About
the Center
The African Presidential Archives and Research Center (APARC) at Boston University is an unprecedented and unique approach to studying democratization and free market reform in Africa. Through a residency program for former democratically elected African leaders and access to their papers, and through access to present democratically elected leaders, the Center provides a forum for them to share and a venue for others to benefit from their insights and expertise. The Center offers an exceptional opportunity to see the present phase of Africa's development through the eyes of the "architects of that change." The Center also serves as a setting for policy debates and deliberations on democratization and free market reform in Africa.
APARC complements an essential part of the academic missions of the African and African-American Studies programs at Boston University, as well as other departments with an international focus. The Center functions in several ways:
- The Center provides residential opportunities for democratically elected former African heads of state to write, lecture, and engage the university and the broader community on African issues and matters of interest relative to the continent for up to two-years;
- In addition to documenting the present phase of Africa's development, the Center functions as a venue to examine, debate, and contribute to the development of current policy regarding Africa. Former heads of state in residence, scholars, and students, among others, actively participate in policy discussions;
- Symposia and conferences are an integral part of the Center's activities;
- The Center publishes books, academic and policy oriented articles, conference proceedings, and the annual African Leaders State of Africa Report;
- Fundamental to the concept of the Center is that it functions, in part, like a U.S. Presidential library. This means that it has a public component, enabling citizens (opinion leaders and others) to develop a better understanding of the present realities and future potential of Africa; and
- The Center maintains and disseminates information on training experiences in Africa and sponsors students for such experiences.
APARC is an internationally recognized Center for research and dialogue on contemporary political and economic trends in Africa. By involving African leaders in the work of the Center - with an emphasis on acquiring and exploring ideas that emerge from Presidential documents and interviews - APARC is uniquely positioned as a top international Center for the study of Africa.
The Center's activities include:
- Providing current data and up-to-date analyses of political and economic trends in Africa in a form that is accessible to corporations and entities interested in developments in Africa;
- Acting as a magnet for researchers from other institutions and journalists interested in accessing in-depth and current information on Africa;
- Providing a forum to critique and hone policy approaches by a range of policy makers, such as members of the diplomatic community, multilateral institutions, non-governmental organizations, government ministries, and
- Broadcasting speeches and symposia sponsored by the Center through WBUR, BU's National Public Radio affiliate, and offering content for distribution on television through PBS, CNN and other outlets.
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APARC