Professor Jeremy Keenan
Teaching FellowDepartment of Archaeology and Anthropology |
Research Background
My anthropological research has focused predominantly on Africa, especially the Sahara (1964-1972, 1998-2008) and ‘apartheid’ South Africa (1974-1986), with brief spells in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union (FSU) (1988-1996). My current research centres on the Sahara and Rwanda. A number of related projects are ongoing in the Sahara, while in Rwanda I am interested in the roots of the 1994 genocide and how its ‘survivors’ are coping with their survival. The underlying theme of all this research has been the relationship between the social anthropological domain (the ‘stuff’ of social anthropology) and political economy. This ‘trajectory’ has taken me from the aftermath of Algeria’s war of Independence, in which some 1 million Algerians died, to Rwanda’s genocide, in which a further 1 million were killed. Between these two iconic representations of the 20th century, most of my research has focused on the way in which societies have responded to exploitation and repression, ranging from South Africa’s apartheid to the post 9/11 ‘War on Terror’ and the new imperialisms of the 21st century.Current Research Interests and Projects
- The Anthropology of ‘globalisation’, notably in relation to impacts of advanced capitalism and imperialism on underdeveloped and marginalised societies; the impacts of and resistance to mining and other extractive industries (esp. hydrocarbons); rentier states and forms of control and repression.
- The anthropology of development and security.
- The Anthropology of Terror(ism) and counter-terrorism, especially the impact of the current (post 9/11) ‘War on Terror’ on Africa.
- The ethics of anthropological engagement.
- Ethnicity and identity, especially in contexts of minorities, marginalised and repressed peoples;
- Issues relating to indigenous rights, especially land ownership, utilisation and resource exploitation in relation to state structures and global initiatives (i.e. UN Declaration…).
- Neo-Marxist theory in relation to forms of primitive accumulation and pre-capitalist formations.
- Nomadic and hunter-gather societies, (notably Tuareg and ‘Bushmen’)
- Cultural and heritage conservation (esp. Libya, Algeria, Sahara-Sahel).
- Rock Art (notably Saharan), associated archaeologies and interpretation.
- ‘Living with Genocide’. How Rwanda’s genocide survivors are surviving.
Regional Focus
Sahara, Sahel, North Africa, Central Africa (Rwanda and Lakes region).Several of my research projects are on-going in North Africa (Sahara and Sahel) and parts of sub-Sahelian Africa. They relate to ‘terrorism’ and the ‘war on terror’, nomadism, marginalisation, new imperialisms, ethnicity and ‘ethnic’ conflicts, as well as conflicts and resistance relating to resource exploitation (notably oil, gas and uranium). Many of these projects focus on the Tuareg peoples of the Sahara-Sahel, especially their current rebellions in Niger and Mali. Much of this research is currently being brought together in a new book, The Dark Sahara: America’s War on Terror in Africa, due to be published (Pluto Press) in June 2008. Additional research projects, reflected more in the work of PhD students than myself, relate to the nature of the current Algerian state, the interpretation of prehistoric Saharan Rock-Art and the impact of tourism on the Sahara’s cultural (and archaeological) heritage.
Saharan Studies Programme at the University of Bristol
Recent Publications
Books:Keenan, J. (2008) The Dark Sahara: America's War on Terror in Africa. (forthcoming, June 2008).
Keenan, J. (ed) (2007), The Sahara: Past, Present & Future. Routledge, London. 410p.
Keenan, J. (2005) The Lesser Gods of the Sahara. Social Change and Contested Terrain amongst the Tuareg of Algeria. Routledge, 298p. (Frank Cass in 2004).
Keenan, J. (2002) The Tuareg: People of Ahaggar. Sickle Moon Books, London 412p.. (New edition. First published 1977, Allen Lane Penguin, London).
Keenan, J. (2001) Sahara Man: Travelling with the Tuareg. John Murray, London. 288p. (Pbk. edit. Sept. 2003, US ed., 2004).
Books Chapters:
Keenan, J. (2008) Resource exploitation, repression and resistance in the Sahara-Sahel: the rise of the rentier state in Algeria, Chad and Niger. In Kenneth Omeje (Ed), The Rentier Space: Extractive Economies and Conflicts in the Global South. Ashgate, London & Burlington, VT.
Keenan, J. (2006) Tourism, development and conservation: a Saharan perspective. In Mattingly, D. J., McLaren, S., Savage, E., al-Fasatwi, Y., and Gadgood, K. Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage of the Libyan Desert: Proceedings of a Conference held in Libya. 14-21 December 2002. Society for Libyan Studies, London.
Keenan, J. (2006) Sedentarisation and changing patterns of social organisation amongst the Tuareg of Algeria. In Chatty, D., (ed.), Nomadic Societies in the Middle East and North Africa: Entering the 21st Century. Brill Publishers, The Netherlands, pp. 916-939.
Keenan, J. (2006) Sustainable nomadism: the case of the Algerian Tuareg. In Chatty, D., (ed.), Nomadic Societies in the Middle East and North Africa: Entering the 21st Century. Brill Publishers, The Netherlands, pp. 682-709.
Keenan, J. (2006) The Tuareg People: Drought, politics and corporate encroachments. In The Indigenous World 2006. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), Copenhagen, pp. 421-28.
Keenan, J. (2005) The Development or Re-development of Tourism in Algeria. In Margaret Majumdar and Mohammed Saad (Eds), Transition and Development in Algeria: Economic, Social and Cultural Challenges. Intellect, Bristol.
Keenan, J. (2005) The Tuareg People: Paying the Price for the US militarisation of Africa. In The Indigenous World 2005. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), Copenhagen, pp. 430-441.
Keenan, J. (2004) The Tuareg People: The continuing insecurity of Tuareg regions. In The Indigenous World 2004. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), Copenhagen, pp. 348-356.
Keenan, J. (2003) The Tuareg People: The threat of insecurity in Tuareg regions. In The Indigenous World 2002-2003. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), Copenhagen, 2003, pp. 350-56.
Keenan, J. (2002) The Situation of the Tuareg Peoples in North and West Africa. In The Indigenous World 2001-2002. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), Copenhagen, pp. 353-364.
Keenan, J. (2002) Thirty years (1971-2001) of change and continuity in Ahaggar. In The Tuareg: People of Ahaggar, Sickle Moon Books, London, pp. xi-xxviii.
Keenan, J. (2001) How and why the Tuareg poisoned the French. Some reflections on efelehleh and the motives of the Tuareg in massacring the Flatters expeditions of 1881. In Barnaby Rogerson (ed), North Africa Travel, Sickle Moon Books, London. pp.75-91.
Journal Articles
Keenan, J. (2008) Tripping over Potholes in the Sahara. Journal of Contemporary Africa Studies. Vol. 26, No 1, pp. xxx-xxx.
Keenan, J. (2007) US Silence as Sahara Military Base Gathers Dust. Revue of African Political Economy (ROAPE). Vol. 34, No 113, pp. 588-590.
Keenan, J. (2007) Who thought rock-art was about archaeology? The role of prehistory in Algeria’s Terror. Journal of Contemporary Africa Studies. Vol. 25, No 1, pp. 119-140.
Keenan, J. (2007) The banana theory of terrorism: alternative truths and the collapse of the ‘second’ (Saharan) front in the War on Terror. Journal of Contemporary Africa Studies. Vol. 25, No 1, pp. 31-58.
Keenan, J. (2007) My Country Right or Wrong. Comment. Anthropology Today. February 2007. Vol. 23. No. 1.
Keenan, J. (2007) Reply to Stephen Ellis. Anthropology Today. Vol. 23. No. 3. pp. 21-2.
Keenan, J. (2006) The making of terrorists: Anthropology and the alternative truth of America’s ‘War on Terror’ in the Sahara. Focaal – European Journal of Anthropology. No. 48, pp. 144-51.
Keenan, J. (2006) Conspiracy theories and ‘Terrorists’: how the “War on Terror” is placing new responsibilities on anthropology. Anthropology Today Vol. 22, No. 6. pp. 4-9.
Keenan, J. (2006) Turning the Sahel on its head: the ‘truth’ behind the headlines. Revue of African Political Economy (ROAPE). Vol. 33, No. 110, pp. 761-769.
Keenan, J. (2006) Military bases, construction contracts and hydrocarbons in North Africa. Revue of African Political Economy (ROAPE). Vol. 33, No. 109, pp. 601-608.
Keenan, J. and Bush R. (2006) North Africa: Power, Politics and Promise. Revue of African Political Economy (ROAPE). Vol. 33, No. 108, pp. 175-184.
Keenan, J. (2006) Security and Insecurity in North Africa. Revue of African Political Economy (ROAPE). Vol. 33, No. 108, pp. 269-296.
Keenan, J. (2006) Tuareg Take up Arms, Revue of African Political Economy (ROAPE). Vol. 33, No. 108, pp. 367-68.
Keenan, J. (2005) Waging war on terror: the implications of America’s ‘New Imperialism’ for Saharan peoples. Journal of North African Studies. Vol 10, Nos 3-4 (Autumn-Winter), pp. 610-638.
Keenan, J. (2005) Looting the Sahara: the material, intellectual and social implications of the destruction of cultural heritage. Journal of North African Studies. Vol 10, Nos 3-4 (Autumn-Winter), pp. 467-485.
Keenan, J. and Giurovich D. (2005) The UNDP, the World Bank and Biodiversity in the Algerian Sahara. Journal of North African Studies. Vol 10, Nos 3-4 (Autumn-Winter), pp. 585-596.
Keenan, J., Challis W., Campbell A., and Coulson D. (2005) Funerary monuments and horse paintings: a preliminary report on the archaeology of a site in the Tagant region of southeast Mauritania – near Dhar Tichitt. Journal of North African Studies. Vol 10, Nos 3-4 (Autumn-Winter), pp. 455-466.
Keenan, J. (2005) Editorial: The Sahara: Past, Present and Future. Journal of North African Studies. Vol 10, Nos 3-4, pp. 247-252.
Keenan, J. (2005) Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline: World Bank and ExxonMobil in Last Chance Saloon. ROAPE (Review of African Political Economy), Vol. 32, No. 104/5, pp. 395-405.
Keenan, J. (2005) Famine in Niger is not all that it appears. ROAPE (Review of African Political Economy), Vol. 32, No. 104/5, pp. 405-407.
Keenan, J. (2004) Political Destabilisation and ‘Blowback’ in the Sahel. ROAPE (Review of African Political Economy), Vol. 31, No. 102, pp. 691-698.
Keenan, J. (2004) Terror in the Sahara: the implications of US imperialism for North and West Africa. ROAPE (Review of African Political Economy). Vol. 31, No 101, pp. 475-496.
Keenan, J. (2004) Americans & ‘Bad People’ in the Sahara-Sahel. ROAPE (Review of African Political Economy). Vol. 31, No. 99, pp. 130-139.
Keenan, J. (2003) Sand-castles in the Sahara: US military basing in Algeria. (Mustafa Barth), ROAPE (Review of African Political Economy). Vol. 30, No. 98, pp. 679-685.
Keenan, J. (2003) Indigenous rights and a future politic amongst Algeria’s Tuareg after forty years of independence. Journal of North African Studies. Vol. 8 numbers 3-4, pp. 1-26.
Keenan, J. (2003) From Tit (1902) to Tahilahi (2002). A reconsideration of the impact of and resistance to French pacification and colonial rule by the Tuareg of Algeria (the Northern Tuareg). Journal of North African Studies, Vol. 8 numbers 3-4, pp. 27-66.
Keenan, J. (2003) Ethnicity, Regionalism and Political Stability in Algeria’s Grand Sud. Journal of North African Studies, Vol. 8 numbers 3-4, pp. 67-96.
Keenan, J. (2003) Dressing for the Occasion. Changes in the symbolic meanings of the Tuareg Veil. Journal of North African Studies, Vol. 8 numbers 3-4, 97-120.
Keenan, J. (2003) The end of the Matriline? The changing roles of women and descent amongst the Algerian Tuareg. Journal of North African Studies, Vol. 8 numbers 3-4, 121-162.
Keenan, J. (2003) The last nomads. Nomadism amongst the Tuareg of Ahaggar (Algerian Sahara). Journal of North African Studies, Vol. 8 numbers 3-4, 163-192.
Keenan, J. (2003) The Lesser Gods of the Sahara. (Reprint from: Journal of Public Archaeology). Journal of North African Studies, Vol. 8 numbers 3-4, 193-225.
Keenan, J. (2003) Contested Terrain. Tourism, environment and security in Algeria’s extreme south. Journal of North African Studies, Vol. 8 numbers 3-4, 226-265.
Keenan, J. (2002) The Sahara’s Indigenous People, the Tuareg, fear Environmental Catastrophe. Indigenous Affairs. Quarterly Journal of the International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA). No. 1, 2002, pp.50-57.
Keenan, J. (2002) The Lesser Gods of the Sahara’. Journal of Public Archaeology. Vol.2 no 3, pp.131-150.
Keenan, J. (2000) ‘The theft of Saharan rock-art’. Antiquity, Vol 74, pp. 287-8.
Keenan, J. (2000) The Father's Friend: returning to the Tuareg as an elder. Anthropology Today, Vol 16 No.4, pp. 7-11.
News Media Articles:
Keenan, J. (2007) On her majesty’s secret disservice, THES February 9, No. 1,780, p. 18.
Keenan, J. (2006) A sift through sands reveals no grain of truth, THES December 15, No. 1,773, pp. 16-17
Keenan, J. (2006) The Collapse of the Second Front. Foreign Policy in Focus, Washington D.C., 26 September 2006. (www.fpif.org)
Professional (Bespoke) Reports
Keenan, J. (2007) Niger/Mali: Tuareg Unrest, Its Recent Background and Potential Implications. Report commissioned by United Nation's High Commissioner for Refugees, Emergency and Technical Support Services. August 2007.
Sahara Focus. Quarterly Political Risk Analysis (Menas Assoc.), 2007:3, p. 14.
Sahara Focus. Quarterly Political Risk Analysis (Menas Assoc.), 2007:2, p. 13.
Sahara Focus. Quarterly Political Risk Analysis (Menas Assoc.), 2007:1, p. 14.
Sahara Focus. Quarterly Political Risk Analysis (Menas Assoc.), 2006:3, p. 14.
Sahara Focus. Quarterly Political Risk Analysis (Menas Assoc.), 2006:2, p. 14.
Sahara Focus. Quarterly Political Risk Analysis (Menas Assoc.), 2006:1, p. 15.
Sahara Focus. Quarterly Political Risk Analysis (Menas Assoc.), 2005:3, p. 17.
Sahara Focus. Quarterly Political Risk Analysis (Menas Assoc.), 2005:2, p. 42.
Sahara Focus. Quarterly Political Risk Analysis (Menas Assoc.), 2005:1, p. 24.
Keenan, J. (2007) Report on Niger. Commissioned by MENAS Associates.
Keenan, J. (2007) The Regeneration & Future Development of the Tourism Industry in Southern Algeria. Commissioned by oil major.
Films (Co-Produced & Presented by Jeremy Keenan:
(2004) Saharan Odyssey(3 documentary films of 52 mins each): Into the Unknown; Travelling with Tuareg; The Lesser Gods.
(2006) Travelling with Tuareg (re-edition) (52 mins)
(2006) The Lesser Gods (re-edition) (52 mins)
(2007) A Forgotten Civilisation (The Garamantes - Libya) (52 mins)
(2007) Waters Under the Earth (Libya) (52 mins)