Printing / photocopying system upgrade

If you have been in the library in the last couple of days you may have noticed we're getting new photocopiers and printers.
There may be some interruption to printing and photocopying while engineers install the new equipment.
 
Our printing / photocopying system upgrade should be going live in the next couple of days and will bring new features such as scanning and printing over WiFi.
 
Apologies for any inconvenience caused while the upgrade takes place.

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award: Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC)

Institute of Commonwealth Studies awarded AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award


The ICwS, jointly with the Commonwealth Secretariat, has been awarded an AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award to fund a research studentship to undertake a study of the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) in order to examine questions of the development of knowledge, expertise and cooperation in the context of a decolonizing and post-colonial world. T

he CFTC provides advice, expertise and training for development, through the provision of international experts in fields including agriculture, engineering, education, public service training and mineral extraction negotiations. The history of the CFTC charts an important transition in the post-colonial relations of the Commonwealth and in the development of notions of South-South cooperation. The fund piloted the use and sharing of expertise from developing countries rather than those from the North.

The PhD student who will be working on the study will be jointly supervised by Professor Philip Murphy, Dr Ruth Craggs (University of Hull) and Hilary McEwan, who is the Archivist at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The AHRC CDA scheme is designed to encourage and develop collaboration and partnerships between universities and non-academic organisations, providing opportunities for doctoral students to gain firsthand experience of work outside an academic environment. The support provided by both an academic and non-academic supervisor enhances the employment-related skills and training a research student gains during the course of their award. The studentships also encourage and establish links that can have long-term benefits for both collaborating partners, providing access to resources and materials, knowledge and expertise that may not otherwise have been available and also provide social, cultural and economic benefits to wider society.

The ICwS is currently actively recruiting to fill the AHRC CDA research studentship. Further details

Maori in statistics - Statistics New Zealand

A new portal for statistics about Maori has been launched on Statistics New Zealand's website. The new section provides a snapshot of Maori in New Zealand and gives an insight into their well-being and development.

The site includes statistics on a broad range of topics, including Maori agricultural participation; life satisfaction; culture and identity; Maori language; education; employment and unemployment; disability; housing; population; internal migration; and time use.


The resource, named Te Ao Marama 2012, is bilingual and available at http://www.stats.govt.nz/maori

Africa Writes

Africa Writes: The Royal African Society’s inaugural Literature and Book festival

Saturday 30 June & Sunday 1 July 2012, 12-8PM

Brunei Gallery Building (SOAS) & Torrington Square

The RAS is pleased to present Africa Writes - a festival celebrating contemporary African literature and writers, scheduled to take place on Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July 2012.

Africa Writes aims to enhance coverage and discussion about African literature and writers in London - and the UK, by extension. Every year Africa Writes will showcase established and emerging literary talent from Africa and the Diaspora during a weekend-long series of events, including: a major lecture with a high profile African literary figure; book launches, readings, workshops, panel discussions, talks and other activities; a 2-day international book fair showcasing publishers of African literature; and a 2-day pan-African food market featuring dishes from around the continent.

SATURDAY, 30th June 2012

Welcome and Introduction by Richard Dowden (Director, RAS)
12:00-12:15 / Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre (BGLT)

Opening session: New writing for a ‘new Africa’?
12:15-13:00 / BGLT
Deputy Editor of Granta, Ellah Allfrey, leads Ghanaian author Kojo Laing in conversation, discussing new writing in Africa and setting the scene for the festival.

Book launch: How Shall We Kill the Bishop? by Lily Mabura
13:00-13:30 / Brunei Suite (BS)
Book launch with author Lily Mabura. Chair: Fiammetta Rocco (Literary Editor, The Economist).

Book launch: Sterile Sky by E. E. Sule
14:00-14:30 / BS
Book launch with author EE Sule. Chair: Dr Mpalive Msiska (Reader in English & Humanities, Birkbeck College).

Event: The 2012 Caine Prize authors meet their readers
15:00-16:30 / BGLT
Meet the 2012 Caine Prize Shortlisted writers - Rotimi Babatunde, Billy Kahora, Stanley Kenani, Melissa Tandiwe Myambo, and Constance Myburgh. Event in collaboration with the Black Reading Group and the London Afro-Caribbean Book Club. *Attendance by RSVP only: tricia@paulwombell.demon.co.uk

Book launch: Crossbones by Nuruddin Farah
17:00-17:45 / BS
Book launch with author Nuruddin Farah. Chair: Richard Dowden (Director, RAS)

Africa Writes 2012 Lecture by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
18:00-19:30 / BGLT
Marking the 50th anniversary of the African Writers Series, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will reflect on 50 years of African literature since the series was first established in 1962. Followed by a reception.
*Attendance by RSVP only: http://africawrites2012.eventbrite.co.uk/

SUNDAY, 1st July 2012

Workshop: Story Time
12:00-13:00 / BS
Interactive story-telling for children.

Book launch: Labyrinths by Christopher Okigbo
12:00-12:30 / BGLT
Book launch led by Christopher Okigbo’s daughter, Obiageli Okigbo (Founder, the Christopher Okigbo Foundation).

Panel discussion: Publishing contemporary African Literature - challenges & opportunities
13:00-14:00 / BGLT
With Margaret Busby (writer, editor, critic, consultant and broadcaster), Becky Nana Ayebia Clarke MBE (Founder, Ayebia Clarke Publishing Ltd), and James Currey (Founder, James Currey - an imprint of Boydell & Brewer). Chair: Wangui Wa Goro (translator, editor and writer).

Panel discussion: Writing Away from Home
14:30-15:30 / BGLT
Authors Ellen Banda-Aaku, Noo Saro-Wiwa, Goretti Kyomuhendo and Aminatta Forna (TBC) discuss the implications, challenges, and opportunities of living in the Diaspora and writing about ‘Home’. Chair: Hannah Pool.

Book launch: And Crocodiles Are Hungry At Night by Jack Mapanje
16:00-16:30 / BGLT
Book launch with author Jack Mapanje. Chair: Becky Nana Ayebia Clarke MBE (Founder, Ayebia Clarke Publishing Ltd).

Closing event: Word from Africa – part of Poetry Parnassus
18:00-22:00 / Clore Ballroom, Southbank Centre
Word from Africa 2012 celebrates the exciting culmination of the Poetry Parnassus and Africa Writes festivals. It's a rich jollof of poetry, storytelling and song, sauteed with performance and music! Headlined by the Official poet at London Olympics 2012 and Associate Artist at the Southbank Centre, Lemn Sissay, the event will feature a selection of The Poetry Parnussus African poets, rappers and wordsmiths, including: Modeste Hugues (Madagascar), Oxmo Puccion (Mali), Ketty Nivyabandi Bikura (Birundi) Shailja Patel (Kenya), T.J. Dema (Botswana), Paul Dakeyo (Cameroon), Bewketu Seyoum (Ethiopia), Abdulahi Botaan Hassan 'Kurweyne' (Somalia), Mariama Khan (Gambia) and Togara Muzanenhamo (Zimbabwe).

For more information please visit the Royal African Society website

India at LSE (London School of Economics) blog

India at LSE blog    http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/indiaatlse/multimedia-2/

Launched by University of London college the London School of Economics this blog discusses India-related research, courses and events at the London School of Economics and Political Science. It includes coverage of a wide range of social science topics ranging from economics, development studies, media, gender and politics. The blog will include links to full text papers from the LSE's India observatory as well as multimedia of LSE sponsored events.

New in today - Pacific official publications

One area in which the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library hasd as a strength is official publications from Commonwealth countries. For the Pacific Island region our collections are perhaps the strongest in the UK, and this material is difficult to obtain. It is always a pleasure to open the latest parcel from our suppliers to see what has arrived. In today's mail we got one such parcel.

Some highlights includes were from Vanuatu: the 2007 Census of Agriculture, and a thematic study from this census on fisheries and forestry; the report from the 2009 National Population and Housing Census (census reports being something we are always keen to have) and from that census a publication entitled Gender monogragh: Women and Men in Vanuatu;  and the Main Report on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2006.

From Samoa we received the latest available Annual International Migration Statistics, Statistical Abstract, and report from the 2008 Household Income and Expenditure Study, as well as a report entitled A Report on the Estimation of Basic Needs Poverty Lines, and the Incidence and Characteristics of Hardship and Poverty, based on that report.

From Fiji we received two recent annual reports fropm the Office of the Prime Minister and Government Achievements 2007-2011. Report to the Nation, published by the Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development & Statistics, documenting reforms in governance and administration, civil service, the economy and living standards.

All these publications and reports should be available soon, once processed and catalogued, adding to our strong collections of the region

Black ephemera: depictions of people of African descent

University of Reading, Centre for Ephemera Studies:
Black ephemera: depictions of people of African descent

 

Wednesday 4 July 2012

 

Nike Theatre, Agriculture Building, University of Reading

10.30 Registration and welcome

Session one - Michael Twyman convenor

 

Introduction to the day, Michael Twyman, Director, Centre for Ephemera Studies

• Patrick Vernon Black Ephemera: consuming stereotypes and identities
• Temi Odumosu The St Giles's "Backbirds": some popular African presences from Georgian and Regency print culture
• Tom Wareham Using and abusing ­ Considering the use of Ephemera in the London, Sugar & Slavery Gallery at the Museum of London Docklands
• Jonathan King Anthropology and ephemera: representing Africa and the Caribbean at the British Museum

Session two - Alison Donnell convenor

• Amoret Tanner Mary Seacole ­ the story behind the iconic carte-de-visite
• Leon Robinson Black Victorian entertainers
• Jeffrey Green Edwardian postcards
• Mary Guyatt Representations of black people in children¹s ephemera 1870-1950

Session three - Patrick Vernon convenor 

• Sandra Shakespeare Caribbean through a lens: Depictions of black people using Photography
• Deborah Sutherland We shall not be silenced: Ephemera as a record of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa
• Stefan Dickers Fighting for Justice: Campaign ephemera in the Bernie Grant Archive
• Zoe Whitley Conspicuous absences: branding and un-branding the black body in Magazine 

Final questions/discussion/thanks and farewell Drinks in the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication and the opportunity to see the display of printed ephemera

 

For more information and to register please contact: Diane Bilbey d.j.bilbey@reading.ac.uk

 

3-year fully funded AHRC studentship: 'Photographic cultures in Mbouda, Cameroon'

Following the award of an AHRC collaborative studentship to Professor David Zeitlyn (ISCA) and Dr Chris Morton (Pitt Rivers Museum) for 'Photographic cultures in Mbouda, Cameroon' in conjunction with the British Library, a 3-year fully funded AHRC studentship will be available to the best-qualified candidate. The successful candidate will be expected to carry out research for a doctorate in anthropology on visual cultures in Mbouda, west Cameroon, supervised by Professor David Zeitlyn, Dr Chris Morton (Oxford) and Dr Marion Wallace (British Library), with support from Lynda Barraclough (BL/Endangered Archives Programme). The student will undertake fieldwork in West Cameroon.


Candidates should be able to demonstrate an interest in the study of photography and a commitment to ethnographic fieldwork in Cameroon. They should have a good Master's degree and/or first degree in anthropology, museum studies or African studies. Some proficiency in French would be advantageous.

A summary of the project is available from http://www.anthro.ox.ac.uk/fileadmin/ISCA/FUTURE_STUDENTS/Further_Particulars_AHRC.pdf.

Applicants must follow the usual application rules for admission as a Probationer Research Student (see
http://www.isca.ox.ac.uk/prospective-students/admissions/application-process/).

Applicants are bound by AHRC eligibility criteria: only EU citizens can be given awards and for a full award UK residency is required. Please see the Humanities Division and AHRC pages for detailed guidance on this.
http://www.humanities.ox.ac.uk/prospective_students/graduates/funding/ahrc/notes_of_guidance

http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/FundingOpportunities/Documents/GuidetoStudentFunding.pdf

The deadline for applications is 1 July 2012 and candidates should be ready to be called for interview for the studentship on 25th July 2012 at the British Library in London. It is expected that the successful candidate will take up the position in October 2012.

Further enquiries about the position may be directed to david.zeitlyn@anthro.ox.ac.uk

Britain Zimbabwe Society’s Annual Research Day 2012 ‘Zimbabwe and the Region’

The Britain Zimbabwe Society’s annual research day will be held on the 16th June at St. Antony’s College, Oxford (corner of Woodstock/Bevington Road, North Oxford, OX2 6JF).

This year participants will explore the historical and contemporary connections between Zimbabwe and her neighbours. The southern African region, broadly conceived, has a rich and inter-connected history of social, cultural and political movements which transcend national boundaries. During the pre-colonial era, polities and territorial cults cut across areas of land later divided by colonial borders. Colonialism also opened up areas of southern Africa to a greater degree of demographic mobility, producing a rich cultural and political heritage. In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the various liberation struggles of southern Africa were closely connected through the formation of governments in exile, expressions of solidarity between nationalist/revolutionary parties, and the establishment of military training camps and bases across borders. Since independence many of these histories have been overshadowed by new political concerns with national security, immigration, and citizenship rights. Still, families, religious groups, economic and political networks continue to stretch across and beyond Zimbabwe’s borders. More recently, as events in Zimbabwe have impacted on the wider region, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has come to play a key role in negotiations to resolve the political impasse.

We are pleased to announce our keynote speakers this year will be Professor Jack Spence, OBE (King’s College London) and Professor Welshman Ncube (Zimbabwe Minister for Commerce and Trade - tbc).

Other speakers include: Timothy Scarnecchia; Joseph Mujere; Francis Musoni; Maxim Bolt; Blessing-Miles Tendi; Andrew Mutandwa; Jocelyn Alexander; Hugh Macmillan; JoAnn McGregor; Tinashe Nyamunda and Ushehwedu Kufakurinani.

Publishers Zed Books (Africa Now, African Arguments and Africa in the New Millennium Series) and James Currey will be selling a selection of their books throughout the day and the event will conclude with a book launch and drinks reception.
Registration fees (for attendance only): £30 standard; £20 BZS members; £15 students and unwaged. To register in advance please contact Marieke Clarke: mariekefclarke@pop3.poptel.org.uk

Registration and payments can be made on the day. Unfortunately, the BZS cannot accept credit or debit card payments.

Conference grants and funded fellowships - ISA

The Institute for the Study of the Americas (ISA), School of Advanced Study, University of London, is delighted to announce the launch of two new funding schemes for the academic year 2012-13. Full details are available by following the links below.

Conference Grants

Applications are now sought for Conference Grants for scholars working on any aspect of the Americas. At least six conferences will be funded under this scheme in 2012-13, to a value of up to £2,200 per conference.Closing date: 1 August 2012.

Funded Fellowships

Applications are now sought for funded Fellowships at the Institute for the Study of the Americas. These Fellowships represent an opportunity for scholars working on any aspect of the Americas to undertake research at ISA for a period of up to eight consecutive months during the academic year. These positions attract a modest monthly stipend and at least two funded Fellowship appointments will be made for 2012-13. Fellows will be free to undertake research using the Institute's facilities, including the library, IT and office accommodation. Fellows will be expected to play an active part in the intellectual life of the Institute and the School, whilst also engaging in its mission to promote and facilitate research by assisting with the editing of ISA publications and convening academic events. It should be noted that, because the School does not participate in the Research Excellence Framework (REF), publications and other research outputs resulting from these Fellowships may be used by the Fellow's 'home' institution as part of its submission to the REF. Closing date: 1 August 2012.

New Zealand Studies Network: Kids in the City

The New Zealand Studies Association (UK & Ireland) is pleased to announce

"Kids in the City"
A lecture by Dr Penelope Carroll, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

Tuesday 19th June 2012 at 6 p.m.
Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St (Room 612)

Dr Carroll will talk on her team’s study of children in inner city Auckland, New Zealand, on how different neighbourhoods are experienced by children and parents. Interviews have been conducted with primary school children aged 9 to 11 from schools in six urban neighbourhoods

The study is catalysed by decreasing physical activity, rising obesity, over monitoring of children, and urban intensification.The children were given a GPS and accelerometer, and they kept a travel diary of where they went.

Penelope Carroll, MA (Politics), Grad Dip Psychology, Post Grad Dip Cognitive Therapy, PhD (Health Sciences) is a researcher in public health at SHORE and Whariki Research Centre, School of Public Health, Massey University, Auckland. She obtained her PhD in health sciences from Otago University (Wellington, New Zealand) and has an extensive background in media and communications. Current research activities include the interface between social science research and policy, housing and health inequalities and the well-being of children in urban environments

For booking and details email info.nzsn@gmail.com

Canada, China and the Asia-Pacific: Opportunities and Challenges

Canada, China and the Asia-Pacific: Opportunities and Challenges

Institute for the Study of the Americas
Senate Room, 1st Floor, Senate House, University of London, Friday 29 June 2012

 

Speakers include:

 

• Gordon Campbell (High Commissioner for Canada to the UK) 
• Joseph Caron (former Canadian Ambassador to China, Japan and India and Asia Consultant, Vancouver)
• Nicolas Maclean CMG (Chief Executive, MWM (Asia) and former Senior Fellow for International Affairs at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS))
• Jennifer Welsh (Professor in International Relations, Somerville College, University of Oxford)

 

Attendance is free of charge. To register please email Tony McCulloch by 25 June 2012.

 

 

Programme

9.30 am Registration and refreshments

 

10.00 am Welcome by Professor Iwan Morgan, Institute for the Study of the Americas

 

10.15 am Keynote address: His Excellency Gordon Campbell, the High Commissioner for Canada to the UK  “Canada, China and the Asia-Pacific region – Opportunities and Challenges”

 

11.15 am Refreshments

 

11.30 am Joseph Caron, Former Canadian ambassador to China, Japan and India & Asia consultant, Vancouver,  “Canada in the Asia-Pacific – how did we get there, and where are we going?”

 

Discussant: Alan Hallsworth, Professor, Faculty of Management and Law, University of Surrey

 

12.45 pm Lunch

 

1.30 pm Jennifer Welsh, Professor in International Relations, Somerville College, University of Oxford, 
“Canada’s international policy - the Asia-Pacific region in its global context”

 

Discussant: Tony McCulloch, Associate Fellow, Institute for the Study of the Americas, London

 

2.45 pm Refreshments

 

3.15pm Nicolas Maclean CMG, Chief Executive, MWM (Asia) and former Senior Fellow for International Affairs at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London, “Canada and the Asia-Pacific – the European business perspective”

 

Discussant: Andrew Halper, Head of CMS UK China Group, London

 

4.30pm – End of conference

 

New books - April part 2

Part 2 of our list of some of the new books added to the collection in April, these include election monitoring reports; and books on cities and urbanization; Delhi and the Commonwealth Games; nationalism and national identity; women in Careibbean politics; Zimbabwe and human rights education in India:


Samaddar, Ranabir and Suhit K. Sen (eds). New subjects and new governance in India, New Delhi ; London : Routledge, 2011.


Nigeria National Assembly and presidential elections : 9 and 16 April 2011. Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group. London : Commonwealth Secretariat, c2011.

Kobkua Suwannathat-Pian, Palace, political party, and power : a story of the socio-political development of Malay kingship, Singapore : NUS Press, c2011.

Schlee, Günther and Abdullahi A. Shongolo. Pastoralism & politics in northern Kenya & southern Ethiopia, Woodbridge : James Currey, 2012.

Chaudry, Aminullah. Political administrators : the story of the Civil Service of Pakistan, Karachi ; Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2011.

Hope, Kempe R. The political economy of development in Kenya, New York : Continuum International Pub. Group, 2012.

Wilson, Stacey-Ann, Politics of identity in small plural societies : Guyana, the Fiji Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago. New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Jha , Pravenn (ed), Progressive fiscal policy in India, New Delhi, India ; Thousand Oaks, Calif. : SAGE, 2011.

Mouton, F. A. Prophet without honour : F.S. Malan : Afrikaner, South African and Cape liberal, Pretoria : Protea Book House, 2011.

Sivaramakrishnan, K. C. Re-visioning Indian cities : the urban renewal mission, New Delhi, India ; Thousand Oaks, Calif. : SAGE Publications, 2011

Dunkley, Daive A. Readings in Caribbean history and culture : breaking ground, Lanham, Md. : Lexington Books, c2011.

Jackson, Paul and Peter Albrecht, Reconstructing security after conflict : security sector reform in Sierra Leone, Basingstoke, Hampshire [U.K.] ; New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.

Saunders, Chris, Gwinyayi A. Dzinesa and Dawn Nagar (eds). Region-building in Southern Africa : progress, problems and prospects, London : Zed, 2012.

Deol, Harnik, Religion and nationalism in India : the case of the Punjab, London : Routledge, 2011.

Bajaj, Monisha. Schooling for social change : the rise and impact of human rights education in India, New York : Continuum, 2012.

Essof, Shereen and Daniel Moshenberg,( eds). Searching for South Africa : the new calculus of dignity, Pretoria : Unisa Press, c2011.

Majumdar, Boria and Nalin Mehta. Sellotape legacy : Delhi & the Commonwealth Games, New Delhi : Harper Collins Publishers India, a joint venture with The India Today Group, 2010.

Ooi, Kee Beng. Serving a new nation : Baey Lian Peck's Singapore story, Singapore : Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2011.

Seychelles presidential election, 19 - 21 May 2011 : report of the Commonwealth Expert Team. London : Commonwealth Secretariat, c2011.

Zips, Werner, Nanny's Asafo warriors : the Jamaican Maroons' African experience, Kingston ; Miami : Ian Randle Publishers, c2011.

Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi, Talking back : the idea of civilization in the India nationalist discourse. New Delhi : Oxford University Press, 2011.

Francis, Andrew, 'To be truly British we must be anti-German' : New Zealand, enemy aliens, and the Great War experience, 1914-1919, Oxford ; New York : Peter Lang, c2012.

Phelan, Craig (ed) Trade unions in West Africa : historical and contemporary perspectives, Oxford ; New York : Peter Lang, c2011.

Sparks, Allister and Mpho A. Tutu. Tutu : the authorised portrait , Johannesburg : Pan Macmillan South Africa, 2011.

Pang, Eul-Soo. The U.S.-Singapore free trade agreement : an American perspective on power, trade, and security in the Asia Pacific. Singapore : Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2011.

Cornell, Drucilla and Nyoko Muvangua (eds), uBuntu and the law : African ideals and postapartheid jurisprudence, New York : Fordham University Press, 2012.

Chattopadhyay , Rupak and Gilles Paquet. The unimagined Canadian capital : challenges for the federal capital region, Ottawa : Invenire Books, c2011.

Schöttli, Jivanta. Vision and strategy in Indian politics : Jawaharlal Nehru's policy choices and the designing of political institutions, London ; New York : Routledge, 2012.

Carrin , Marine and Lidia Guzy (eds) Voices from the periphery : subalternity and empowerment in India, New Delhi ; London : Routledge, 2011.

Sachikonye, Lloyd. When a state turns on its citizens : 60 years of institutionalised violence in Zimbabwe, Sunnyside, Auckland Park [South Africa] : Jacana Media, 2011.

Zack-Williams , Tunde (ed), When the state fails : studies on intervention in the Sierra Leone civil war, London : Pluto Press, 2012.

Witness to history : transition and transformation of India, 1947-1964. New Delhi : Oxford University Press, 2011.

Barrow-Giles, Cynthia, Women in Caribbean politics, Kingston, Jamaica ; Miami [Fla.] : Ian Randle Publishers, 2011.

Falola, Toyin and Adam Paddock. The Women's War of 1929 : a history of anti-colonial resistance in eastern Nigeria, Durham, N.C. : Carolina Academic Press, c2011.

Whyte, Iain. Zachary Macaulay 1768-1838 : the steadfast Scot in the British anti-slavery movement, Liverpool : Liverpool University Press, 2011

McGregor, JoAnn and Ranka Primorac (eds). Zimbabwe's new diaspora : displacement and the cultural politics of survival, New York : Berghahn Books, c2010.