dictatorship, good governance, human rights, sovereignty, Africa, African Union

Abstracts of no more 400 words can be submitted at the online submission form of the conference page: http://www.ciea8.org/ on or before 31 January 2012. Full papers are to be submitted on or before 15 May 2012. While the primary language of this particular panel is English, submissions in Portuguese or Spanish will also be accommodated.

For any questions, please contact the panel chair, Dr. Daniel R. Mekonnen at: [email][email protected]