‘Central Asia: a maturing field’
University of Cambridge, 20 – 22 September 2011
CALL FOR PAPERS
The European Society for Central Asian Studies (ESCAS) invites proposals for individual papers, panels and round-table discussions for the twelfth ESCAS biennial conference scheduled for 20 – 22 September 2011 at the University of Cambridge, UK. The Conference will be hosted by the Cambridge Central Asia Forum (http://www.cambridge-centralasia.org/), Cambridge Kazakhstan Centre and the UK Committee for Central and Inner Asia.
ESCAS welcomes proposals relating to all aspects of research in the arts, humanities and social sciences on Central Asia – namely the republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, together with Xinjiang, Mongolia, Afghanistan and adjacent regions of Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, India and the Caucasus.
Scholars and practitioners of anthropology, archaeology, architecture, art & art history, cinema, development studies, economics & finance, history, musicology, philology, political science, sociology and other related disciplines are encouraged to participate. We particularly welcome proposals which will cross disciplinary boundaries, bringing together experts from different fields.
The conference will offer an opportunity to reflect on how far the study of Central Asia has come in the twenty years since the break-up of the USSR which transformed our field, and to both celebrate and critique the research which has flowed from this.
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
We encourage the submission of pre-organised panels and discussion groups, and these may be given some preference in the selection process. Each panel will have three speakers, who will have half an hour to deliver their papers, followed by half an hour of questions and general discussion. Panel proposals should include a clear theme and rationale for bringing the speakers together. They should not include a discussant, but may nominate a chair if desired. Round-table discussions should include five or six contributors plus a chair, and will last for an hour and a half. Individual papers will be assigned a panel by the conference organisers.
TIMETABLE
The website for the submission of proposals is www.escas.org.
Current deadline for registration is THURSDAY, 31th MARCH 2011.
Notification of acceptance will be sent by 30th April 2011.
All conference attendees and delegates will be required to pay the registration fee by 15th August 2011.
Registration will begin at 10am on Tuesday 20th September 2011, with the first keynote speech at 11.30am. The Conference will include the General Assembly of ESCAS at lunchtime and a gala dinner and concert in the evening on Day 2 (21st September 2011), and a second keynote speech on Day 3 (22nd September 2011), when proceedings will end by 5.30pm.
PUBLICATION ARRANGEMENTS
All participants may, if they wish, submit written versions of their papers to the ESCAS editorial committee to be considered for inclusion in the published proceedings of the conference, which will appear as a volume of ‘Cambridge Central Asia Reviews’ from Cambridge Scientific Publishers (http://www.cambridgescientificpublishers.com/)
VISA ARRANGEMENTS
Those participants requiring UK visas will be provided with mailed or faxed visa invitations by the host organisation, the Cambridge Central Asia Forum. The process will begin immediately upon acceptance of the proposed paper, panel or round-table.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The conference organisers are hoping to subsidise or pay in full the cost of participation for delegates from Central Asia, and also to find general subventions to reduce the conference fee required from other participants. At this stage we cannot guarantee this, however, so the registration fees currently stand as follows:
- Full fee: Three days’ attendance, all meals and three nights’ accommodation: £400
- Day delegate fee: Three days’ attendance, lunch & dinner: £210
- Single day fee: One day’s attendance, lunch & dinner: £75
ESCAS members will receive a £50 discount on the first and second options.
Any revisions to these fees will be circulated well before the 15th August deadline for payment.
CONTACT
Preliminary communications regarding the conference should be sent to: escas2011@gmail.com
Information on ESCAS membership can be found at our current website: http://www.escas.pz.nl
We hope to hear from you soon.
Dr Zifa Auezova, ESCAS President
Professor Siddharth (Montu) Saxena, Cambridge Central Asia Forum.
ESCAS Board: Matteo Fumagalli (Budapest), Maria Keller (Frankfurt), Alexander Morrison (Liverpool), Catherine Poujol (Paris), Tommaso Trevisani (Berlin), Cholpon Turdalieva (Bishkek), Anne-Marie Vuillemenot (Louvain).