Sudan has profoundly changed in recent years. In 2011, two Sudans emerged from Africa's longest conflict. The separation of South Sudan as the African continent's newest nation has been accompanied by many issues and consequences affecting the entire region. This conference proposes to examine the changing identities, economic and power relationships and external interests that characterize the Sudans as they enter a new era. The conference will open with an emphasis on identity, especially issues of gender, citizenship, integration, history, memory and the geographical challenges of the separation. Its second day will be devoted to economic issues, particularly economic development prospects, urbanization and social transformation in Sudan and South Sudan and issues regarding oil, water and other resources. The conference's final day will examine both internal and external power relationships including Sudan-South Sudan relations, old and new conflicts, party formation and strategic and security issues.

This conference seeks to reflect on recent work, open up new discussion and encourage future research. We expect to bring together scholars working in different disciplines to extend the body of authoritative knowledge on the two Sudans. With this in mind, we invite scholars to contribute theoretically innovative and empirically grounded papers, panels, round tables, thematic conversations and other presentations that might enhance our understanding of the conference's theme. The tradition of SSA conferences is to give priority in timing and prominence to papers addressing the conference's theme, but papers on all other Sudanese topics are also most welcome. Abstracts of proposed papers, panels and roundtables (please, limit to 150-200 words) should be sent by 1 March 2012 to Dr. Elke Grawert, who can be reached by email at: grawert@bicc.de. A preliminary program will be announced in May. Late proposals will be considered only if space is available. Proposals and paper abstracts submitted earlier will receive preferential treatment in scheduling. Acceptance for presentation will depend on the quality of the abstract in the judgment of the program committee. Registration and conference fees must be paid before presenters will be placed in the formal conference program. Some small stipends may be available for assistance to a limited number of postgraduate students. Interested persons should contact SSA President Randall Fegley, Coordinator of Global Studies, Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus, P.O. Box 7009, Tulpehocken Road, Reading, PA, USA 19610, Tel. (610) 396-6092, e-mail raf8@psu.edu.