Call for Papers

“Nations and States: On the Map and In the Mind”

15th Annual World Convention of the
Association for the Study of Nationalities (ASN)

International Affairs Building,
Columbia University, NY
Sponsored by the Harriman Institute
15-17 April 2010
www.nationalities.org
 
***Proposal deadline: 4 November 2009***
 
Contact information:
proposals must be submitted to: 
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120+ PANELS on the Balkans, Central Europe and the Baltics, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Turkey, Afghanistan, China, 
and Nationalism Studies

SPECIAL SECTIONS on
History, Politics, and Memory
Interpretive and Cognitive Approaches in Ethnography
The Resurgence of Russia: Domestic and Foreign Policy Implications

THEMATIC Panels on
Islam and Politics, Genocide and Mass Killing, Ethnic Violence, Religion, Language Politics, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Autonomy, Gender and Identity, EU Integration, NATO Expansion, Diaspora and Transnational Networks, International Law and Tribunals, Political Economy and the Nation, History and Nation-Building, and many more…

SCREENING of New Documentaries
SPECIAL ROUNDTABLES on New Books
AWARDS for Best Doctoral Student Papers

SPECIAL EVENTS sponsored by the ASN Journal Nationalities Papers

The ASN Convention, the most attended international and inter-disciplinary scholarly gathering of its kind, welcomes proposals on a wide range of topics related to nationalism, ethnicity, ethnic conflict and national identity in Central Europe, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, the Caucasus, the Turkic world, and Central Eurasia. The Convention also invites proposals devoted to comparative perspectives on nationalism-related issues in other regions of the world, as well as theoretical approaches that need not be grounded in any particular geographic region. Disciplines represented include political science, history, anthropology, sociology, international studies, security studies, area studies, economics, geography and geopolitics, sociolinguistics, literature, psychology, and related fields
 
The Convention is inviting paper, panel, roundtable, or special presentation proposals for three special thematic sidebars: 
•“History, Politics and Memory,” on the construction and contestation of the memory of historical events in sites, political discourse and historical research;
•“Interpretive and Cognitive Approaches in Ethnography," on the richness and breadth of findings in the increasingly popular contextual approach to the study of nationalism and ethnicity;
•“The Resurgence of Russia: Domestic and Foreign Policy Implications,” on the transformation in the discourse, policies and practices of the Russia internally and externally.
 
To celebrate the re-launch of Nationalities Papers, the opening reception of the convention will be hosted by Nationalities Papers at which occasion the re-launched journal will be introduced by the editorial team. During  the convention, Nationalities Papers will host the first Nationalities Debate, a high profile discussion on the state of the art, which will be subsequently featured in the journal. 
 
Since 2005, the ASN Convention has acknowledged excellence in graduate studies research by offering Awards for Best Doctoral Student Papers in five sections: Russia/Ukraine/Caucasus, Central Asia/Eurasia, Central Europe, Balkans, and Nationalism Studies. The winners at the 2009 Convention were Sofia Sebastian (LSE, UK) for the Balkans, Jennie Schulze (George Washington U, US) for Central Europe, Erik Scott (UC Berkeley, US) for Russia/Ukraine/Caucasus, Fredrik Sjoberg (Harvard U, US/Uppsala U, Sweden) and Barbara Junisbai (Indiana U, US) for Central Eurasia, and Laia Balcells (Yale U, US) for Nationalism Studies. Doctoral student applicants whose proposals are accepted for the 2010 Convention, who will not have defended their dissertation by 1 November 2009, and whose papers are delivered by the deadline, will automatically be considered for the awards.

The 2010 Convention is, moreover, inviting submissions for documentaries made within the past few years and available in DVD format (either NTSC or PAL). Most films selected for the convention will be screened during regular panel slots and will be followed by a discussion moderated by an academic expert. Films on the 2009 Program included The Singing Revolution (US, 2008), Holodomor (Hungary, 2008), Shadow of the Holy Book (Finland, 2008), The Lost Colony (Netherlands, 2008) and Citizens K: The “K” Twins (France, 2007).
 
The 2010 Convention invites proposals for INDIVIDUAL PAPERS or PANELS. A panel includes a chair, three or four presentations based on written papers, and a discussant. Proposals using an innovative format are encouraged. A popular new format is a roundtable on a new book, in which the author is being engaged by three discussants — ten book panels were featured in the 2009 Convention. Other innovative formats in proposals are encouraged.
 
The 2010 Convention is also welcoming offers to serve as DISCUSSANT on a panel to be created by the Program Committee from individual paper proposals. The application to be considered as discussant can be self-standing, or accompanied by an individual paper proposal.
 
There is NO APPLICATION FORM to fill out in order to send proposals to the convention, BUT A FACT SHEET IS REQUIRED; TO BE DOWNLOADED AT www.nationalities.org. All proposals and fact sheets must be sent by email to Dominique Arel at both [log in to unmask] and [log in to unmask] 
 
INDIVIDUAL PAPER PROPOSALS must include the name, email and affiliation of the author, a postal address for paper mail, the title of the paper, a 500-word abstract and a 100-word biographical statement that mentions a recent or forthcoming publication, if applicable, with all bibliographical information, and with the title appearing in the original language of publication [with a translation in brackets]. Long CVs will be rejected, as the bio statement must be sent in narrative form, like a paragraph. Graduate students must indicate the title of their dissertation and year of projected defense. They can also submit the bibliographic information of a recent or forthcoming publication.

PANEL PROPOSALS must include the title of the panel, a chair, three or four paper-givers with the title of their papers, and a discussant; the name, affiliation, email, and 100-word biographical statements of each participant and include full bibliographic information of a recent or forthcoming publication, if applicable. Long CVs will be rejected, as the bio statement must be sent in narrative form, like a paragraph. Graduate students must indicate the title of their dissertation, the year they joined a doctoral program and the year of projected defense. A 500-word abstract of each paper is not required for panel proposals.
 
PROPOSALS FOR FILMS OR VIDEOS must include the name, email and affiliation of the author, the title of the film, name of director, country and year of production, a 500-word abstract of the theme of the film and a 100-word biographical statement.
 
PROPOSALS USING AN INNOVATIVE FORMAT must include the title of the panel, the names, emails, affiliations, postal addresses, 100-word biographical statements of each participant (same specifications as above) and a discussion on the proposed format. 
 
INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS TO SERVE AS DISCUSSANT must include the name, email, affiliation, a paragraph about the areas of expertise of the proposed discussant, and a 100-word biographical statement (same specifications as above).
 
All proposals must be included IN THE BODY OF A SINGLE EMAIL, except for the FACT SHEET that must be attached. Attachments other than the Fact Sheet will be accepted only if they repeat the content of the email message/proposal, and if all the information is contained IN A SINGLE ATTACHMENT, except for the Fact Sheet. The receipt of all proposals will be acknowledged electronically (with some delay during deadline week, due to the high volume of proposals).
 
Participants are responsible for covering all travel and accommodation costs. Unfortunately, ASN has no funding available for panelists.
 
An international Program Committee will be entrusted with the selection of proposals. Applicants will be notified in December 2009 or January 2010. Information regarding registration costs and other logistical questions will be communicated afterwards.
 
The full list of panels from last year’s convention can be accessed at http://www.nationalities.org/convention/pdfs/ASN_2009_final_program.pdf
 
The film lineup of last year’s convention can be accessed at http://www.nationalities.org/convention/films.asp
 
The programs from past conventions, going back to 2001, are also online at http://www.nationalities.org/convention/past.asp
 
Several dozen publishers and companies have had exhibits and/or advertised in the Convention Program in past years. Due to considerations of space, advertisers and exhibitors are encouraged to place their order early. For information, please contact Convention Executive Director Gordon N. Bardos ([log in to unmask]).
 
We look forward to receiving your proposal!
 
The Convention Organizing Committee:
Dominique Arel, ASN President
Gordon N. Bardos, Executive Director
Sherrill Stroschein, Program Chair
Florian Bieber, Zsuzsa Csergo, Dmitry Gorenburg, and Vejas Liulevicius, ASN Executive Committee
 
Deadline for proposals: 4 November 2009 (to be sent to both [log in to unmask] AND [log in to unmask])

The ASN Convention’s headquarters are located at the:
 
Harriman Institute
Columbia University
1216 IAB
420 W. 118th St.
New York, NY 10027
212 854 8487 tel
212 666 3481 fax
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