Our world today is dramatically affected by migration, both
refugees from conflict and violence as well as individuals seeking
better economic conditions. I myself am an American who has called
Europe home since 2013.
This Q-Team focuses on historical labour migration and how we
interpret sources. I believe that by using new theories and methods we
can not only better understand the history of migration, but also the
modern world.
In this course we will specifically look at the records of colonial
empires left behind on migrant labor, with the central research
question, 'how can we critically interpret colonial labor records and
what can they contribute to modern scholarship?', whether based on the
information they contain or what has been left out. Relevant to this
includes exploring, who created them, why, and how can modern social and
intellectual movements, such as "decolonizing the university," or
"critical race theory" change how we approach, interpret and integrate
sources like these into new research (Mbembe 2016, 33; Bernal, n.d.,
105)? The course will focus on hands on research, using the teaching
method 'forschendes lernen', or research learning, where all get to
participate. We will together look at sources, such as the so-called
'Native Estate Files' created in colonial Namibia, and partially
digitized by myself as well as visit archives in Berlin to learn how
research can be conducted. I will of course give my guidance and
assistance but I will encourage not having any strict hierarchies. We
will conclude the course with a project which we as a group will decide
on.
The seminar is open to both Bachelor and Masters students. I highly
encourage not only students interested in the history of Africa as well
as the rest of the global south to sign up but also people interested
in economic history, post-colonial studies and all those that want to
find new ways to analyze historical data bases.
Together I am excited to see what recommendations and possible conclusions we may find. Join us!
Students should have access to a laptop / device (laptop is
preferable) where one can can use Zoom for interactive video
conferencing. Also necessary is a PDF reader to access digitized primary
and secondary sources.
Semester: SuTerm 2020