#04-288
Oct. 18, 2004

22nd Annual ATWS meeting a success

AMERICUS--The 22nd Annual Meeting of the Association of Third World Studies (ATWS) Inc., the largest organization of its kind in the world, was held in Macon Oct. 7-9. The conclave featured 18 panels and roundtables that focused on the theme "Exploring Conflicts and Conflict Resolution in the Contemporary Third World." 

GSW was represented at the conference by Harold Isaacs, Ph.D., professor of history and founder of ATWS; Gary Kline, Ph.D., professor of political science and treasurer of ATWS; Philip Szmedra, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics who is a member board of editors of Journal of Third World Studies (JTWS), ATWS's main publication; and Miles Cooper, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science. 

Kline presented a paper titled "Development Theory: A Status Report," and participated in a roundtable discussion on "Teaching Third World Studies in First World Classrooms;" Isaacs chaired and served as a discussant on a panel which focused on "Critical Issues in Contemporary Latin America;" Szmedra presented a paper (co-authored by Cathy Rozmus, Ph.D., vice president for Academic Affairs) titled "A Cross Cultural Comparison of Health Promoting Behaviors Among Chronically Ill Groups in Fiji, Nauru, and Kirbati;" and Cooper served as chair and discussant of a panel on "Pan-African Development and Politics in the 21st Century." 

The Keynote Banquet address, "Gringos Comen Caca: The Limits of Imperialism: A View from History," was given by Rodney Anderson, Ph.D., professor of history at Florida State University. A.B. Assensoh, Ph.D., professor of African-American studies at Indiana University (Bloomington) gave the presidential address, "Africa, Third World Studies and Our Responsibilities as Researchers." 

The prestigious ATWS "Presidential Award" for 2003 was presented to William D. Pederson, Ph.D. professor of political science at Louisiana State University Shreveport, "In Recognition of His Outstanding Contributions to the Promotion of Scholarship Devoted to the Third World." 

Additionally, several awards were presented to recognize individuals who have made significant scholarly contributions to the academic discipline of Third World Studies. The winner of the "Lawrence Dunbar Reddick Memorial Scholarship Award," for the best article published in the year 2003 issue of Journal of Third World Studies, was Kwame Boafo-Arthur, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana, Legon, for his article, "Tackling Africa's Developmental Dilemmas: Is Globalization the Answer?," which appeared in Volume 20 , No. 1, Spring 2003 issue of JTWS. 

The co-winners of the "Harold Isaacs Graduate Student Award," given to the author of the top graduate student paper presented at the annual ATWS meeting, were two American University students: Victoria Stanski, who authored a paper titled "Linchpin for Democracy: Civil Society in Iraq;" and Thathiah Ravi, who presented a paper on "The Pakistan Army and Its Role in Peace in South Asia." 

Superlative entertainment was provided at the opening reception by the Middle Georgia College Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Band under the direction of Miguel Castro who is also the percussion coordinator for the Houston County School System. 

William Head, Ph.D., chief, Office of History, Warner Robins Air Logistic Center, and immediate past president of ATWS, was in charge of local arrangements. 

Newly elected ATWS officers are: Andrew Clark, Ph.D., professor of history, University of North Carolina-Wilmington, president; Michael Hall, Ph.D., associate professor of history at Armstrong Atlantic University, vice president/president elect; and Kalechi Kalu; associate professor of political science, Northern Colorado University, executive council. 

The 23rd Annual ATWS Meeting will be held Nov. 21-23, 2005 in the Dominican Republic.

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