CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: 2012 WORKSHOP FELLOWS
"Local Communities and the State in Africa"
July 15 - 27, 2012
Sponsored by the APSA and the University of Botswana
July 15 - 27, 2012
Sponsored by the APSA and the University of Botswana
The American Political Science Association (APSA) and the University of Botswana are pleased to announce a call for applications from individuals who would like to participate in a workshop on "Local Communities and the State in Africa" with a focus on field research methods.
Workshop Theme:
For two weeks, workshop fellows will study a series of interrelated theoretical and methodological themes under the banner of 'Local Communities and the State in Africa.' After two decades of significant political and economic reforms in Africa, new forms of local institutions and organizations are vying for public authority. How do we conceptualize and systematically study the relevant informal institutions, including various "twilight" extra-legal institutions, and new claims made on behalf of local communities? This workshop will conceptualize and study: (1) interactions between local communities and the state that go beyond a narrow geographical concentration on a particular community, and (2) linkages that connect local, national, and transnational actors.
For two weeks, workshop fellows will study a series of interrelated theoretical and methodological themes under the banner of 'Local Communities and the State in Africa.' After two decades of significant political and economic reforms in Africa, new forms of local institutions and organizations are vying for public authority. How do we conceptualize and systematically study the relevant informal institutions, including various "twilight" extra-legal institutions, and new claims made on behalf of local communities? This workshop will conceptualize and study: (1) interactions between local communities and the state that go beyond a narrow geographical concentration on a particular community, and (2) linkages that connect local, national, and transnational actors.
At the outset of the workshop, participants will develop a shared intellectual foundation by exploring the significant empirical questions related to local communities and the African state, focusing on core issues including rights and recognition, public goods and service provision, and decentralization and local empowerment. Afterwards, participants will move towards a discussion of the relevant theories for understanding these empirical puzzles, concentrating on structural, institutional, community-based, and comparative theoretical perspectives. In the last phase of the workshop, participants will think critically about the methodological challenges faced when attempting to build theoretically-informed and empirically-substantiated arguments.
Applications must be in English and include:
- The completed Application Form (online at https://apsa.wufoo.com/forms/apsa-africa-workshop-application-form/).
- A detailed, recent Curriculum Vitae/resume.
- A 500-word statement that describes your current research interests and how it relates to the workshop theme.
- The draft working paper or manuscript in progress that you propose to take with you to the workshop. At a minimum, this should be a 2,500-word document that includes:
- A 150-word abstract
- A description of research design (recommended, but not required)
- A one-page bibliography of literature most relevant to your paper
- Two letters of reference on official letterhead and scanned as electronic files. If you are a graduate student, one letter should be a letter of introduction from your supervising professor. If you are a researcher or faculty member, the letters can be from a former dissertation supervisor, a colleague or collaborator at your home institution or elsewhere, a university official, or an employer.
For questions or more information on the 2012 Africa Workshop program, contact Andrew Stinson at africaworkshops@apsanet.org or call (202) 349-9364. Please do not contact the workshop leaders directly.