CfP: Resistance and Resilience: Resource Extraction, Arms Trade, and Militarism in Africa and the Global South

The consolidation of democratic rule on the African continent has faced significant challenges because of militarization driven or shaped by both internal and external actors. The seeds of this militarism were the violent struggles during colonization and the “Cold War” global interests that resulted in hot wars on the continent. For example, independent African countries such as Angola fought protracted internal wars shaped and fueled by Cold War geopolitics. On the eve of Africa’s political independence, European powers negotiated agreements that allowed them to maintain iron-grip control over the security apparatuses of African nations ensuring that African soldiers were trained according to Europe’s military doctrines. For instance, The Anglo Nigerian Defense Pact of 1960 and the Franco-Ivorian Defense Agreement of 1961 had provisions for both military training and the presence of British military bases in Nigeria and French military bases in Côte d’Ivoire.

In the post-9/11 period, the United States sought to expand its military footprint on the continent under the guise of fighting terrorism and narco-trafficking. According to United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) spokesperson John Manley in 2020, the U.S. has an archipelago of 15 “enduring locations” and 12 less-permanent “contingency locations” in Africa. In addition to officially recognized bases such as Camp Lemonnier situated next to Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport, the US also has secret military outposts across the continent, often in disregard of the sovereignty of African nations.

Not to be outranked on the continent is China’s growing military influence. In 2017, China established its first military base in Africa in Djibouti, near Camp Lemonnier, to support its regional naval operations. China as well as Russia are significant suppliers of military arms to the continent. Once again, the heightened interests of the different Superpowers on the continent are turning Africa into a proxy battleground, similar to the former Cold War dynamics.

The militarization of the continent has severe consequences. It has destabilized and continues to destabilize many nations creating economic hardships thereby spurring both internal migrations and the migration of African people to Europe, the United States, Israel, Asia, and other locations. These foreign interventions along with continuing conflicts on the continent enable the untaxed extraction of African resources, the undermining of local leadership, and the erosion of both African democratic institutions and democratic aspirations.

NYASA: Association for the Study of Africa and its Diaspora invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit abstracts for papers and panels for its upcoming conference on the theme of Resistance and Resilience: Resource Extraction, Arms Trade, and Militarism in Africa and the Global South. Working under a broad definition of “militarism” that includes not only the above but also militaristic aspects in news reports, propaganda, literature, film, immigration, gender roles, class distinctions, health, technology, and all other areas of life and culture, this conference aims critically to examine the effects of militarism’s historical, political, economic, and social dimensions in Africa and the Global South on democracy, sovereignty, human security, and other areas important to Africa today and tomorrow.

Additionally, scholars are invited to submit papers on topics not directly focusing on NYASA’s 2025 theme of Resistance and Resilience: Resource Extraction, Arms Trade, and Militarism in Africa and the Global South. For example:
* Archeology of African Civilizations
* Social Sciences in Africa and its Diaspora
* Humanities in Africa and its Diaspora
* Cinema/ Nollywood in Africa and its Diaspora
* Children’s Literature in Africa and its Diaspora
* Representing Africa in Literature, Film, Photos, News
* Women/ Gender/ LGBTQIA+ Studies and issues (lived lives) in Africa and its Diaspora
* African and Heritage Architecture in Africa and its Diaspora
* Medicine / Health in Africa and its Diaspora
* NGOs (e.g., Doctors Without Borders) in Africa
* Mental Health and Trauma in Africa and its Diaspora
* Religions / Spirituality in Africa and its Diaspora
* Information Technologies/ AI and LLM (Large Language Models) in Africa and its Diaspora
* Law Enforcement/ Prison Industrial Complex in Africa and its Diaspora
* Justice in Africa (e.g., South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Reconciliation in Rwanda, Distributive Justice, Reparations, Debt Forgiveness)
* Nations, nationalism, borders, resources (e.g., multi-nation rivers) in Africa
* Genocide Studies in Africa and its Diaspora
* African organizations in Africa and its Diaspora (including regional, pan-African, and global coalition building)
* Symbols and Heritage in Africa and its Diaspora
*Environment / Sustainability / Ecophilosophies / Environmental Organizations in Africa and its Diaspora
* African landscapes
* Origins of Black Studies
* The Intellectual Traditions of Black Studies
* Philosophies and Activism of Black Studies
* The State of Black Studies in K – 12 Education
* Black Studies of the Future—the Remainder of the 21st Century
* Black Studies and Language Challenges

Other topics for papers will be considered—please submit your proposal. Proposals for promoting student participation are especially welcome.

NYASA, founded in 1967 as the SUNY African Studies Faculty Association, is a nonprofit membership association (incorporated as NYASA in 1975) dedicated to advancing the discipline of Africana Studies. NYASA is open to all with an interest in Africa and Africa’s Diaspora. As a regional organization, the New York African Studies Association promotes the visibility and advancement of the discipline in New York (and surrounding) States, offers opportunities for scholarly and professional development of educators, and provides enhanced education for community members, leaders, and activists.

Submission Guidelines:
● Abstracts should be 300 words or less and clearly state the research question, methodology, and expected arguments/findings.
● Please include a brief bio (150 words) with your submission.
● Submit abstracts via the conference website: www.nyasacortland.org

We encourage submissions from scholars across disciplines, including history, political science, literature, language, the arts, anthropology, sociology, economics, and international relations. We also welcome contributions from practitioners working in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and humanitarian assistance. NYASA also welcomes artists and performers.

The conference will occur at the State University of New York, Cortland, November 6 to 9, 2025 (the conference proper on 7-8 November and Pre-conference events on November 6 and Post-conference events on November 9).

NYASA has a long and ongoing commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for scholarly exchange and dialogue. We particularly encourage submissions from scholars based in Africa and from underrepresented groups. We look forward to hearing from you!

Contact Information
Prof. Bekeh Ukelina
SUNY - Cortland
Graham Avenue
Cortland, NY 13045
nyasacortland@gmail.com