Call for papers
American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, NYC, 25 Feb-1 March 2022
Session title
Geographies of conflict in North and West Africa
Organizers
Olivier Walther, University of Florida; Steven Radil, U.S. Air Force Academy; David Russell, Princeton University; Matthew Pflaum, University of Florida
Session description:
The geography of conflict in North and West Africa is often obscured by a large number of belligerents and their divergent political strategies. The objective of this session is to contribute to better understand the impact of geographical features, such as places, distance, borders, territory and scale, on conflicts as well as the diffusion of armed struggles across space. The session will focus on spatial approaches that explain why conflicts emerge, develop and spread across the region. Conceptual papers that support the development of testable hypotheses on the spatial dimensions of conflict are particularly welcome. A particular emphasis will also be given to new corresponding methods that allow systematic and replicable inquiries at the regional scale and rely on geolocated data sources on armed conflict.
The session will capitalize upon recent geographical scholarship on conflict in North and West Africa to explore themes such as:
- Shifting patterns of violence
- Diffusion of conflict and wars
- Borders, borderlands, and conflict
- Impact of foreign military interventions on conflict
- Innovative methodologies for studying conflict data
- Emergent policy approaches to conflict resolution
We invite papers on these or related topics. Please send proposed titles and abstracts (250 words or less) and/or expressions of interest to both Olivier Walther (owalther@ufl.edu) and Steven Radil (steven.radil@afacademy.af.edu) no later than 15 October 2021.
We will notify contributors of acceptance by 20 October 2021. All accepted contributors will then need to register for the conference through the AAG website 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 and Africa Specialty Groups.