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CALL FOR MANUSCRIPT CHAPTERS
Sub-Saharan African Migrations: Challenges, Failures, and Coping Strategies
We are seeking original chapters for a collection tentatively titled "Sub-Saharan African Migrations: Challenges, Failures, and Coping Strategies". While there are numerous examples of successful migration experiences, the aim of this collection is to explore the nature and frequency of the lack of success that too many sub-Saharan Africans encounter once they make the decision to emigrate. The amount of empirical research focusing on the link between migration and integration in the destination countries rose significantly in recent years. The variety of empirical methods that researchers employ is impressive, ranging from qualitative interviews to diverse questionnaire surveys with highly sophisticated statistical methods. However, apart from some isolated studies (Colomb & Ayats, 1962; Breuvart & Danvers, 1998; Chomentowski, 2010; Sfm, 2005, Thorsen, 2009; Zeleza, 2009), little is known about the lack of success in African migration dynamics.
Most studies on African migration report on the migration benefits, but leave out the social disappointment of migrants on economic, psychological, and political levels. We now know that the inability to achieve goals in a migration context can have different adverse impacts on individuals and the family group. Finally, structural racism in the countries of destination, in particular against African migrants, can significantly impede their professional, educational and personal development and have severe psychopathological impacts. The old "immigration culture" of Africans must be placed in the local and international contexts in which several factors overlap: social and economic disruption, conflicts of various kinds, dissatisfaction in conflict with aspirations towards new horizons that arise every day.
Possible topics might include:
- Modern Diaspora out of Sub-Saharan Africa and into a specific region of the World and the problems that migrants encounter. These regions would include Europe, Asia, Middle East, all of the Americas --including the USA, Canada, and Latin America--where there is a growing population of Africans now choosing to immigrate directly to countries like Brazil and Argentina;
- Internal migration within the continent of Africa;
- Representations of migration failures in performance such as popular culture, movies, literature, art, and exhibitions;
- Symbolic and emotional elements related to migrant lack of success as well as narratives and representations linked to the central topic;
- Disillusionment with the migration effort and its related psychopathologies, mental health and trauma due to any number of factors like: structural, institutional and individual racism or other causes in the destination country";
- Further consequences of the migrant experience in the form of linguistic isolation, lack of harmony or integration within the destination country;
- The ways in which these elements are narrated, visualized and often politicized;
- "The self-interested actions of politicians, pundits, and bureaucrats" (Massey, 2015);
- Gender and Migration;
- The Syrian effect on Sub-Saharan African migration;
- The inter-linkages between African migrations, identity, citizenship and social inadequacy;
- Papers that address possible solutions to any of the problems that appear above or that the author cares to address.
This list of suggestions is not restrictive, and we encourage likely participants to consider their own topics for a chapter.
Book description and Chapter Details:
The book will have two major sections: one descriptive and the other prescriptive. The first section will concentrate on the broad overview of the subjects tied together as one the greatest population movements out of Africa since the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade. The second section suggests alternatives to what currently happens and provides a pro-active stance towards the problems that receive attention in Section One.
All chapters must be in English and should not have been published previously. Authors should follow the APSA guidelines for writing book chapters. Each final chapter will be between 6,000-7500 words, including references. Images with previous written authorizations and rights for publication are welcome. Authors are responsible for obtaining the rights of any images as well as research interviews that appear in the text. Editors will provide forms later including a contract upon acceptance of the manuscript.
Interested scholars and practitioners of migration efforts should submit the following materials by July 30, 2016:
A) An abstract of no more than 300 words;
B) A biographical sketch of no more than two pages, including complete contact information;
C) An example of previously published work in the case of scholars or a sample of field work in the case of practitioners.
Timeline:
July 30, 2016: Send abstracts of no more than 300 words, together with a short bio including contact details, and one example of previously published work in a relevant field. In the case of practitioners, an example of the field work will suffice.
October 20, 2016: Acceptance letters will be sent to authors after selection.
April 28, 2017: Submission of chapters.
Please submit all expressions of interest, abstracts and bios to [email protected] Preferably with the subject line: "African Migration"
About the Editors:
Professor Yvonne Captain: Prof. Captain is an Associate Professor of Latin American and International Affairs at George Washington University. In addition to her expertise on Africa and its Diaspora, she researches and integrates into her teaching the relationships of South-South nations in Africa and Latin America. Her publications reflect these two areas of focus.
Doctor Papa Sow: Dr. Sow is a senior researcher at the Centre for Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany. He is currently working on the WASCAL project - West African Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use - funded by the German Ministry of Education. His research focuses on population dynamics issues with special links to African migrations (Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Morocco) and climate variability and uncertainties.
Dr. Elina Marmer: Dr. Marmer is a researcher, author and lecturer at the University of Hamburg, Institute of Intercultural Education and the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Department of Social Work. She is mainly concerned with the nexus of racism and education, specifically focusing on hegemonic knowledge production and its impact on students of African descent in Germany.
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Postdoctoral Positions in Digital Humanities and African American History and Culture
Overview
The University of Maryland is offering two Postdoctoral positions in the fields of Digital Humanities and African American History and Culture. Eligible candidates will have completed a doctoral program in African American Studies, Art History, United States Labor History, United States or Global Migration Studies, Digital Media, Historical and Cultural Visualization, or a related field in the past five years. These are full-time, professional-track faculty appointments for two years connected to our Andrew W. Mellon-funded initiative "Synergies among Digital Humanities and African American History and Culture" ( AADHum). The 12-month salary for these positions is $70,000, including full benefits. Additional funding is available for conference travel and professional development.
The AADHum postdocs in the fields of Digital Humanities and African American History and Culture provide exciting opportunities to contribute to a major interdisciplinary initiative at one of the nation's highest-ranked public research universities, as well as to gain skills and knowledge related to emerging, innovative areas of research and teaching. Through these positions, the AADHum initiative seeks to advance and expand the fields of digital humanities and African American history and cultural studies, and to develop and diversify the pipeline for the next generation of scholars and professionals who foster engagement at this intersection.
Roles & Responsibilities
With supervision and guidance provided by the leadership of the AADHum initiative, the postdocs will work closely with faculty and researchers in their field of expertise, for example, with the Center for Global Migration Studies, or with the David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora. Postdocs will each participate in and help coordinate the Digital Humanities Incubator training sessions for faculty and students; provide mentorship and research leadership to graduate assistants working in support of the project; and design a two-semester course sequence that engages first-year students with research questions involving African American labor, migration, and artistic expression that are tractable to digital tools and methods. These questions will be pursued through use of our testbed collections, including onsite, hands-on work at the Center for Global Migration Studies, the Driskell Center, and the George Meany Memorial AFL-CIO Archive.
The ideal candidates will have both relevant academic training as well as experience with content management and digital humanities project development. Postdocs will be expected to continue to develop their ongoing research within a field of study compatible with the AADHum initiative. Opportunities to lead, engage, or collaborate in workshops, seminars, presentations, and publications will be strongly encouraged and supported.
Qualifications
Required:
- Ph.D., or equivalent terminal degree in African American Studies, Art History, United States Labor History, United States or Global Migration Studies, Digital Media, Historical and Cultural Visualization, Cultural Studies or a related field
- Terminal degree conferred May 2011 or later, and before start date for this position
- Demonstrable strong scholarly research focus on African American history and culture
- Practical understanding of the research process and research data lifecycle
- Experience or familiarity with using digital media as part of teaching or research
- Strong organizational and documentation skills
- Ability to engage with people in new settings as well as excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Willingness to participate in teaching and training initiatives related to the postdoc or area of research
Desired:
- Excellent skills in project management, workflow design and management, teaching and outreach, communication and collaboration with faculty members
- Experience designing and implementing databases for scholarly projects
- Experience coordinating and promoting programs and/or services
- Working knowledge of various content management systems
- Familiarity with markup and metadata standards associated with Digital Humanities projects
Local Guidance and Professional Development Support
Postdocs will work in close collaboration with faculty and staff from the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH) and the Arts and Humanities Center for Synergy, the two core centers for the AADHum initiative. One of the premier digital humanities centers in the world, MITH will provide mentoring in best practices for data curation, data modeling, project development, and training, along with working knowledge of advanced methods and tools for data analytics. Launched in late 2013, the Center for Synergy has already been recognized as on the cutting edge of public humanities, successfully conceptualizing and building collaborative projects between Arts and Humanities scholars, other disciplines and external communities. The center received one of the first NEH Humanities in the Public Square grants for its Baltimore Stories project, in which humanists work alongside citizens to examine the roles of narratives in the life of a major American city. The Center for Synergy will provide mentoring in best practices for developing vibrant intellectual communities, both in the form of innovative curriculum and in the form of engaging public programming, from the micro-level of reading groups to the macro-level of a national conference.
Opportunities for archival work in the rich research collections at the University of Maryland will also be key components of the postdoc experience. The archives of the David C. Driskell Collection document the creation and curation of the largest academic holdings of African American art and art from the African diaspora. The George Meany Memorial AFL-CIO archives are the official repository for records of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), selected records of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), and the merged American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
To apply, please send a letter of application, CV, and contact information for three references to [email protected]. For best consideration, applications should be submitted no later than July 22, 2016. Review will continue until the position is filled. Start date to be negotiated, but no later than February 1, 2017. For complete information about the position, please visit: http://go.umd.edu/AADHumPostDocs
The University and Community
Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the flagship institution in the University System of Maryland. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation's legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation's capital and surrounding areas. Now part of the Big Ten, the University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the State of Maryland, and in the world.
Diversity
The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
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Tenure Track, Open Rank Faculty Position in Sociology - Bucknell University
The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Bucknell University invites applications for an open rank, tenure-track position in Sociology beginning in August of 2017. The substantive area is open, with a preference for candidates whose research focuses on comparative historical sociology, economic sociology, or social movements. Applicants must have a PhD or be ABD in Sociology by the time of appointment. The successful candidate will be expected to teach Introduction to Sociology, Sociological Methods or Theory, and both introductory and advanced courses in her or his area/s of specialization. We will consider candidates with methodological expertise in either qualitative or quantitative methods (or mixed approaches).
To apply, please submit a cover letter addressing research interests and teaching philosophy, a Curriculum Vitae, a sample of scholarly writing, sample syllabi, course evaluations, and the names and contact information for three references. All materials must be submitted online at http://apply.interfolio.com/35905. Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2016 and continue until the position is filled.
About Bucknell
Bucknell University is a private, highly selective, unique national university where liberal arts and strong professional programs in engineering, business, education, and music complement each other. Located in Central Pennsylvania along the Susquehanna River, Bucknell is nestled in the Borough of Lewisburg, an architectural gem that has been ranked as one of America's best small towns. The Lewisburg area offers a unique combination of outdoor recreation opportunities and appealing amenities such as art galleries, an art deco theater, historic museums, and charming independent boutiques and restaurants. In addition to the many cultural and athletic events offered by the University and the Borough, the surrounding region offers outstanding schools, medical facilities, and an affordable cost of living. For those who crave the city, Bucknell is within an easy three-hour drive to Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
EEO
Bucknell University, an Equal Opportunity Employer, believes that students learn best in a diverse, inclusive community and is therefore committed to academic excellence through diversity in its faculty, staff, and students. We seek candidates who are committed to Bucknell's efforts to create a climate that fosters growth and development of a diverse student body, and we welcome applications from members of groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education.
Apply Here: http://www.Click2apply.net/p8jpy9skj4
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