Reconciliation and Social Conflict in the Aftermath of large-scale Violence in Southern Africa: the cases of Angola and Namibia

This project is conducted in cooperation with colleagues from Angola, Namibia and Portugal in conjunction with the Volkswagen Foundation's “Knowledge for Tomorrow” programme. Due to specificrequirements set by the foundation, this programme differentiates itself greatly from a typical research project. The uniqueness of the project lies in its fundamental tasks to train qualified young African scientists and researchers, while additionally facilitating the networking of African universities with each other as well as with German academic institutions. The project is currently in its final phase. Three doctoral dissertations (two in Nambia and one in Angola) were already completed at the outset of 2013, and additional dissertations were completed shortly thereafter; similarly numerous Angolan colleagues have been able to complete their master’s studies in the context of this project. Three of these master’s students are now currently working on their doctoral studies.The success of these students in their studies reflects the overall success of the project. The conference in Windhoek, Namibia at the beginning of October, 2012 highlighted the project’s success. Along with a forum for students to present the important aspects of their completed and ongoing works, the conference provided a valuable opportunity for the regional and global networking of African and German universities with each other and with attending special guest-scholars outside of the project.
In addition to his role as project manager, Reinhart Kößler has, in the context of this project, continued his work on the past political relationship between Namibia and Germany. In 2012, this work manifested itself in the form of articles and lectures on the subject, during which, Professor Kößler also began work on a book with the working title “Namibia and Germany – Negotiating the Past.” The book is currently in an advanced stage of its preparation.