International Organizations: The History and Historiography of the Organization of African Unity - Einzelansicht

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The history of international organizations is a research field which is increasingly attracting the attention of historians scholars such as Sandrine Kott have recently devoted attention to important Geneva-based international organizations. This development is connected to a renewed interest in global history with its ambition of tracing ‘globalizing’ tendencies in themes and practice. This course examines if we can apply a similar approach to the Organization of African Unity (1963-2002). We study how and why the OAU came into being in the early 1960s, how it functioned and to what issues and processes it devoted its attention over time. These range from African decolonization and political unity to refugees and economic integration. We ask about its success and functionality, as well as about its failures, in respect to continental, regional, and local politics on the African continent and beyond. Furthermore, we investigate what led to the abolishment of the OAU and the founding of the African Union (2002-present).

Students in the Master of Contemporary History should take this course as an exercise course and not as a seminar.