*Call for Papers on The Ghadar Movement - Abstract deadline October 31*
This call for papers seeks contributions on any aspect of the Ghadar
Movement for a special issue of *Socialist Studies* edited by Radha
D’Souza and Kasim Tirmizey.
The beginning of the twentieth century was a turning point in
contemporary history. It was the moment of imperialist wars that redrew
the boundaries of the Third World, a moment of popular upsurges against
colonialism and capitalism that challenged the Empires of the time.
Today the issues that were centre-stage before and during the World Wars
are back again. The mandate territories, the Balkans, the Ukraine and
Russia are once again in turmoil, arms build up proceeds in South,
South-East and East Asia as it did one hundred years ago and economic
depression and social polarisation has once again thrown up movements
for social justice across the world. Social movements a hundred years
ago intervened in those cataclysmic events in particular ways. Their
interventions had profound ramifications for the world order that was
instituted at the end of the World Wars.
Whereas Social Movement Studies has come of age in the academy as a
distinct subfield, the scholarship has largely focused on New Social
Movements. This narrow focus dims the historical memory of social
movements, in particular anti-colonial struggles. Beginning at the turn
of the twentieth century, the Ghadar Movement in South Asia has many
‘firsts’ to its credit. It was an anti-colonial movement that signaled
the beginning of the end of the British Empire. It was the first truly
internationalist movement of working people. Whereas the Socialist
internationals were limited largely to Europe and the United States, the
Gadharites organised internationally throughout the British Empire.
Their networks included Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East
with a significant presence in Argentina, Brazil, Iran, Aden, Kenya,
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Central Asian Republics, Turkey,
Egypt, Japan and China amongst other countries.
The Ghadar movement had its roots in the South Asian migrant workers in
the United States and Canada. The movement was located in a contextual
understanding that linked racism in the West and colonialism at home.
The Ghadar movement’s analysis of racism, migration and colonial
oppression is significant in the present context. Whereas Gandhi, a
political leader closely aligned to landlord and merchant classes is
acclaimed in the West, the Ghadar movement that had its social base
amongst peasants, workers and soldiers is less known to English readers.
The special issue seeks to bridge that knowledge gap.
Call for Papers
The editors invite contributions on any aspect of the Ghadar movement
including:
- History of the movement
- Impact on British colonialism
- Legacy of the movement for India’s freedom struggle
- Ghadar in North and South America and Asia
- Ghadar and the Communist International
- Contemporary relevance of the movement
- Law and governance under British Rule
- Ghadar and migrant justice
We are particularly interested in contributions on the Ghadar Movement’s
work in South America.
We invite contributions that are no more than 8000 words. Please send an
abstract of no more than 300 words by 31 October 2015. The deadline for
completed papers is 30 April 2016.
If you have any questions please contact Radha D’Souza, Westminster Law
School, University of Westminster at [log in to unmask] or Kasim
Tirmizey, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University,
[log in to unmask]
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