Apologies for any cross-posting.

--

*FROM*: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

*TOPIC*: Developing a sense of belonging in diverse societies
Hui-Muslims in China and Muslims in Europe

Leuven, Belgium
May 14-15, 2014

The aim of this workshop is to gather scholars who work on Hui-Muslims
in China and Muslims in Europe to compare the similitudes and
differences of identity practices. Hui are predominantly Chinese
speaking Muslims in Chinas vast territory. With a population of 10
million, they are also the most numerous recognized ethnic group in
China. Muslims in Europe are hardly featured in international media,
domestic politics, and scholarly discussions. Multiculturalism,
radicalisation, immigration, integration, forced marriage are discussed
through the Muslim visibility and presence in Europe. Recent debates on
integration and secularism are focused on the Muslim question. In
contrast to the focus on Muslims in Europe, there is a notable lack of
interest in Muslims in China with the exception of the Uyghur community.
In this workshop, we want to study the impact of ethnic-religious
interactions, state integration positions and policies to grasp the
increasing influence of religious-collective-national expression of
Muslims in the public sphere. We would like to examine the new patterns
of expression and visibility of the Muslims in China and Europe. Tracing
Muslims interaction with non-Muslims, this workshop investigates how
Muslims encounters, accommodates and negotiates into different socio
political contexts in China and Europe.

A comparison between China and Europe provides a guide for analysis of
different models. The workshop looks at the modes of organization of
Muslims, their identity demands, social-cultural and religious dynamics
of solidarity.

To examine Muslims ethnic-religious identifications in contemporary
China and Europe, and trace in which ways Muslims develop a sense of
belonging to the wider society, this international workshop will broadly
focus (but also restrain the focus) on two topics: (1) the collective
memory and identification of Muslims and (2) the interaction of Muslims
with the local communities and the State.

Creating Collective Memory and Identity (through festivals, food, other
trivial identity markers): This part looks at the Muslim way of life and
their practices within different contexts to understand how a Muslim
memory is shaped and constructed. In this regard, we want to analyze the
circulation of narratives, translocal practices among Muslims in Europe
and in China to seek whether they create new patterns-mixtures of their
self-presentation. As Muslims are not homogeneous groups both in Europe
and China, ethnic-religious diversity enforces the diversification of
Muslim identity and practices within various secular-national contexts.
The aim is to observe the daily practices, narratives and strategies to
figure out the dynamics through which Muslims formulate their self.
Relations with other local ethnic-religious communities and with the
State (exchange with different faith people, institutions, public
authorities, citizenship models etc.) In this part, we want to
understand the interaction of Muslims with non-Muslims, local
communities and the state to adjust and to maintain their
cultural-religious identity. The capacity of adjusting
religious-political identity enables to study the citizenship rhetoric,
community dynamics, and institutional structures. The different modes of
dynamics between Muslims, non-Muslims and the State constitute the
possible ways of pluralism and co-existence of differences. We examine
the specific strategies and policies developed by Muslims and
authorities to negotiate the citizenship and integration models.

Keynote Speakers: Hui-Muslims in China, Li Zhinong, Yunnan University,
Muslims in Europe, Jorgen Nielsen, Copenhagen University

There is no tuition fee for participants in the workshop programme.
However, presenters and participants are expected to pay the costs of
their travel and accommodation. The organizers have a reduced prize from
La Royale hotel in Leuven. The GCIS covers the meals and transportation
in Belgium during the workshop.

A proceedings book of the workshop will be printed and distributed in
advance of the workshop itself. Within six months  maximum 1 year of the
event, an edited book will be produced and published by the GCIS with
Leuven University Press, comprising some or all of the papers presented
at the Workshop, at the condition that they pass a peer review organized
by the publisher. The papers will be arranged and introduced, and to the
extent appropriate, edited, by scholar(s) to be appointed by the
Editorial Board. Copyright of the papers accepted to the Workshop will
be vested in the GCIS.

Since the Workshop expects to address a broad range of topics while the
number of participants has to be limited, writers submitting abstracts
are requested to bear in mind the need to ensure that their language is
technical only where it is absolutely necessary and the language should
be intelligible to non-specialists and specialists in disciplines other
than their own; and present clear, coherent arguments in a rational way
and in accordance with the usual standards and format for publishable work.

Papers and abstract should be sent to Erkan Toguslu:
[log in to unmask]

Timetable
1. Abstracts (300500 words maximum) and CVs (maximum 1 page) to be
received by 1st October 2013.
2. Abstracts to be short-listed by the Editorial Board and papers
invited by 7th October 2013.
3. Papers (3,000 words minimum  5,500 words maximum, excluding
bibliography) to be received by 1st March 2014.
4. Papers reviewed by the Editorial Board and classed as: Accepted No
Recommendations; Accepted  See Recommendations; Conditional Acceptance  See
Recommendations; Not Accepted, by 20th March 2014.
5. Final papers to be received by 15th April 2014.
6. Workshop : Gulen Chair for Intercultural Studies, KU Leuven
University, Belgium, 14-15 May 2014.

The workshop will accept up to 15 participants, each of whom must meet
the following requirements: have a professional and/or research
background in related topics of the workshop; be able to attend the
entire programme.

Workshop Editorial Board
Johan Leman, KU Leuven
Li Zhinong, Yunnan University
Erkan Toguslu, KU Leuven
Ching Lin Pang, KU Leuven
Workshop Co-ordinator
Erkan Toguslu, KU Leuven
Ding Yuan, Yunnan University - KU Leuven

The international workshop is organized by KU Leuven Gulen Chair for
Intercultural Studies and Research Center for Studies of Chinese
Southwests Borderland Ethnic Minorities of Yunnan University. It will be
entirely conducted in English and will be hosted by KU Leuven Gulen
Chair in Leuven.

*LINK:*  http://www.gcis-kuleuven.com/
*
CONTACT:* Erkan Toguslu, [log in to unmask]
_________________________________________________________________





-- 
Dr Sarah Dauncey

British Academy Mid-Career Fellow & Lecturer in Chinese Studies
School of East Asian Studies
University of Sheffield
http://www.shef.ac.uk/seas/

Honorary Secretary, British Association for Chinese Studies
Co-Editor, Journal of the British Association for Chinese Studies (JBACS)
http://www.bacsuk.org.uk/

6-8 Shearwood Road
Sheffield, S10 2TD
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)114 22 28436
Fax: +44 (0)114 22 28432