Forgiving Children: Anglophone African Child Soldier Narratives

2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K00427
• Research Institution: Doshisha University
• Principal Investigator: MCKAY DanielEric 同志社大学, グローバル・スタディーズ研究科, 准教授 (10803744)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Child soldiers

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

The research achievements of this project have been limited, owing to the negative impact of the travel disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. While I have been able to obtain the primary source material required of my research, I have not been able to visit any Africa-based research institute, as I had anticipated I would do in my original research proposal. A positive outcome, however, is that I have obtained most of the secondary printed materials (of a scholarly nature) that can aid my research. While the field of research is certainly developing, nonetheless I do not anticipate a need for large-scale book purchases in the future.

Conference attendance has also not been possible, though I have maintained contact with conference organizers and they inform me that a return to normal conference activities may be possible in the near future. To compensate for this situation, I have taken out some print subscriptions to journals and magazines that might aid my research project.

Current Status of Research Progress

4: Progress in research has been delayed.

Reason

I have not been able to visit the University of the Western Cape, as planned. Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic has caused a serious disruption to everyday teaching at Doshisha University. In addition, I was unable to return to Japan for an extended period last year, owing to a ban on foreigners entering the country.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

I am about to begin writing my first research article and expect the results to be of a publishable standard. If I had established a research network in South Africa, the situation would be better. However, I am still able to proceed with the work and I have assembled the print resources necessary to do so. Furthermore, the disruptions to teaching have stabilized and so I anticipate no further delays of an unexpected nature.

Causes of Carryover

In the next financial year, there will be a considerable need to make up for the lost time incurred over the last year. My hope is that travel restrictions to the African continent may lift, in which case I shall make use of the funding to visit the University of the Western Cape and / or another higher education research institution in South Africa. Even if that is not possible, I may incur additional expenditures if there should be new scholarly publications in the field (which this is improbable, it is a factor). Thirdly, I may need to update my computer equipment (laptop), as this is showing signs of age and is not as reliable as it used to be. Finally, I believe that domestic conference attendance or attendance at a 'safe' country ought to be possible at that time.