Pardee Center to hold conference on Africa’s Future

The Boston University Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study for the Longer-Range Future will convene a conference on the future of Africa, titled “Good News from Africa” on Friday, April 16, 2010.

The all-day conference will be held at the Boston University Law School 12th Floor Lounge and will bring together leading scholars, practitioners and experts on Africa in a series of discussion panels which will take an in-depth view of current trends in social and economic development, in politics and in culture and society within the Africa continent (and its sub-regions).

The program of the conference is as follows:

The program of the conference is as follows:

8.30AM  Coffee & Breakfast available

9.00AM     Welcome Remarks

9.15AM     Session I: Africa’s Social Development
Chair:  Jonathon Simon (Boston University)
Seble Dawit (Goucher College)
Nathan Eagle (MIT, Txteagle, Inc )
Richard Clapp (Boston University)

10.45AM   Break

11.00AM   Session II: Markets & Economy
Chair: James C. McCann (Boston University)
Vijay Mahajan (University of Texas)
Margaret McMillan (Tufts University )
Julius Gatune Kariuki (Boston University)
Harounan Kazianga (Oklahoma State University)

12.30PM   Lunch and Keynote Address by
Ambassador Kaire Mbuende, Namibian Ambassador to the United Nations

2:00 PM    Session III: Politics & Institutions
Chair: Timothy Longman (Boston University)
Robert Rotberg (Harvard University)
Abdul Paliwala (Warwick University)
Oyeronke Oyewumi (Stony Brook University, New York)

3.30 PM    Break

3.45 PM    Session IV: Society and Culture
Chair: Fallou Ngom (Boston University)
Bahru Zewde (Forum for Social Studies)
Marc Sommers (US Institute of Peace)
Heran Sereke-Brhan (Boston University)

5.30PM Reception at Africa Studies Center

The goal of the conference is to highlight the trends that are likely to shape the region over the next half century, especially those that have the potential to reach positive outcomes. The conference’s objective is to present a critical assessment of the continent’s potential in areas that are vital to Africa’s future. The conference will seek to incite a conversation focused on the steps needed to craft a better future for the continent, without ignoring the realities on the ground or the difficulty of change.

The conference is being organized by the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future as part of its larger “Africa 2060” program of activities, which is designed to provide insights into Africa’s development prospects and challenges over the next half century. Boston University’s African Studies Center (ASC), theAfrican Presidential Archives and Research Center (APARC) and the Global Health and Development Center (GHDC)are collaborating partners for the conference.

For details on the conference contact the Pardee Center Research Initiatives Coordinator, Elaine Teng.

RSVP to the conference at pardee@bu.edu.