Global intellectual history is an emerging subfield within Global History, distinguished by its focus on intellectual developments beyond traditional Western narratives. Historically, intellectual history has primarily centred on canonical European thinkers, leaving a significant gap in the inclusion of non-Western perspectives, particularly from Africa. Recent scholarship has begun to address this by examining intellectual traditions in different global contexts. However, African voices, especially those beyond typical themes like nationalism and anti-colonialism, remain underrepresented.
This project seeks to fill this gap by compiling a reader of original documents by African intellectuals and personalities from the 18th to the 20th centuries, to be selected and commented by a team of historians and scholars in related disciplines from Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The anthology will include a wide range of African perspectives, including voices from sub-Saharan Africa and the African diaspora, to broaden the dialogue within global intellectual history.
While submissions are completely free to choose their African voice, preference will be given to proposals that either
- Expand the traditional intellectual canon to include lesser known figures,
- reinterpret well-known African intellectuals through the lens of classic intellectual history themes,
- increase the representation of female voices, or
- feature documents in African languages to ensure a linguistically diverse representation.
Proposals covering more than one of these selection criteria are of course particularly welcome.
Papers may address any topic that links African and global intellectual history. At the same time, preference will be given to African voices that articulate one of the following broader dimensions:
- Dealing with imaginations of Europe,
- dealing with development,
- dealing with difference, or
- dealing with the past.
By focusing on these dimensions, the reader aims to challenge outdated dichotomies in African history and contribute to ongoing efforts to integrate African perspectives into global intellectual history. Ultimately, it aims to provide a richer, more nuanced understanding of Africa’s intellectual contributions and to stimulate further research in this under-explored area.
An authors’ workshop will be held at Lake Constance from 23 to 25 June 2025 to discuss the draft chapters and improve the design and composition of the reader and its coherence. Thanks to the German Research Foundation and the Centre for Cultural Inquiry at the University of Konstanz, travel and accommodation costs will be covered.
Applications from scholars from the African continent and early career researchers are particularly welcome. Please send your application, including your contact details, an abstract (max. 400 words) and a short CV (max. 200 words) in one pdf file by 6 January 2025 to: martin.rempe@uni-konstanz.de
Notification will be made by mid-January 2025.