After the First World War, particularly from the 1930s onward, colonial development became the central concept in colonial politics.
The idea to develop the colonies economically and socially by investing metropolitan funds was championed, in particular by younger colonial officers. Yet, even in its initial stages, colonial development was heavily underfinanced and planned projects were not carried through to execution. Instigated by the trusteeship ideology advanced by the League of Nations and the continuous demand to legitimize European colonialism, social and technical infrastructures became the core means of developing the colonies after the Second World War.
The manifold attempts to ‘develop’ the colonies may be seen as strategies to meet the on-going transformations during decolonization and to restructure imperial power. Furthermore, they bear witness to the conflicting concepts of development and modernisation. By looking at social as well as technical infrastructures our conference discusses these strategies and concepts in a broad perspective. Several other institutions, aside from the imperial administrations were involved, for instance the European Development Fund. Moreover, a variety of international organisations such as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development or the International Labour Organisation were as vital for the organisation of welfare programmes or the financing of infrastructures, as private businesses, which again were part of a transnational network like the aluminium industries. In discussing the transition from the colonial to the postcolonial era through examining the transfer of welfare state policy alongside both social and technological infrastructures, the conference aims to gain deeper insights into the global entanglement of decolonisation.
We welcome case studies that address the following fields:
- Planning, financing and constructing technological and social infrastructures.
- Transfer of welfare state or educational concepts to the colonies.
- Involvement of international organisations and private businesses.
Key note address: Dirk van Laak, Gießen
Please send an abstract (300 words) of you proposed paper including a brief academic CV by April 15th, 2015 to Birte Förster (foerster@pg.tu-darmstadt.de).
The selection of speakers will be made by April 30th, 2015.
Speakers are expected to submit a draft paper by September 1st, 2015 in order to allow commentators to prepare their response and to facilitate lively discussion. We expect finalised papers for publication on January 15th, 2016.
The conference will take place at the Johann Christoph Lichtenberg-Haus, Darmstadt. Speakers’ travelling and accommodation expenses will be covered.