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| Semester | spring semester 2019 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Lena Bloemertz (lena.bloemertz@unibas.ch)
Luregn Lenggenhager (luregn.lenggenhager@unibas.ch) Giorgio Miescher (giorgio.miescher@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The course deals with structural changes in small towns in Namibia and Switzerland. We will engage with several case studies in order to understand how small towns in both countries have coped and plan to cope with past and present changing socio-economic conditions. The Namibian town of Oranjemund, for instance, was once the country’s most important mining town. Established in the Namib desert in the 1930s the company-owned town developed into a green oasis and accommodated a population of up to 10’000 people consisting of employees of the mine and some of their families. For many decades diamond mining at Oranjemund was in desperate need of labour and attracted people from all over the country and abroad. Especially unskilled labourers were generally recruited as temporary contract labourers who were forced to leave their families behind. A couple of years ago the mining company started to withdraw. Arguing that mining was no longer profitable enough, it handed over the administration of the town to the Namibian government. Under these new conditions the inhabitants of the town and their administration are facing dramatic challenges. Structural change was and continues to be a serious challenge in Switzerland, too. For instance, the textile industry in eastern Switzerland, world famous in the 19th century, had once dramatically changed the existing agricultural society during its growing phase. However the industry had almost disappeared by the end of the 20th century and small towns like e.g. Herisau had to build a new economic base in order to survive. The decline of the watch making industry since the 1970s had similar implications. A town like Le Locle had to dramatically diversify its economy to at least partly replace the former stronghold of its economy. While the historic and socio-economic context of the two countries differ substantially, the visions and ideas for a sustainable future are surprisingly similar. In both contexts, tourism is increasingly seen as way forward. But also other niches, such as heritage, technology, or service industries are widely discussed. |
| Comments | The course is directed in particular to MA students in History, Geography, and African Studies. It serves as a preparation for two joint excursions with students from the University of Namibia. These joint field trips to both countries will take place in June 2019 and the second part of 2019. The field trips offer the possibility to collaboratively think about and compare processes of socio-economic and environmental changes. Thereby they provide the participants with the methodologies to understand the past and present of these changing environments at home and abroad. The number of participants for the field trips is limited to 10 students per country. If necessary, a selection will be made based on qualification and motivation. The course is part of the project “Learning for (Ex-)Change” enabled by the Mercator Stiftung Schweiz and run by the Centre for African Studies in collaboration with the University of Namibia for three years (2019-2021). The project seeks to develop and implement innovative forms of international collaboration in teaching and learning. Please note, that due to the nature of the project it is compulsory to attend both field trips complementing one another. However, students can attend the preparatory course without participating in the field trips. Credit Points: Übung 3, Excursions 5 |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Electives Bachelor History: Recommendations (Bachelor's degree subject: History) Modul: Areas: Europa Global (Master's degree program: European History in Global Perspective) Modul: Areas: transnational - global (Master's degree program: European History (Start of studies before 01.08.2018)) Modul: Erweiterung Gesellschaftswissenschaften B.A. (Bachelor's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Erweiterung Gesellschaftswissenschaften M.A. (Master's degree subject: Political Science) Modul: Fachkompetenz Globaler Wandel (Master's degree subject: Geography) Modul: Fields: Environment and Development (Master's degree program: African Studies) Modul: Fields: Governance and Politics (Master's degree program: African Studies) Modul: Interdisciplinary and Applied African Studies (Master's degree program: African Studies) Modul: Profil: Geschichte Afrikas (Master's degree program: European History (Start of studies before 01.08.2018)) Modul: Profil: Moderne (Master's degree program: European History (Start of studies before 01.08.2018)) Modul: Profil: Schweizer Geschichte (Master's degree program: European History (Start of studies before 01.08.2018)) Wahlbereich Master Geschichte: Empfehlungen (Master's degree subject: History) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Zentrum für Afrikastudien |