Details of a conference which may be of interest to some people on this list


>>> "Heike Wolter" <[log in to unmask]> 26/02/2006 16:11:41 >>>
The International Association for the History of Transport, Traffic and
Mobility (T2M) invites proposals for papers to be presented at the
Fourth International Conference on the History of Transport, Traffic and
Mobility, to be held in Paris and Marne-la-Vallée between 28th September
and 1st October 2006. Papers of the panel 'Tourism and Consumption in
Socialism' should address the historical relationship between tourism
and transport, traffic and/or mobility linked to specific characteristic
of socialist systems. Proposals exploring theoretical or methodological
issues as well as those of a more empirical nature are very welcome. In
this way we should be able to analyse the genesis, development and
interaction of different cultures of travel in order to illuminate the
various historical meanings of tourism. For more detailed information on
the conference itself, please follow: http://www.t2m.org .
The conference language is English (only).The deadline for abstracts and
a short cv (max. 1 page each; Word or rich text format only) is Tuesday
28th March 2006. Send proposals to [log in to unmask] I will forward
all documents to T2M after designing a concise overview of what the
session is about, why it matters, and how the papers each address the
panel's theme. Notification of acceptance will be sent by 30 April 2006.
The full text of papers accepted must be submitted by 15 July 2006 if
they are to be included on the conference CD-ROM sent in advance to all
participants and if they are to be eligible for T2M Awards. All
participants are absolutely required to register before the 1st
September, in order to secure the conference programme.
The socialist societies in Middle and Eastern Europe were not only
*economics of shortage' (János Kornai). Firstly this means, there were
differences in the dimensions of shortage. Secondly it means, that the
socialist countries developed a specific socialist type of mass
consumerism or consumer culture (Stephan Merl, Ina Merkel). This type
does not conform to John Brewer's six criteria of 'modern or western
consumer society' (offer of a broad variety of goods, sophisticated
communications system, development of distinguishing groups of objects,
spheres of taste, of vogues and of style). Rather it followed a discrete
logic that is on the one hand marked by shortage, but on the other hand
characterised by a more or less apparent imitation of a western
understanding of consumerism as well as by the forming of a specific
socialist concept of consume and luxury.
As far as tourism history is considered one aspect of the whole history
of consumption is extracted. Basing either on one case study or on
comparative perspectives, the central questions are: To what extent was
tourism a socio-political task and/or a consumistic desire of the
population in socialist countries and how far did the governance
understand tourism as economic factor? Are there any criteria for a
socialist type of consumption? Which values cause this understanding of
tourism?
In the session, the single contributions should result in a vivid
exchange about so far largely unconnected research efforts.
 
Please forward this CFP also to other scholars, who might be interested
in the tourism history of socialist countries.
 
Heike Wolter