AEGIS CRG 'Africa in the World' Seminar Series: Trust and Trust Making in Africa's Global Connections

The AEGIS Collaborative Research Group 'Africa in the World' is happy to announce its Seminar Series 'Trust and Trust Making in Africa's Global Connections', 27-29 April 2021.
 
As Luhmann argued: “Without trust, only very simple forms of human co-operation, which can be transacted on the spot are possible. In more complex situations, people have to cope with events not directly visible, with factors not yet present, and with other people who cannot be fathomed entirely” (1979:88), a complication which certainly applies to transnational contexts. Studying trust is therefore highly relevant for a deeper understanding of the processes by which Africa’s global connections are shaped.
 
We propose to delve into this subject by a seminar series consisting of four sub-themes, the first being Trust and Trust Making with a focus on African migration.
Speakers will address how dynamics of trust and distrust co-shape migrants’ mobility trajectories and how trust making between actors is essential in navigating the uncertainty and hope inherent in migrants’ journeys.
 
Apart from interpersonal trust, trust and distrust in systems of monitoring and surveillance greatly influence processes of contemporary African transnational migration. Identification technologies and practices in particular participate in the production of evidence to varying mobilising and demobilising effects.
Intimate experiences of migration and associated feelings of trust and mistrust may sometimes be difficult to capture in mere academic language. African films and literature, however, may provide insights in this matter that would otherwise remain hidden but are indispensable for a better grasp of the workings of trust/mistrust in global migration experiences and processes. 

Programme

27 April, 4-6pm (CEST): Trust and trust making in African Migration Trajectories
Speaker: Dr Joris Schapendonk, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

28 April, 4-6pm (CEST): Trust and Trust making in migration management: Technology and Evidence
Speaker: Dr Anja Simonsen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

29 April, 4-6pm (CEST): Trust and trust Making in African migration: A view from the arts
Speaker: Dr Alioune Sow (University of Florida, USA)
 
You are all cordially invited to join this conversation! Please register via the following link:
 
 
(Photo: Joris Schapendonk).

 

 

 

Date, time and location

27 April 2021 to 29 April 2021