HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA (HASA)

In 2010 historians commemorate a series of milestone events that happened 50 or a 100 years ago:

• In 1910 the Union of South Africa came into existence as a white-ruled state under the British Crown.
•  Fifty years later the fate of the Union was sealed when the Verwoerd government decided to leave the Commonwealth and white voters in a referendum gave the go-ahead for the establishment of the Republic of South Africa.
• 1960 was also the year in which a series of other memorable events occurred: Harold Macmillan's winds of change speech, the first attempt on Verwoerd's life, the anti-pass campaign and the Sharpeville shooting, the banning of the liberation movements.
• 1960 is also called “The Year of Africa”, because many African states obtained their independence from colonial rule in that year.

We invite the submission of abstracts for the conference of the Historical Association of South Africa to be held at the Potchefstroom campus of the North-West University from 23 to 25 July 2010.

Participants are encouraged to consider the formation of panels focussing on a reappraisal of the events of 1910 and 1960 within their particular historical contexts around the following theme:

• Commemorating 50 years of Union and 50 years beyond, 1910 – 1960 – 2010.

This, however, does not preclude the submission of papers on any other topic of significance for Southern African history. Possibilities include:

• Who commemorates what and why?
• Commemorating milestones in various aspects of history, such as environmental history, agrarian history, land, inter-group relations, mission and religion, gender history, minority groups, migration, sporting history, etc.

Academics working outside Southern Africa are invited to submit papers of a comparative nature related to the conference theme.

Student submissions are welcome. Special student sessions can be arranged.

http://www.nwu.ac.za/conference/2010/HASA

Please send your abstract of 300 words maximum to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it before 1 March.