Project: 101104921 - HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01 - European Research Executive Agency
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CFP – Exploring Digital Sovereignty in Sub-Saharan Africa – Social Sciences and Digital Humanities: Cooperation, Cultures, Societies and African Processes of Digitisation South of the Sahara
October 17 - October 18
Call for Contributions: Panel on “Exploring Digital Sovereignty in Sub-Saharan Africa” at “Social Sciences and Digital Humanities: Cooperation, Cultures, Societies, and African Processes of Digitisation South of the Sahara”.
The Intercontinental Alliance for Urban Studies (AIEU) is pleased to announce its inaugural international Congress in Granada, Spain, on 17-18 October 2024. This event offers a dynamic forum for discussing research on digitisation and cooperation in Sub-Saharan Africa, approached from the perspectives of Social Sciences and Humanities. The theme for this first edition is “Social Sciences and Digital Humanities: Cooperation, Cultures, Societies, and African Processes of Digitisation South of the Sahara.” The Congress will be conducted in a hybrid format, featuring asynchronous online panels to encourage broad participation.
As part of this conference, LAGOSTECH project is hosting the symposium “Exploring Digital Sovereignty in Sub-Saharan Africa” and we are actively seeking contributions. The deadline for submissions is 10 September 2024, and proposals can be submitted via the following website: https://digitaldiverse.es/call-for-abstracts/.
Panel Description:
An intricate and multifaceted concept, digital sovereignty is gaining prominence within Sub-Saharan Africa’s digital landscape. This concept refers to the ability of nation-states to control and manage their digital infrastructures, data, and content. However, its interpretations vary because of diverse socio-political, cultural, economic, and historical circumstances. Established models, such as those in the Western World and China, offer diverse ideals from which Sub-Saharan Africa’s strategies may differ. Furthermore, diverse approaches may coexist within the same country, subject to negotiation among actors.
The panel invites submissions scrutinising the evolving meanings and approaches to digital sovereignty. Additionally, we seek detailed analyses of how digital sovereignty is conceptualised and implemented in local contexts. Specifically, we invite submissions that explore the following topics:
- Digital sovereignty and national development strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa
- The role of local communities, actors and civil society in shaping digital governance frameworks
- The impact of data sovereignty on privacy, freedom of expression, exchange, and data ownership
- The intersections of digital sovereignty with mobility, security, and social inequality
- The potential of regional cooperation to enhance digital sovereignty in Sub-Saharan Africa
Case studies depicting how digital sovereignty is experienced and negotiated are welcome, including those using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodological approaches.
Submission Guidelines:
Abstracts should be no more than 400 words and may be submitted in English, Portuguese, or Spanish via https://digitaldiverse.es/call-for-abstracts/. The abstract should include the following sections: Introduction, Objectives, Methodology, Discussion, Results, and Conclusions. If necessary, certain sections may be omitted. Please include 3-5 keywords. Bibliographies, acknowledgements, and sponsor information should not be included.
All accepted abstracts will be published in the conference’s Proceedings Book, and on LAGOSTECH’s website.