Panel 75: African Research from Central European Perspectives: Society transformation. How to Cope with Oppressive Past Experiences?

The goal of the panel is to present current research on Africa from Central European perspectives within an emerging Visegrad Africa Network – a new initiative to coordinate existing African research and development project agenda in Visegrad countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) and to lay foundations of a future joint centre on African issues.

The panel will focus on analysing bottom-up transformation activities (especially transition mechanism of local governance, justice and civilian participation and their possibilities to reach real societal change after years of oppressive regimes, open or structural violence). Although the examined processes demand to concentrate on local level, the panel will cope also with regional and international situation which could boost, facilitate or hamper local initiatives.

The transition period, as for the countries emerging from the violent conflict or oppressive regime, demonstrates vital importance for their next evolution and the quality of life of ordinary citizens. As the newly enlarged EU encompasses also Member States with transition experience toward democratic regimes, it would be useful to analyse the transitional know how of Central European countries possibly implemented outside the European continent, in conditions of sub-Saharan Africa. And so enrich the EU aid and peace agenda to transition experience.