for the upcoming 7th Conference of the Asian Borderlands Research Network in Seoul (South Korea), we are inviting papers, panels and roundtables proposals. Since one of the main goals of this conference is to spur collaboration and conversations across diverse fields in the hope of building up a more nuanced picture of the intersections and relationships across Asian borderlands, we would like to include scholars, writers, policy studies researchers, artists, filmmakers, activists, the media, and others from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds. We hope that these conceptually innovative panels, based on new research, will help to develop new perspectives in the study of Asian Borderlands.
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Borderland Futures: Technologies, Zones, Co-existences
Deadline: 30 September 2019 Conference dates: 25-27 June 2020 Website: https://asianborderlands.net/ Venue: Reconciliation & Coexistence in Contact Zone (RCCZ) Research Center, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, South Korea
The conference In the past decade, Asian borderlands have experienced intense ruptures and unparalleled connectivity across diverse communities and geographies. The re-opening of frontiers has unleashed a development frenzy evident in new railways, road networks, import/export zones, trading ports, markets and casinos. Higher level initiatives such as China’s “Belt and Road” and India’s revamped “Act East” policies seem to promise a renewed interest in creating greater social and economic spaces for mutual prosperity. At the same time, ground level realities challenge these top down notions and visions of transregional engagement and fast-track development. Over the past decade peace-building and co-existence have opened new possibilities for reconciliation, resolution, and readiness for shared futures. State and non-state actors continue to seek new directions and pathways away from a past haunted by conflicts, violence and unsettled differences. In doing so friendship ties and communal bonds can be strengthened across borders to make space for respect, recognition, and co-existence. Nevertheless, anxieties over security and sovereignty trigger concerns over unregulated mobilities, the prevalence of shadow economies, new forms of crime, the abuse of military force, and resource and trade wars. Borders are thus being reconsidered and reinforced in parts of Asia, creating new uncertainties and precarities for communities living in borderlands. Key themes The 7th Asian Borderland Research Network (ABRN) conference focuses on three key themes – technologies, zones, co-existences – that aim to generate broader debate and intellectual engagement with borderland futures. Panels and papers will offer critical reflections on these key themes both theoretically and empirically. Go to the website for more extensive information about the themes. Special Programme Humanities and Technologies for the Sustainable Peace and Co-existence in Contact Zone, a special programme for the 70th Korean War anniversary commemoration: The 7th ABRN conference also marks the historic occasion of the 70th Korean War commemoration, which offers a unique opportunity in time for scholars to discuss a future of peaceful co-existence across the Korean Peninsula and beyond. ABRN and RCCZ will host a special parallel programme on the Korean War commemoration to encourage cross-disciplinary dialogues and scholarly discussions on sustainable peace and co-existence in contact zones in and beyond the Korean context. Application Procedure We encourage applicants to submit a full panel proposal, as only a small number of individual papers will be selected. We will consider proposals for panels and roundtables that have a thematic focus, are of a comparative character, and involve scholars or practitioners affiliated with different institutions. If you are looking for other people to join your panel prior to the 30 September deadline, you may post your panel abstract and contact information on our Facebook page in order to reach a wider network. The deadline to send in panel, roundtable and paper proposals is Monday 30 September 2019. Participants will be notified around January 2020. Please visit the Application Forms Page to submit your proposal. Funding Very limited financial support may be made available to some scholars who reside in Asia and some junior or low-income scholars from other parts of the world. If you would like to be considered for a grant, please submit the Grant Application Form in which you state the motivation for your request. Please also specify the kind of funding that you will apply for or will receive from other sources. Please note that the conference operates on a limited budget, and will not normally be able to provide more than a partial coverage of the costs of travel. The form should be submitted before 30 September 2019. Requests for funding received after this date will not be taken into consideration. Further information about registration fees, the venue, accommodation, and logistics will be provided on the ABRN website once the panels have been accepted. Convenors
- Duncan McDuie-Ra, University of Newcastle, Australia
- Erik de Maaker, Leiden University, the Netherlands
- Henryk Alff, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Germany
- Juan Zhang, Bristol University, United Kingdom
- Kee-Hyun Ban, Reconciliation & Coexistence in Contact Zone (RCCZ) Research Center, South Korea
- Tina Harris, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Willem van Schendel, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Organization The conference is organized by the Reconciliation & Coexistence in Contact Zone (RCCZ) Research Center; International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) and the Asian Borderlands Research Network (ABRN). For more information, please contact us at m.c.van.den.haak@iias.nl. Header image: The line of lights, with a distinctly orange hue, snakes from north to south. It appears to be more continuous and brighter than most highways in the view. This is the fenced and floodlit border zone between India and Pakistan. The fence is designed to discourage smuggling and arms trafficking. A similar fenced zone separates India’s eastern border from Bangladesh.