The history of UNESCO cannot be written without reflection on its relationship to the mass decolonization of both peoples and nations which occurred after 1946. How did these phenomena intertwine with developments at UNESCO, including its: orientation, themes, structures and functions, financing, leadership, and conflicts at the heart of the institution and its competing networks? This is a multi-faceted history. Even in terms of the actors involved, questions emerge concerning not only the relationships between the colonizers and the colonized, but the role which the institution of UNESCO itself played in decolonization. This symposium, organized by the International Scientific Committee for the UNESCO History Project, in cooperation with UNESCO’s Regional Office for Education in Africa (BREDA), will be hosted by the University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal on 4-5 and 6 October 2009.

• Programme

  1. Format: Each session will begin with Commentators discussing the pre-circulated papers in relation to the general topic, after which the authors will respond, and then discussion will open up to the floor. You can consult the Draft Programme

• Conference Papers

  1. The full texts of the conference papers are available for registered participants in English and/or French.

• Summary

  1. What was UNESCO's role in the explosive debates concerning the future of these colonial empires, whose (former) masters were among the powers exercising the greatest influence over UNESCO's programs and finance, and whose historic legitimacy was further ingrained by their status as founding members of the organization? How did this institution, which was supposed to dedicate its actions and resources towards the promotion of education and culture for the purposes of peace, position itself in regard to national liberation movements that sometimes expressed themselves through violence? There is no doubt that UNESCO made numerous contributions, in diverse forms, to the construction and the consolidation of the new nation states which emerged through the process of decolonization. In doing so, UNESCO's actions contributed to the achievement and consolidation of national independence. Within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks, UNESCO established numerous programmes and projects, or endorsed initiatives to help these new states, particularly in the area of education and training. At the same time, decolonization deeply influenced ideas and developments in imperial centers. In what ways did UNESCO facilitate the shaping of post-colonial thought in former colonial, as well as metropolitan spheres? Such transnational aspects of UNESCO's history in relation to decolonization remain largely unexplored, including themes such as: - UNESCO's engagement with notions of race; - UNESCO series of Histories; - UNESCO's role in regard to colonial questions and struggles for national liberation; - Decolonization in Africa and Asia and the impact upon UNESCO; - "Decolonizing the minds" - the roles of culture and education; - Decolonization and the future of cultural dialogues.

• Other UNESCO History Conferences

  1. The International Scientific Committee for the UNESCO History Project organizes an other conference "UNESCO and the Cold War"(4 and 5 March 2010, Heidelberg, Germany) More

UNESCO History Conferences "Towards the Transnational History of International Organizations: Methodology / Epistemology", University of Cambridge, 6-7 April 2009 This seminar, organized by the International Scientific Committee for the UNESCO History Project, paid special attention to UNESCO as a case-study and took a broader view of methodological issues relating to the study of the history of international organizations. It was hosted by the Centre for History and Economics at King's College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom on 6 and 7 April 2009.

• Programme

  1. Format: Each session began with Commentators discussing the pre-circulated papers in relation to the general topic, after which the authors responded, and then discussion opened up to the floor. You can consult the Final Programme

• Conference Papers

  1. The full texts of the conference papers are available for registered participants in English and/or French.

• Summary

  1. Since its creation in 1945, UNESCO has played a continued role in advancing methodological and epistemological discussions in the field of historical studies, from its post-Second World War initiation of the 'History of Humanity' project and the first Journal of World History, to its current engagement with the trans-Atlantic histories of slavery and migration. This conference brings together scholars who address new questions of historical methodology in the context of the study of international organizations, with a special, although not exclusive, reference to UNESCO. While transnational history has now taken hold in numerous fields, challenging the dominance of the nation-state as the framework for the investigation of past lives, experiences, and events, it is only beginning to touch the traditional field of international studies. Reflection on the transnational context in which international organizations have come into existence and operated raises challenging questions for not only national studies, but also for international and diplomatic history. It placed the emphasis on the realm in which organizations such as UNESCO came to life: firmly rooted in the context of the continued salience of nation-states, yet inspired by and requiring other kinds of political, social and cultural spheres of agency and knowledge. The aim of the conference was to encourage innovative work that brings the study of UNESCO and other international organizations into the mainstream of international and national histories and interdisciplinary approaches.

NEWSLETTERS

"Archives papers" published twice a year by the UNESCO Archives - Issue n°1
The purpose of the Newsletter is to contribute to the History of UNESCO by means of critical and diversified reflection on new orientations and actions which will enable to promote the values and ideals of the Organization today. More...

 

Newsletter on Archives and Human Rights - Issue n°2
A new electronic Newsletter to share relevant information among archival institutions with significant holdings for human rights investigations and individual archivists with special interests in human rights issues. More...

NEWS

Advanced Showing of a Documentary Film on René Cassin

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this film retraces the history of René Cassin, one of the main drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Through this portrait, this film will in fact relate the context and the genesis of the Universal Declaration.

Copy of the handwritten first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written by Prof. Rene Cassin (Source : United Nations Archives)

Exhibition of books, photographs, archives and journals at UNESCO Headquarters for the 100th anniversary of Claude Lévi-Strauss
On the occasion of his hundredth birthday on 28 of November, UNESCO Director-General pays tribute to one of the leading thinkers of the 20th century and an exhibition of books, photographs, archives and journals will be on display at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on November 26, 27 and 28, as well as audio and video recordings of talks given by Claude Levi-Strauss at UNESCO More...

Interview with Ian Wilson, President of the International Council on Archives (ICA)
Ian Wilson, who was elected president of the International Council on Archives (ICA) in July, answers the questions of Jens Boel, UNESCO’s head archivist, on archives and human rights . More...

 

ABOUT...

Archivists throughout the world celebrate International Archives Day on 9 June
The International Council on Archives (ICA) has decided that an International Archives Day shall be celebrated on 9 June and the first ever International Archives Day is also the 60th anniversary of ICA, created at UNESCO in Paris the 9 June 1948.. The International Archives Day offers archivists throughout the world a tremendous opportunity to promote the cause of records and archives in their country. More...

UNESCO Oral Archives Initiative
This project was launched in 2006; the purpose is to collect personal accounts on UNESCO's history from persons who have been closely associated with UNESCO activities, either as staff members or in cooperation with the Organization.

International Scientific Committee for the UNESCO History Project
Composed of recognized historians and other scholars from different regions in the world, the committee has been created and met in Paris on 30 June 2006, 23 february 2007 and 18 january 2008.
For more information: j.boel@unesco.org