English Guide

Conference Call for Papers

Tsinghua University School of Journalism and Communication and China-Zimbabwe Exchange Center, Celebration Centre (162 Swan Drive, Borrowdale Rd, Borrowdale), August 15-21, 2025

Amid the pervasive sway of Western cultural hegemony and Western-centric knowledge production systems, urban-centered development has long been wrongly seen as the leading and commonly accepted paradigm and universal model of modernization. However, the process of modernization within the framework of global capitalism invariably engenders uneven development: the accelerated modernization of regions at the “core”, typically those more integrated into the circuits of global capital, often occurs at the expense of the marginalization or dependent development of regions in the “periphery”. The relationships between Europe, America, Asia, Africa, the North and South, and urban and rural areas are manifestations of the complex and contradictory dynamics of the global capitalist economic structure. As Africa embarks on its path of modernization within this global capitalist context, rural development has become a crucial factor for sustainable development. It can either be a vital link in Africa’s struggle to break free from the shackles of underdevelopment and dependency or a starting point for reimagining a development model that challenges the Western capitalist hegemony. The marginalized regions that have been overlooked or exploited by Western capitalist modernity also possess latent potential for new knowledge and cultural resistances and alternatives, thereby creating new epistemological opportunities for autonomous and revolutionary development trajectories. Among these, culture, communication, and technology are integral elements that interact with and shape the production factors and relations throughout the modernization process. Within the framework of a global perspective that acknowledges the plurality of civilizations and the need for cultural exchanges, how should Africa reassess the position of rural areas in the wave of modernization, and how can it build its own narrative of modernization through rural development? These are key issues worthy of deep discussion.

As the largest developing country and a continent with the large number of developing countries respectively, China and Africa possess not only profound historical connections but also a crucial role in promoting the global undertakings of poverty reduction and rural revitalization in the present day. In September 2024, the 2024 Summit for China-Africa Cooperation Forum announced the “Top Ten Action Plans for China-Africa Modernization Partnership,” covering key areas such as agriculture and green development, with the goal of “deepening China-Africa cooperation and spearheading the Global South modernization.” In line with this grand vision, the first Harare Forum for Africa and the “Rural Development Cooperation and China-Zimbabwe Civilization Mutual Learning” academic week was successfully held in Zimbabwe in July 2024, creating a cross-border platform for “Knowing the World Through Africa” and promoting global civilization exchanges at both the grassroots and academic levels.

Against this background, the 2025 Second Harare Forum for Africa and Global Civilization Exchange Week will be held under the theme “Rural Development and African Modernization,” focusing on the central role of rural development in Africa’s modernization process. It will cover topics such as agricultural modernization, ecological civilization, cultural exchange, social development, technological innovation, women’s development, and international cooperation. To what extent can rural development strategies be devised and implemented in such a manner as to augment mass participation in economic growth, guarantee equitable distribution, and thereby attain genuine and sustainable modernization? In the context of rural modernization efforts across Africa, in what specific ways can culture and communication mechanisms be harnessed to play a distinct and significant role in advancing indigenous narratives and prompting social transformation? How to strike a balance between local needs and global trends within the framework of rural development, so as to foster inclusive social, economic, and ecological progress? These are the key questions that this conference aims to explore, and we look forward to discussing with experts and scholars the diverse pathways for rural development and the innovative potential of culture and communication in Africa’s modernization.

Scope of Call for Papers:

We invite scholars, government officials, NGO representatives, business leaders, media representatives, and community leaders working in African studies, rural development and modernization, cultural studies, and communication studies to submit original papers. Papers may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

1. Different Models of Modernization in Rural Africa: Intersecting Global Experiences and Indigenous Knowledge Systems
2. The Global South and Global Rural Areas: South-South Cooperation and Cross-Civilization Mutual Learning
3. Rural Poverty Reduction, Food Security, and Agricultural Modernization in Africa
4. BRI and the Community of a Shared Future for Mankind: The Past and Future of China-Africa Development Cooperation
5. The Historical Traditions, Cultural Decolonization, and Localization of Knowledge Production in Rural Africa
6. Infrastructure and Social Development: Critical Perspectives on Large-Scale Infrastructure Development Projects in Africa
7. Public Services and Human Development: Development of Education and Healthcare in Africa
8. Ecological Civilization and Sustainable Development: Rural Economic Development and Environmental Protection
9. Inclusive Modernity: Women and Children Empowerment in Rural Africa’s Development
10. The African Perspective and Narratives on Modernization and Africa’s Image in Global Communication
11. Community Participation, Public Communication, and Innovation in Grassroots Governance in Africa
12. Cultural Tourism and Creative Industries: The Protection and Commercialization of African Rural Art and Cultural Heritage
13. Digital Technology, Digital Economy, and Rural Modernization in Africa
14. Social Responsibility of Local and Transnational Corporations in African Modernization
15. The Role of Global Youth in Social Change and Rural Development in Africa

Guidelines for Submission :

Please submit the full paper or abstract (500 words at least) by February 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM (CAT, Central Africa Time) to the conference email: join2025@harareforum.co.zw.

The paper or abstract should also include a one-paragraph author’s bio. Keywords, bio, and any references are not included in the word count.

Proposals for pre-constituted panels of 4-5 papers should include individual abstracts for each paper as well as an additional 500-word rationale for the overall panel. If a pre-constituted panel is accepted, then all presenters must register by the May 1, 2025, deadline.

Submissions in either Chinese or English are accepted for this conference; however, it is recommended that papers be presented in English during the conference sessions.

This conference is open to in-person participation only.

Conference Information:

Venue: Celebration Centre (162 Swan Drive, Borrowdale Rd, Borrowdale), Harare, Zimbabwe

Dates: August 17-19, 2025

• August 17: Registration for all participants in Harare
• August 18: The organizers will arrange collective field visits in Harare and surrounding areas, with participants grouped into thematic research teams. Participants may sign up based on their interests.
• August 19: Official conference, including opening ceremony, keynote speeches, paper presentations in parallel sessions, an entrepreneurs’ forum, and youth roundtable discussions.

Pre-Conference/Post-Conference Activities:

• August 15-17 (optional): The organizers will arrange collective field visits in Hwange and Victoria Falls City
• August 20-21 (optional): The organizers will arrange collective field visits in Great Zimbabwe and Nyanga

Host: Tsinghua University School of Journalism and Communication and China-Zimbabwe Exchange Center

Organizers: Tsinghua University School of Journalism and Communication, Research and Practice Base for Global South Communication; China-Zimbabwe Exchange Center

Awards:
Outstanding papers will be awarded prizes, and winners will receive partial travel subsidies.

Key Dates(CAT, Central Africa Time):

• Abstract (or full paper) submission deadline: February 28, 2025
• Notification of acceptance: April 1, 2025
• Conference registration deadline and payment of registration fee: May 1, 2025
• Conference dates: August 17-19, 2025

Contact Information:
For inquiries, please contact the conference organizing committee:
Email: join2025@harareforum.co.zw

For more information, please visit the conference website: harareforum.co.zw.