HEStaff exchange2026–2029

TransatlanticLab · Transatlantic crossroads Lab

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2026-01-01 → 2029-12-31
EU contribution
€1,803,600
Participants
24
Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-SE

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Project objective

TransatlanticLab reexamines colonial and post-colonial interactions within the transatlantic space, using the Atlantic as a historical laboratory to explore colonial domination and racialist ideologies. The project focuses on how these dynamics, emerging from the plantation economy in the greater Caribbean, were maximised on both sides of the ocean. It addresses how race was constructed through economic practices, becoming an instrument of social oppression embedded in thought and language. Beyond traditional European mechanisms like slavery, forced labour, and racialism, the analysis includes their impacts on European territories. It rethinks colonial regimes, historicises European domination languages, and examines intermediaries' roles in maintaining colonial power. TransatlanticLab aims to surpass current decolonial theories and simplistic understandings of racism as merely a system of prejudiced morality that can be corrected through education. The hypothesis posits that racialism and racism evolved tied to the plantation economy, flourishing in the Americas and the Caribbean, and later used in European colonialism in Africa. Our argument is multifold: 1-Colonialism roots in Africa and racism link to Americas' plantation systems. 2-Enslavement created ""Black"" and ""White"" hierarchical systems. 3-Pseudo-scientific racialism naturalised this system. 4-This ideology supported European racist politics by the ""Scramble for Africa."" 5-African colonialism depended on Caribbean plantation economies. 6-European scientific exploration and tropical determinism led to environmental racism. TransatlanticLab will provide new insights into the long-term transformations of the tools of imperialism and colonialism. In order to comprehend the impact of these instruments of power, we will analyse them in their contemporary social contexts, considering history, geography and environment. This approach helps understand racial ideologies and colonial practices, and their impact.""

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS · MadridCoordinatorSpain
  • ASOCIACION MEXICANA DE ESTUDIOS DEL CARIBE AC · CIUDAD DE MEXICOMexico
  • CESA - CENTRO DE STUDOS SOBRE AFRICA E DESENVOLVIMENTO · LISBOAPortugal
  • CONSEJO NACIONAL DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Y TECNICAS (CONICET) · Buenos AiresArgentina
  • ECOLE DES HAUTES ETUDES EN SCIENCES SOCIALES · ParisFrance
  • FUNDACION ANTONIO NUNEZ JIMENEZ DE LA NATURALEZA Y EL HOMBRE · La HabanaCuba
  • FUNDACION IGNACIO LARRAMENDI · MADRIDSpain
  • FUNDACION UNIVERSIDAD DEL NORTE · BarranquillaColombia
  • INSTITUTO DA BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE CABO VERDE · PRAIACape Verde
  • INSTITUTO DE CIENCIAS SOCIAIS · LISBOAPortugal
  • Museo de Las Americas · SAN JUAN-PUERTO RICOUnited States
  • PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA MADRE Y MAESTRA · Santiago De Los CaballerosDominican Republic
  • ROÇA MUNDO · São TomeSão Tomé & Príncipe
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES U WI* · KingstonJamaica
  • UNIVERSIDAD DE COSTA RICA · San Pedro De Montes De Oca San JoseCosta Rica
  • UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA · SevillaSpain
  • UNIVERSIDAD DEL MAGDALENA · Santa MartaColombia
  • UNIVERSIDADE NOVA DE LISBOA · LisboaPortugal
  • UNIVERSITA CATTOLICA DEL SACRO CUORE · MILANOItaly
  • UNIVERSITAET MANNHEIM · MannheimGermany
  • UNIVERSITE DES ANTILLES · Pointe A Pitre CedexFrance
  • UNIVERSITE FELIX HOUPHOUET BOIGNY · ABIDJANCôte d’Ivoire
  • UNIVERSITE GUSTAVE EIFFEL · MARNE-LA-VALLEEFrance
  • University of Bertoua · BertouaCameroon

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union