Call for Papers: 12th Biennial Conference of Asian Studies: Asia as an Idea / Asia as a Consolidating Unity

Haifa, Israel
25th -26th May 2014
Deadline: 31st Dec 2013

We are delighted to announce that the 12th Biennial Conference of Asian Studies in Israel will take place at the University of Haifa, Israel, on Sunday-Monday, May 25-26, 2014. Priority will be given to thematic panels, but individual paper submissions will also be considered for inclusion into an appropriate panel. The deadline for submitting proposals for either organized panels or individual papers is December 31, 2013. The results will be announced by late January 2014.

This year, the conference encourages papers submitted on the theme ?Asia as an Idea/Asia as a Consolidating Unity.?

Within this theme, we particularly invite you to submit a proposal in the following domains:

  1. Asia as a Single Entity: Can it be regarded as a political and cultural entity and what makes it as such?
  2. The Making of a Continent: Historical perspectives on the ideas, currents, movements, and empires that made Asia into a continent.
  3. Common Culture: Asian culture as a mirror of customs and traditions, religions and faiths, behavioral patterns, material cultures, etc. Is there a common “Asian character” Is there an Asian singularity?
  4. Cross-Continental Issues in Contemporary Asia: Examinations from a political, economic, cultural, social, linguistic or religious perspective. Within this rubric, we are particularly interested in the following themes:

a. Unity and disintegration in contemporary Asia: Nationalism, ethnicity and race; continental and national identity; minorities and intergroup conflict.

b. Ecology and management of natural resources in contemporary Asia: Asia and its role in the struggle against global warming; Asia?s main environmental challenges; environmental movements in Asia.

c. Science, technology, and health in contemporary Asia: Asia as a source of scientific prodigies; Asia as producer and exporter of technological innovations; indigenous medical systems and biomedical care systems; local and pan-Asiatic ethical regimes of scientific and medical research.

d. Sex, Gender and sexuality in contemporary Asia: women’s status, education, and economic citizenship in Asian societies; women’s political leadership and Asian feminist movements; the position of sexual minorities, human trafficking in Asia; Asia as a destination of sex and reproductive tourism.

5.  Asia from a Sub-Regional Perspective: How is the idea of Asia reflected in the sub-regional constructions, e.g. ASEAN, SAARC, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and others?

6.  Asian Modernity and Post-Modernity: Similarities and differences in a cross-continental view. Following S.N. Eisenstadt’s idea of “multiple modernities,” can Asian modernities be distinguished from modernities around the globe?

7.  The Future of Asia: Forecasts and scenarios for the future of Asia and its major regions in a changing world.

8.  Asia from a Local and West Asian Perspective: Asia and the Middle East, Asia and Israel; Jewish communities in Asia.

9.  Asia and Academia: Features and problems in the study of and teaching on Asia.

 

Proposals for panels/papers, as well as further enquiries, should be submitted by email to both the conference’s secretariat (ASI12Haifa2014@gmail.com) and the conference convener (kowner@research.haifa.ac.il). The proposal should include the title of the panel or the individual paper as well as a short abstract (150-200 words). With the exception of round tables, panel proposals should also include the title and abstract for each of the papers. The conference will be bilingual (English or Hebrew). Abstracts can be submitted in English alone or in both Hebrew and English (for Hebrew presentations).

Conference participants will be able to stay in designated hotels in Haifa offering discounted rates which shall be announced separately. Priority in booking special rate accommodations will be given to foreign participants. The organizing committee will assist in the accommodation costs of a limited number of foreign participants as permitted by conference budget limitations.

The conference is open to the public and participation is free of charge. We would be grateful if you could distribute this call for papers among your colleagues. We will announce more details soon (at the conference website: http://asia.haifa.ac.il/ASI2014).

Please save the dates!

 

Conference steering committee:

Prof. Rotem Kowner, Convener kowner@research.haifa.ac.il

Dr. Yoram Evron yevron@research.haifa.ac.il

Dr. Tsipi Ivry  tsipy.ivry@gmail.com

Dr. Arik Moran  arik.moran76@gmail.com

Prof. Yitzhak Weisman weismann@research.haifa.ac.il

Conference’s secretariat ASI12Haifa2014@gmail.com

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The UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA is the largest institute of higher education in Northern Israel. It was founded in 1972 and currently has an enrollment of some 18,000 students (of whom more than 7,000 are postgraduates). Specializing in the humanities, social sciences, law and education, the main campus of the university is located on the top of Mount Carmel with a spectacular view of the city and Haifa Bay.

Built on the slopes of Mount Carmel and along the coastline, HAIFA is frequently referred to as one the most beautiful cities in the entire Mediterranean. The third-largest city in Israel and a symbol of religious and ethnic co-existence is also home to the breathtaking Baha?i World Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A high-tech and educational center, Haifa is conveniently located: it lies within short distance of Nazareth, the Medieval port of Acre (another World Heritage Site), and the rocky terrain of the Galilee region. It is also less than a one-hour train ride away from Tel Aviv and about a two-hour ride away from Jerusalem.

 

Visit the conference website at: External Link.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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