My thesis student, Rachel Levenson, discusses the recent Forum on Development.
General
Noted: Charli Carpenter on IR and New Media
This video from a presentation by Charli Carpenter has been posted a number of places. I first saw it over at the Monkey Cage. She poses a number of questions about how “new media” – facebook, blogs, twitter, youtube, etc. – and its use by IR scholars might be changing the relationship between IR scholarship and the world, and the nature of IR scholarship.
One thing she discusses is how new media “flattens” some of the hierarchies in our discipline, making it easier for a broader range of scholars to have their voices heard. And, via such mechanisms as comments on blogs, it may also internationalize and diversify the audience for our scholarship. As an Africanist, I have some doubts as to whether the flattening she discusses applies much to African scholarship and voices… but it might be that the new media is better than the previous status quo.
@ Wes: ASA Presents “To Be African Like Me”
This was presented at last nights Ariya event:
Thanks to the African Student Association!
I just wanted to send out a quick THANKS! to the African Student Association. Saturday evening they held their annual cultural event. This year it was titled “Ariya: The Beats of Africa”. At the end of the event I was extremely surprised to discover they had an award for me! Both Professor Alice Hadler and myself were honored for our support to the African Student Association. As a professor, this is one of the greatest things that can happen: to have your students honor you in this way. So Thanks!
Events: World Bank South Asia Region Chief Economist Speaks on Campus
On Tuesday, Apr. 10, Kalpana Kochhar will speak on “The Life of an Economist at the IMF and World Bank”. She is the Chief Economist for the South Asia Region at the World Bank, and previously held a number of positions at the IMF. The talk is at 4:15 in PAC 001.
Ariya! An African Student Association Event
The African Students Association invites you to Ariya: The Beats of Africa. Saturday 7pm.
Noted: Financial Times presents “Graphic World”
In Kenya, $415m/month or $5bn/year (15% of GDP!) flows through cell phone banking.
This is from the Financial Times cool new “Graphic World” exhibit, available online and at New York’s Grand Central Terminal. Other presentations focus on “Global Economy” and “Recession & Recovery”.
Events: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie @ Yale
A Reading and Discussion with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
the acclaimed author of Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, and The Thing Around Your Neck
Thursday, April 5, 2012 4:30pm
Luce Hall Auditorium, 34 Hillhouse Ave., New Haven CT
Free and open to the public
Sponsored by the Council on African Studies, African Languages & Literary Studies theme group
Questions? nathan.suhr-sytsma@yale.edu
@Wes: The Brodigan Award, Apply Now!
Graduating seniors and recent alumni: don’t forget to apply for the Brodigan Award. The due date is April 6th. You can email your applications to me.
African Studies Cluster @ Wesleyan » Christopher Brodigan Award.
Noted: The Facebook Empire
The Economist has an interesting chart up over at their website which they say demonstrates that Facebook connections mirror old empires. They have images for the former British, French, Spanish and Portuguese empires. They really seem to hold-up for the Africa examples. Of course, China blocks Facebook, which means that we can’t really test this for the possibility that those new connections are rising. (h/t to Walter Russell Mead).
Michael Nelson 