The transformation of US/African relations since 9/11, with particular attention to West Africa, will be the subject of study for this conference to be held at the Mershon Center for International Security Studies at OSU on October 30-31, 2009. See the project description [PDF] for more information about this event.

Contributions are sought (and encouraged) from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Although we strongly encourage graduate students, we also welcome submissions from undergraduates, professionals, post-doctoral researchers, lecturers, professors, activists, and practitioners. Abstracts or descriptions of the presentations should be no longer than 250 words and should include contact information, name, mailing address, telephone number, affiliation, department, and email address. Please respond no later than March 5, 2009. The ASA deadline for completion of the panel proposal including all membership and conference registrations for participating members is March 15.

Saharan Crossroads invites papers in the fields of art history, literature, anthropology, folklore, cultural history, geography, film, performing arts, and music addressing the methodological, conceptual, stylistic or technical aspects of artistic creativity, culture, and performance, both contemporary or historic, which reflect the nature of this artistic discourse and illustrate how the Sahara has been a porous boundary, a bridge rather than a barrier, for the transmission and exchange of arts and culture through time.