The annual conference of the DJG in cooperation with the Arbeitnehmerzentrum Koenigswinter will take place from October 18th to 20th, 2024 in Koenigswinter. The provisional working title is: “Independent at last?” Decolonization in the Caribbean and the search for independence – the example of Jamaica.

When the British colonies in the Caribbean gained independence in the 1960s, the Commonwealth, as the successor to the English colonial empire, was the given framework for the orientation of the young nations. However, the constitutional monarchy as a form of government is increasingly being called into question in many Commonwealth member states. For a long time, committees in Jamaica have therefore been discussing a new constitution that would either include a complete solution or only a symbolic link to the former colonial power.

Europe's foreign policy is increasingly being challenged by the new critical discussions in the "global south" about this colonial legacy. The criticism of the policies of the "north" is particularly clear in the Caribbean, using the example of Haiti. Proposals for solutions from international organizations, but also from the Caribbean community of states, have so far had no effect.

In this context, the German-Jamaican Society (DJG) would like to present the socio-political discussions using the example of Jamaica about a solution from the Commonwealth and the adoption of a new constitution. This is not an easy task, as this undertaking will impact not only politics but also all areas of public life and regional cooperation.

The program flyer with registration information can be downloaded here.

Registration for the conference can also be done via the AZK website.