Histories of violence, 4: Round Table. Discussing historical depth and violent conflicts in Africa

Prof. Jean-Luc Vellut is an emeritus professor of African history at the University of Leuven, Belgium. He has published extensively on numerous aspects of the history of the Belgian Congo, including on armed violence during the colonial period (1984). Recent publications include Itinéraires croisés de la modernité: Congo belge (1920-1950) (2000).

This discussion will focus on the question of how one should insert and analyse historical depth in the study of violent conflict. Introduced by a discussant, the general historical threads laid bare in the preceding case studies are brought together and put in relief by reference to theoretical insights in the occurrence and history of violent conflict.