The
project on Ethnicity and the Politics of Identity in
Asia and Africa comprised two consultations and involved
the planning of a programme of collaboration between
the International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES) and
the Council for the Development of Social Science Research
in Africa (CODESRIA). The project was conceived with
a view to enhancing interaction between African and
Asian scholars and researchers on issues confronting
the two continents, and is being implemented in collaboration
with CODESRIA. There has previously been little opportunity
for a systematic exchange of ideas and experiences between
scholars and institutions in Asia and Africa on the
themes of ethnicity and pluralism.
The
First Consultation was held in Cochin, India, on 16-17
May, 1998 and the Second Consultation was held in Dakar,
Senegal, between 14-20, December, 1998. The First Consultation
brought together scholars from Asia and Africa over
two days in May. The Asian scholars included Ashis Nandy,
Arjun Appadurai, Jayadeva Uyangoda, Valentine Daniel,
Imtiaz Ahmed, Radhika Coomaraswamy, Neelan Tiruchelvam,
Pradeep Jeganathan and Nivedita Menon. The African sholars
included Luc Sindjoun, Jibrin Ibrahim, Okwudiba Nnoli
and Julius Ihonvbere. As envisaged under the proposal,
this consultation laid emphasis on completed and on-going
research on ethnicity and pluralism, and the innovative
conceptual and theoretical lines that many younger scholars
are pursuing.
The
objectives of the Second Consultation, as envisaged
under the proposal, were
- Development of a joint programme for research in the
pursuit of common themes,
- Organisation of joint publications or a common newsletter,
- Support for younger scholars who may wish to undertake
short-term research assignments at ICES and CODESRIA,
- Examining lessons and experiences which may be shared
on the interrelationship between policy and research,
and
- Exploration of possible areas of co-operation in developing
out-reach programmes which are intended to strengthen
the process of value formation in societies, while
being supportive of structures and practices which
promote tolerance, accommodation and pluralism.
The
Consultation itself had two components. The first was
a panel discussion on Ethnicity and the Management of
Diversity and the second was a meeting on Institutional
Collaboration between ICES and CODESRIA. Several papers
were presented by the Asian and African scholars at
these sessions. A Statement of Principles and Plan of
Action, entitled the Dakar Declaration, was adopted
at the second meeting. The adoption of this Declaration
has given principled effect to the objectives of the
project as envisaged under the proposal.
A
steering committee on the Afro-Asian project on ethnicity
and the politics of identity was established, with the
distinguished Nigerian social scientist Prof. Okwadiba
Nnoli as the chairperson, and for its other members
Imtiaz Ahmed, Malathi de Alwis, Bishnu Mohapatra and
Ousmane Kane. A sixth member, Zimitri Erasmus was subsequently
nominated by CODESRIA.
Year
1999 saw the successful completion of this project.
The Steering Committee, constituted in Dakar in December
1998, met in May in Mombasa, Kenya. At this meeting
decisions were taken regarding the possible follow-up
initiatives for this collaborative venture. Under the
auspices of the Steering Committee, a newsletter is
being brought out on Afro-Asian collaborations. This
will be edited by Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed. The proposal for
the follow-up project is being drafted by the African
collaborators in this project, the Council for the Development
of Social Science in Africa (CODESRIA). ICES is committed
to expanding this initiative this year. |
