Call for Papers
American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting, Detroit, March 24-28, 2025
Organizer
Olivier J. Walther, University of Florida
Session title
Armed Conflicts and Transport Infrastructure in Africa and Beyond
Abstract
Control of transport infrastructure has always been a critical issue in armed conflicts. States are naturally inclined to secure air, surface and maritime systems to control the territory defined by their borders. A dense and extensive infrastructure system promotes national security by allowing the state to deploy troops, provide services to the civilian population, and defeat insurgents in a timely manner.
Yet, the benefits of improved infrastructure are double-edged for the government, since transport infrastructure itself can become a major target for rebel groups, militias and other violent non-state actors. Protecting airports, roads, and ports from militant attacks necessitates large, fixed investments that many governments can ill afford. This is particularly true in underdeveloped regions where population is sparsely distributed, cities are separated by long distances, and transport systems are poorly maintained, as in Africa today.
The critical importance of transport infrastructure calls for a systematic approach that can examine how the control of transport infrastructure shapes armed conflict. The objective of this panel is therefore to analyse the relationships between transport infrastructure and political violence. We seek to document how the competition for the control of transport infrastructure between state and non-state actors produces various patterns of violence. While particular attention is paid to Africa, the panel is open to contributions from other regions in the Global South.
Interested?
Please send proposed titles and abstracts (250 words) to Dr. Olivier Walther (owalther@ufl.edu) no later than October 15, 2024. We will notify contributors of acceptance by October 20, 2024. All accepted contributors will then need to register for the conference through the AAG website before October 31 and should then send the registration code (PIN) they receive to us. Please note that you must submit your abstract AND pay the registration fees in order for your PIN to be activated.
Sponsored by the Political Geography Specialty Group.