Register here for virtual presentation or attendance.

Conference website.

Listen to the pre-keynote lecture interview here.

This conference is free and open to the public!

Conference Rationale

The study of peace and security has traditionally focused on the role of states in these matters, using a realist approach. However, in recent years, research has expanded to include broader structural factors such as gender issues, basic needs, and inequalities among different groups, both locally and globally. One issue that has received international attention is the challenges faced by Black communities worldwide, who have historical roots in Africa and maintain cultural and economic ties with African societies. Despite global efforts to promote democracy, inequality and intolerance remain significant challenges for Africans and their descendants. This has led to systemic discrimination and identity-based conflicts, resulting in structural and direct violence in many countries. While some governments have implemented initiatives to address inequality and discrimination, progress has been minimal and gradual, and comprehensive, evidence-based approaches are needed to dismantle long-standing institutional and societal discrimination. This requires a concerted effort from academic and research institutions, national and international organizations, and civil society groups worldwide.

Conference Objectives

The University of Missouri’s Department of Black Studies will hold its 2023 Annual Fall Conference on October 12-13, which will be the first international conference focused on "Peace and Security in Africa and the African Diaspora." The conference's objective is to make the peace and security of Black communities a global research priority, promote knowledge generation, and impact national and international policies. Additionally, the conference aims to establish a sustainable global network of institutions and scholars to support this research agenda. It hopes to complement the efforts made by academic and research institutions in Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, North America, Europe, and Asia.

Conference Themes

The following are the main topics for discussion during the conference:

• Theoretical and conceptual approaches to understanding conflict and peace in Africa and the African diaspora.
• Policing, conflict, and peace in Africa and the African diaspora.
• The role of race, ethnicity, class, and religion in conflict and stability in Africa and the African diaspora.
• Regional and economic communities in peace and security in Africa.
• The role of the diaspora in promoting peace and security in Africa.
• Migration, conflict, and peace in Africa and the African diaspora.
• The involvement of corporations in peace and conflict in Africa and the African diaspora.
• The impact of foreign states on African peace and security.

Online: Register here.

Date: October 12-13, 2023

In-person and Online Keynote Address: “Burying the Sins of our Collective Past: Why Rewriting and Covering up Difficult History Doesn’t Work” by historian Dr. Brian Mitchell

Dr. Mitchell is the Director of Research and Interpretation at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where he leads a team of historians in studying the collection of over 50,000 Abraham Lincoln documents. He is also a prominent interpretive voice at the institution, sharing unique stories through exhibits and programs.

In addition to his work at the library, Dr. Mitchell is the co-author of "Blood in Their Eyes: The Elaine Massacre of 1919" and author of the award-winning graphic novel "Monumental: Oscar Dunn and His Radical Fight in Reconstruction Louisiana."

Join us for Dr. Mitchell's keynote on Friday, October 13, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the Arts & Science Building, Room 114, on the MU campus.