The African and European continents are linked by multifaceted and long-standing ties; trade, intellectual exchange, political and cultural relations, as well as political influences, have enabled both individuals and institutions on the two continents to come together, learn from one another, and engage in exchange at various levels. However, since the beginning of the modern era and particularly since the 19th century, this interaction has been marked by a significant imbalance of power: Europeans conquered African territories, exploited mineral resources, and introduced the slave trade as early as the 16th century, ushering in a phase of shared history with Africans that lasted until the 19th century and ranks among the most terrible tragedies and crimes in human history; the military occupation of the African continent went hand in hand with the cultural and political colonization of the African population and the economic exploitation of the continent, the effects of which persist to this day. Furthermore, following the formal independence of many African states in the 1960s, economic and political dependence remains.
The current situation is ambivalent: on the one hand, there is a genuine effort to reclaim colonial history, to renew trade relations to make them more equitable, and to promote mutual dialogue; on the other hand, it is clear that European (anti-)migration policy shows that the encounter between Europe and Africa is still fraught with prejudices, fears, illusions, political strategies, and power games. The challenge of this encounter between Europe and Africa will be examined at an interdisciplinary and international conference. The following questions are of particular interest in this regard:
- To what extent do interactions between Africa and Europe pose a challenge for the scientific disciplines?
- Where are the key locations that raise questions in Afro-European relations?
- How can the various scientific disciplines contribute to the discussion of neocolonial relations and to a possible resolution of current problems?
- How do African and European intellectuals perceive their own continent and that of others? What images and stereotypes do they need to correct, and what conditions must be met for a fruitful future relationship between Africa and Europe?
Les intervenants
