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. |
