Confronting ‘Europe’
The conference marks the end of this Erasmus+-funded project which has sought to interrogate the Eurocentrism at the heart of European Studies and look at ways in which the field can be more inclusive of a range of perspectives, diverse in its demography and multidisciplinary in its approach to its object of study.
UACES organised the closing conference of the DIMES project at the University of Pretoria between 16-17 February 2023.
The conference will consider Europe’s role in the world and the way in which the ‘idea’ of Europe is propagated? Where does it come from? How does it persist? How can it be challenged? And, how does European Studies change when it is no longer approached from a Eurocentric perspective?
The conference was free to attend and open to all. There was also a live stream available which can be viewed in the below video recordings.
Exhibition of Creativity
As part of the closing conference in Pretoria, UACES hosted an exhibition with artworks that considered the following questions:
What are the views on Europe’s role in the world and the way in which the ‘idea’ of Europe is propagated? Where does it come from? How does it persist? How can it be challenged?
See all art submissions in the online gallery.
DIMES Closing Conference - Keynote Speech by Prof Christopher Isike
Prof Christopher Isike (University of Pretoria) delivered the keynote speech 'A Decolonial Approach to Teaching and Learning International Relations Theory in Africa' at the DIMES Closing Conference in Pretoria, Confronting ‘Europe’ in a Globalised World. The session was chaired by Dr Maxine David.
Welcome to Javett Art Centre
The conference took place at Javett Art Centre, University of Pretoria.
Conference Participants
We were delighted to welcome our conference participants to Pretoria.
Keynote: A Decolonial Approach to Teaching and Learning International Relations Theory in Africa
Prof Christopher Isike (University of Pretoria) delivered the keynote speech 'A Decolonial Approach to Teaching and Learning International Relations Theory in Africa' at the DIMES Closing Conference in Pretoria, Confronting ‘Europe’ in a Globalised World.
The Role of Europe in the World
Part of the conference was ‘The Role of Europe in the World: In conversation with Elisabet Dahlberg Frisk (Diplomat with EU Delegation to South Africa)’ which was chaired by Dr Frank Mattheis (UNU-CRIS).
Contemporary European Studies: Crisis, Disciplinarity and the Shaping of a Field
Dr Başak Alpan (Middle East Technical University), Dr Meng-Hsuan Chou (NTU Singapore), Dr Nicholas Ross Smith (University of Canterbury), Prof Ummu Salma Bava (Jawaharlal Nehru University) were in discussions with Chair Dr Maxine David (Leiden University).
Knowledge Production and Pedagogy: Lessons for EUrope
Prof Jacqui Ala (Wits University), Gallous Atabongwoung (University of Pretoria), Dr Ali Onur Ozçelik (Eskişehir Osmangazi University), Dr Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm (Bahçeşehir University) are in discussions in the panel 'Knowledge Production and Pedagogy: Lessons for EUrope'. The session was chaired by Prof Victoria Graham (University of Pretoria).
The Meaning of “Europe” in a Contested World
With Prof Toni Haastrup (University of Stirling) as Chair and Prof Babátúndé Fágbàyíbọ́ (University of Pretoria), Dr Polly Pallister-Wilkins (University of Amsterdam), Dr Olivia Rutazibwa (LSE), Ms Elizabeth Sidiropoulos (South African Institute of International Affairs) as speakers.