University of Cape Coast-Cardiff Seminar Series Launch Event

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For this online seminar we are pleased to welcome Dr. Isaac Nunoo (UCC) and Dr. Gavin Murray Miller (Cardiff) to share and discuss their research. Dr. Nunoo’s paper, " Balance of Power, Alliance Formation and Diplomacy in Pre/Colonial Africa: Decoupling IR from Eurocentrism and Americanism” invites the consideration of alternatives to the dominance of Eurocentric and American-centric frameworks for the study of International Relations, while Dr. Miller’s paper, "Toward a Gothic Historiography: On Memory, Cultural Heritage and, and De-Colonized Pasts," explores the present and future of decolonial narratives in public memory and culture. The seminar will be introduced by Professor Ambreena Manji and chaired by Dr. Mario Nisbett, Centre for African and International Studies, UCC.

Paper title: Balance of Power, Alliance Formation and Diplomacy in Pre/Colonial Africa: Decoupling IR from Eurocentrism and Americanism - Dr Isaac Nunoo, Centre for African and International Studies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

Abstract Eurocentric and American-centric theories have long dominated the field of International Relations (IR), marginalising the diverse diplomatic traditions, alliance formations and balance-of-power dynamics that existed in pre/colonial African societies. This study seeks to decouple IR from its Western-centric foundations by exploring and incorporating African perspectives on diplomacy, alliance formation and power balancing which the existing IR “status quo” has almost quixotically relegated. Drawing on case studies, semi-structured interviews and process tracing, the study uncovers the intricate web of diplomacy, alliance formation, and balance of power that shaped pre-colonial and colonial Africa. The study is underpinned by the postcolonial and critical IR theories, and attempts to create a space for alternative narratives that acknowledge the agency, resilience, and sophistication of African societies in navigating international relations before and during European colonisation. The findings contribute to a decolonised and pluralistic understanding of IR, fostering cross-cultural dialogue, mutual learning and a more equitable global order that valorises the diverse epistemologies and experiences of the Global South (GS). Specifically, the findings bring to the fore three provoking queries: it is about time IR thinkers decolonised themselves and the discipline from Global South ahistoricism – adopting ‘integrated approaches’ devoid of Eurocentrism and Americanism; the GS and Africa, especially existed and has had a history and diplomatic relations before the Westphalia “system” – or the nation-state system; an attempt to straightjacket events on the African continent into any single IR grand theory can be problematic – a call for interdisciplinarity.

Biodata

Dr. Isaac Nunoo is a lecturer at the Centre for African and International Studies, University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana and an adjunct faculty member at Kean University, China campus. His research interest covers foreign policy analysis, diplomacy, security, agency in Sino-Africa relations, political vigilantism and electoral violence. He has published scholarly articles in journals such as: The China Journal, The African Review, Africa Review, Global Affairs, Terrorism and Political Violence, SN Social Sciences, Cogent Social Sciences, Journal of Contemporary African Studies and Online Journal of Communication & Media Technology. Link: https://directory.ucc.edu.gh/p/isaac-nunoo

Paper Title: Toward a Gothic Historiography: On Memory, Cultural Heritage, and De-Colonized Pasts – Dr Gavin Murray-Miller.

Abstract

Calls to “de-colonize” the past abound today. They can be found among liberal and left-wing political activists as well as academic researchers and those working in the cultural heritage sector. At base, these injunctions seek to “diversify” traditionally Eurocentric narratives and present a more inclusive vision of history. Yet as de-colonized narratives became part of public collective memory and culture, questions arise regarding how this past is to be represented and to what ends. More specifically, how are radical and emancipatory narratives to be treated by the so-called “heritage industry” which has been critiqued by left theorists as essentially conservative in nature and oriented toward commodifying culture? What this paper deems “gothic historiography” explores ways of thinking about dissonant narratives and the current state of history writing. It poses questions of how to preserve the radicalism of the de-colonizing project when confronted with a heritage industry that threatens to mute its subversive and even revolutionary character. In the midst of the present-day memory and culture “wars,” reflecting on the potential for a “gothic” mode of history writing attempts to navigate between narratives of diversity on the one hand and Eurocentric predominance on the other, raising critical inquiries into how we represent the complex stories and legacies of the past.

Presenter Bio

Gavin Murray-Miller is a Reader in History at Cardiff University. He is the author of four books on revolutionary politics and European imperialism, most recently Empire Unbound: France and the Muslim Mediterranean (Oxford University Press, 2022) and Muslim Europe: How Religion and Empire Transformed European Society (Lexington Book, 2024). In the past he has held fellowships from the École Normale Supérieur (Paris), the Leibniz Institute for European History (Mainz, Germany), and the Centre for Advanced Study in Sofia. Between 2021-2022, he was an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at the Universität Leipzig.

About the series

Following the successful collaboration between our institutions in optometry, Cardiff University and the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, aim to expand our collaboration to the arts and humanities. This seminar is the first in a planned series which will involve discussion of research in progress as well as theme-based panels or workshops. The series aims to provide a space for scholarly discussion open to researchers at all career stages, to explore areas of commonality and promote synergies between our respective research communities. The main research centres and schools involved are UCC Centre for African and International Studies, UCC Department of History and Diplomacy and from Cardiff: MLANG, ENCAP and SHARE.

Both institutions are located in port cities with globally important heritage. Cape Coast Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stands as a reminder of the legacies of West Africa's colonial past. Cardiff’s central role in export and empire is also notable, with the city growing in tandem with the rise of coal-powered industry. Taking these histories as a point of departure, we have identified key areas of research compatibility in relation to the core themes of memory, heritage, migration and mobility and the leveraging of these for envisaging sustainable and decolonial futures. From climate change and transnational education to reparative justice and the legacies of slavery and colonialism, this seminar series brings together experts from Ghana, Wales and beyond in equitable and future-oriented dialogue.

We welcome expressions of interest from potential speakers. Please contact Dr Martha Alibah (UCC)  malibah@ucc.edu.gh or Dr Jenny Nelson (Cardiff) nelsonj4@cardiff.ac.uk