Collective memories of colonial violence (IJCV 4 (1) 2010)

Colonization has had a tremendous impact on both colonizing and colonized societies. To the former, it allowed for unprecedented economic growth and an enlargement of their cultural and geopolitical influence; to the latter it was a mixed experience of violence and domination and of encounter with Western cultures. Colonization had a profound impact on mentalities: Western representations of other cultures and peoples – either lay or scientific – underwent a thorough transformation due to the separticular intergroup contacts. It also shattered colonized people’s representations of themselves and of the world.

The collective memories that members of formerly colonised countries and those of formerly colonising countries hold about the colonial times, and particularly about colonial violence, stilli mpregnates their current relationships. On the first hand, these memories certainly bear on diplomatic contacts between formerly colonised countries and their former colonisers, the latter being frequently accused of pursuing ‘neo-colonialist’ policies. On the other hand, they also undermine intergroup relationships within societies, such as those between indigenous peoples and majorities in former settlement colonies like Australia, Canada or the USA, or those between immigrants originating from former colonies and host societies in Europe. In addition, this violent past has enduring consequences on formerc olonised people’s identities and well-being. Hence, the colonial past was recognised as one of the main sources of racism, xenophobia and intolerance towards Africans, Asians and indigenous peoples at the Durban’s “World Conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance” in 2001, which gave rise to passionate discussions. The way this violent past is collectively remembered nowadays is the refore a crucial stake for understand ingcontemporary instances of intergroup conflicts, prejudice, stigmatisation and racism, but also for promoting intergroup reconciliation, mutual respect, and mutual recognition in and between contemporary societies.

Yet, so far, few empirical studies have directly addressed colonization, either as an object of representation, as a source of influence on today’s attitudes towards former colonized peoples( either as other nations or as native peoples), or as a cause of enduring suffering of formerly colonised peoples. This special focus of the International Journal of Conflict and Violence aims at gathering a series of articles addressing collective memories of colonial violence. These articles will report empirical studies focusing on various aspects of this issue: the contents of people’s representations of the colonial past, the collective emotions related to these representations, their consequences on intergroup attitudes and relationships, or on well-being and mental health. It will be introduced by an editorial by the two guest editors: Laurent Licata  (Université Libre de Bruxelles) and Chiara Volpato (Università degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca).

Deadline for submissions is Jan 15.

If you intend to submit a paper it would be nice if youcould send us a tentative titel and abstract by end of october.

Prejudices and Discrimination between Groups – Comparative Perspectives (IJCV 4 (2) 2010)

More and more cross-national comparisons play a crucial role in research on prejudices and discrimination, as additional data sources for such comparisons become available. In Europe the Eurobarometer, the European Social Survey and several bi- or multi-societal comparisons are monitoring prejudices and discrimination. We know less about cross-cultural research in other continents.

This issue aims to bring together comparative analyzes. It focuses explicitly on cross-cultural comparisons of prejudices, discrimination and other indicators of intergroup differentiation. It features cross-national comparative studies focused on the influence of society-specific and universal conditions that foster conflicts between groups. Relevant topics include not only causes and expressions of intergroup conflicts but also outcomes of such conflicts from a comparative perspective. Research representing a range of approaches is welcomed, including theoretical and empirical studies, studies informed by interdisciplinary perspectives, and studies that implement quantitative or qualitative techniques. Researchers from all countries and continents are encouraged to contribute! The editors encourage especially researchers from Asia, Africa, South America and/or Eastern Europe. The issue will focus on prejudices and discrimination, but other phenomena of intergroup differentiation linked to prejudice and discrimination are relevant as well. The scope can range from small to large scale comparisons between cultures or nations. Additionally, papers on intervention, prevention and policy making across cultures are welcome.

To be considered for inclusion in the issue, please submit a 2–page abstract no later than February 28, 2010

Final papers (40.000 characters incl. spaces) are expected by July 31, 2010

Final revisions are expected by September 2010

Editors: Andreas Zick (University of Bielefeld, Germany) & Katharina Schmid (University of Oxford, GB)