AK Abya Yala – Latin America in Hamburg on 27 – 29 June 2024
Content, Programme and Registration – Languages: Spanish, Portuguese, German, English
Scientific Debates
The establishment of geography as a scientific discipline at European universities was closely linked to the colonial and imperialist expansionist endeavours of the respective nation states. Not least for this reason, geography is labelled a “white” discipline in post-colonial debates, whose concepts are dominated by Eurocentric perspectives and colonial legacies shine through. Although the much younger universities in Abya Yala often followed European models when they were founded and their academics were often in exile during the military dictatorships in Europe or even completed their doctorates there, the academic debates have largely emancipated themselves from this European legacy and are dedicated to the specific social dynamics in Abya Yala. Even though there is a lively exchange between the academic communities in Abya Yala and in German-speaking countries, different emphases and perspectives can be observed, which virtually invite dialogue.
Three concepts, which play an equally important role in these academic communities and which are in part closely interwoven, lend themselves to such a dialogue: Ruralities, territorialities, colonialities.
While in German-speaking debates, with planetary urbanisation and the increasing convergence of living conditions in urban and rural areas, the disappearance of ruralness tends to be examined or is experiencing a romanticised renaissance and critical perspectives have only recently gained in importance, the discussions about ruralness in Abya Yala not only focus on current processes of structural change, combined with diverse conflicts. Conceptual considerations surrounding the controversial term ‘new rurality’ in particular challenge the usual view of rural areas and question continuities and breaks in attributions, especially in academic work. Demands for pluriversal perspectives play a major role here.
Territory and territorialities are complex concepts that have long been analysed in academic debates in Abya Yala. In addition to the question of coexistence, conflict and the interweaving of territorialities of different actors and their logics of action, the discussion has also centred on the significance of identities and collectivity(ies) in their connection with territorialities in order to shed light on the associated dynamics of exclusion and demarcation. Although conflicts over resources, contested nature (spaces), regional identities and (energy, water) “landscapes” etc. are also addressed in German-language debates in Geography, the concepts of territory and territorialities hardly play a role even in works on contexts in Abya Yala.
Finally, the concept of colonialities is a central concept in the discussions about post/colonial realtions of power and domination in Abya Yala and their interweaving with dynamics in Europe and Germany. In addition to questions about the significance of these concepts for the study of social processes, the focus is also on conceptual demarcations between post-, de- and anti-colonial approaches. The positionalities of researchers and the coloniality of academia play just as much a role as discursive productions of the “other”, of nature, of knowledge, etc., which are permeated by post/colonial hierarchies. It is precisely from the different positions in Abya Yala and Europe from which research is conducted and colonialities are investigated that the question arises as to which post/colonial relations and hierarchies are reproduced or broken.
Basic Idea
These debates on the concepts of ruralities – territorialities – colonialities and their possible intersections, which have only been hinted at here, are to be given space at the annual meeting of the AK Abya Yala – Latin America. The focus of the meeting will be on joint reading and discussion of concepts, approaches and thematic fields, with the particular aim of creating a dialogue between different perspectives from Abya Yala and those from the German-language debates.
In preparation, we will compile a reader with texts that will serve as a basis for the discussion. We are of course happy to receive suggestions from interested parties and participants (with a short comment on why the text could be interesting for the debate).
For young researchers and all others who want to present results from their own work and discuss specific questions beyond the defined topics, we offer the opportunity to present their individual concerns for discussion in a short podcast or video, as a poster or in another form. During the conference, we will provide time to discuss these submissions. Please contact us for suggestions and ideas.
Programme:
Thursday 27 June 2024
4.30 pm Welcome Coffee
5 pm Meeting of the AK Abya Yala – Latin America
6 pm Movie Discussion „¿dicen transición justa pero justa para quien?“ – Columbia Exkursion 2023
Examination of questions of territoriality, peace processes and the (im)possibility of postcolonial excursion practices
Friday 28 June 2024
9 am Welcome Coffee
9.30 am Thinking together R–T–C: Discussion of the concepts on the basis of reading
1 pm Lunch Break
2.30 pm Uhr Spinning on L–T–K: Continuing the discussion of the concepts
4 pm Kitchen Table with discussion of individual projects on feminist perspectives, energy transition, hydrosocial territories, territories and current dynamics
6 pm Final Discussion
7.30 pm Joint Dinner
Saturday 29 June 2024
10 am Post-colonial city tour
The conference is conceived as a reading meeting in which the concepts of rurality (R), territoriality (T) and coloniality (C) will be discussed on the basis of preparatory texts. Instead of a large reader, we will gradually be sending out reading packs on the individual topics over the next few weeks.
For the dispatch of the reading material and the preparation of the coffee breaks, please register by 15 June 2024 at the latest at .
Participation fee according to self-assessment to be paid on arrival. Suggestion: 10 Euro
The remaining funds will be donated to those affected by the floods in southern Brazil.