Co-organized and co-sponsored by The Hong Kong Institute for Humanities and the Social Sciences (HKIHSS), the University of Hong Kong, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC).

CALL FOR WORKSHOP PROPOSALS

DEADLINE: Monday, February 22, 2010

The Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (HKIHSS), the University of Hong Kong, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) (the Organizers) are pleased to announce an open call for proposals from faculty members at accredited universities and colleges in any world region, to organize and direct one of 6 thematic workshops at a 3-day international conference entitled “Inter-Asian Connections.” Following on the successful inaugural conference held in Dubai in February 2008 , this second conference will be held in Singapore on December 8-10, 2010. The conference aims to showcase innovative research from across the social sciences and related disciplines on themes of particular relevance to Asia, re-conceptualized as a dynamic and interconnected historical, geographical, and cultural formation stretching from the Middle East through Eurasia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, to East Asia.

WORKSHOP THEMES

Proposals are invited from faculty interested in organizing and directing a workshop on one of the following 6 themes. For detailed workshop theme information, click here .

1) Transnational Knowledge Economies

2) Translocal Trust Networks, Religion and Law

3) Urban Ecologies in Asia’s Cities

4) Security and Insecurity

5) Migration: Mobilities and Displacements

6) Old Histories, New Geographies

APPLICATION PROCESS for Workshop Directors

Applications are invited from scholars who would like to convene an international workshop that brings together a group of researchers working on one of the aforementioned themes located in an “Inter-Asian” research landscape, whether this involves the comparative investigation of societies/polities within Asia (as defined above), or the exploration of historical and/or contemporary transnational/cross-national/trans-regional processes, structures, practices, and flows within and across the territorial and imaginative space of Asia. In addition to the investigation of particular themes and processes as described in the workshop themes, the conference aims to critically investigate the ways in which fields of knowledge map Asia and imagine alternatives. We aim at gathering as broad an international and multi-disciplinary representation of scholars as possible. We also encourage proposals for workshops that will see participation by activists, policymakers, media practitioners, and cultural producers addressing different aspects of the “Inter-Asian” conference theme.

Each workshop may have one or, preferably, two directors and will include 8 participants (senior and junior scholars, graduate students, other researchers) chosen competitively from across relevant disciplines in the social sciences and related fields. Workshop Directors selected by the Organizers will be expected to help recruit and select workshop participants, thus they should have sufficient research experience on the region and themes of their proposals and will be selected according to four criteria:

i. The theoretical and/or empirical contributions of the workshop—i.e. the extent to which the proposed workshop represents an innovative and original contribution to existing scholarship on the subject;

ii. The “Inter-Asian” relevance of the workshop—i.e. the extent to which the proposed workshop takes forward the intellectual mandate of the conference, of redefining “Asia” as a dynamic and interconnected formation, whether through innovative comparative approaches or through a focus on connections within and across the traditionally defined regions of Asia (Middle East, Eurasia, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia);

iii. The anticipated composition of the workshop—i.e. the extent to which the workshop will elicit participation from a diverse community of scholars, with preference given to workshops that have multi-disciplinary and international appeal, and that involve scholars and researchers at different stages of their careers;

iv. The anticipated research outcomes of the workshop—i.e. the extent to which the workshop has the potential to generate new and innovative research agendas and to forge/sustain intra and inter-regional networks of scholarly research and exchange among institutions and individuals working in and on Asia.

The deadline for application submissions is Monday, February 22, 2010. Workshop proposals will be reviewed by a committee convened by the Organizers, and decisions will be announced by Friday, March 19, 2010. Applicants should submit the following:

1. Cover Sheet
2. C.V. for each workshop director (academic qualifications and employment history; list of publications)
3. 1-page abstract of the workshop, that could be circulated as an open call for papers
4. Short responses to specified questions (total of 3-4 pages)

Download Full Application Instructions (including Cover Sheet) (pdf)

Following the selection of workshop directors, the Organizers will announce and widely circulate an open call for individual paper submissions for each of the workshops. The responsibilities of the workshop directors will include:

• Collaborating with the Organizers to select 8 participants for their workshop;
• Communicating with workshop participants;
• Ensuring the timely delivery of papers;
• Preparing a workshop agenda;
• Convening daily meetings of the workshop at the conference as well as participating in plenaries; and
• Presenting a research statement at the conclusion of the conference.

In addition to covering the travel, accommodation, and other related costs associated with attending the conference, the Organizers will offer an honorarium of 500 USD to compensate workshop directors for their time and efforts. Limited funds may also be available to cover expenses of some workshop participants, based on an assessment of needs.

Contact: interasia@ssrc.org

http://www.ssrc.org/pages/conference-on-inter-asian-connections-ii-singapore-december-8-10-2010/