Objective This project analyses the structures of colonial systems of forced labour, in an attempt to come to a comparison of thedifferent trajectories of African populations under distinct European administrations. Through the interpretation of case studiesfrom different West African and Central African territories, it will be possible to understand the techniques of organising aninvoluntary labour force, and their evolution until and beyond independence. The slow process of the abolition of forcedlabour from World War II did not exclude continuities in clandestine practices of forcing African (rural) populations to workwithout remuneration. Another form of continuity connects colonial practices to the postcolonial re-institution of systemsof forced labour: many postcolonial African governments were inclined to rely themselves on respective practices underthe impression of dire budgetary situations. The different case studies will highlight the existence of forced labour as anAfro-European heritage in the social structures of African societies, and link that heritage back to the experiences of Africanpopulations in the local arena. For cases from Ghana, Senegal, São Tomé e Príncipe, and a larger Central African regionconsisting of sub-cases from Angola, Gabon, and Zambia, the project will address the question how structures of andchanges in forced labour had an impact on relations of power inside of the local societies. In particular, forced labour was, inthe colonial period, not only a means for colonial officials to shape socio-economic realities in the colonies according to theirideas, but it also was an instrument in the hands of chiefs ( traditional rulers ) who were eager to employ it as a weapon todiscipline any existing opposition among their populations. African voices, both from archival sources and from interviews, willbe in the focus of this analysis: they will show the importance of the particular experience of forced labour for African socialevolution Fields of science social scienceslawhuman rightshuman rights violationshuman trafficking Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-SH6 - ERC Starting Grant - The study of the human past Call for proposal ERC-2009-StG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN EU contribution € 572 550,00 Address UNTER DEN LINDEN 6 10117 Berlin Germany See on map Region Berlin Berlin Berlin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Ulrich Winderl (Mr.) Principal investigator Alexander Keese (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN Germany EU contribution € 572 550,00 Address UNTER DEN LINDEN 6 10117 Berlin See on map Region Berlin Berlin Berlin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Ulrich Winderl (Mr.) Principal investigator Alexander Keese (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Centro de Estudos Africanos da Universidade do Porto Participation ended Portugal EU contribution € 93 000,00 Address Faculdade de letras da Universidade do Porto - Via Panoramica S/N 4150-564 Porto See on map Activity type Other Administrative Contact Maciel Santos (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
