[oberlist] RU* call/conf: Still Postsocialism? Cultural Memory and Social Transformations, Kazan, 19-20 April 2013

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---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [BAN] CfA: Still Postsocialism? Cultural Memory and Social
Transformations, Kazan, 19-20 April 2013
From:    "Archer, Rory (rory.archer at uni-graz.at)" <rory.archer at uni-graz.at>
Date:    Fri, November 30, 2012 11:18 pm
To:      "Balkans at list.uni-graz.at" <Balkans at list.uni-graz.at>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University
Institute for Comparative Studies of Modernity KFU Center for Cultural
Studies of Postsocialism

is inviting participants to take part in

The International Interdisciplinary Conference: Still Postsocialism?
Cultural Memory and Social Transformations. Kazan, April 19-20, 2013

Keynote speakers:
Prof. Caroline Humphrey (University of Cambridge, UK) Prof. Chris Hann 
(Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Germany) Prof. Alexander
Etkind (University of Cambridge, UK) Prof. Jan Kubik (Rutgers University,
USA).

More than twenty years have passed since the breakup of the Soviet Union
but we are still living in the so-called epoch of ‘postsocialism’.
Rejecting the preceding political order, its long afterlife paradoxically
keepsthis order alive because of its inability to produce new, more
relevant terms of self-definition. In this precarious sense,
‘postsocialism’ is similar to, but also different from,
‘postcolonialism’ and ‘postmodernism’.

The conference aims to discuss these similarities and contrasts. It will
present a broad spectrum of empirical research focused on the
‘postsocialist’ processes in the countries and regions that share the
socialist past and its memories. In contrast to the optimism of the
reformers of the 1990s,  postsocialism does not seem to comply with a
linear model of ‘transit’ to a universal endpoint. Does this mean that
postsocialism is cyclical and tends to return to a starting point in a
regressive repetition? Or is it an open-ended process of trials and
errors, in which the routes and results are variegated and unpredictable?
The conference will focus on the complex, multi-dimensional models that
are related to cultural memory, generations, hybridizations, contact zones
and, finally, trauma and catastrophe.

Reflecting on the current state of postsocialism studies, our concerns
include but are not limited to the following questions: How have the
relations between‘the Soviet’ and ‘the socialist’ changed through
decades? Which forces are responsible for the successes, failures, and
cycles of the transformation? To what extent could the postcolonial
concepts be applied to the countries of the postsocialist world? Can we
speak about a common postsocialist-postcolonial culture?

Key topics:
 - ‘Soviet’/’socialist’ vs. ‘post-Soviet’/ ‘post-socialist’
 - Postsocialism and postcolonialism
 - The diversity of postsocialisms in a global world
-Â  Cultural studies of postsocialism

We are inviting researchers who are working on the topics of cultural,
political, and social aspects of postsocialism. We look forward to
receiving submissions that examine the empirical cases and also make
theoretical and methodological generalizations. The papers should relate
to Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia.
The language of the conference is English.
The application form and short CV should be submitted to:
psconferencekazan at gmail.com by February 4, 2013.
http://www.kpfu.ru/main_page?p_cid=19889&p_sub=12621

A limited number of travel grants are available. Those who are interested
in applying for travel grants must send the application form and СV by
January 20, 2013, and indicate their interest.
Applicants will be notified about their acceptance no later than February
20, 2013.

We are grateful to the Open Society Foundation for support.

APPLICATION FORM

Name:

Affiliation and position:

Research interests:

Title of the paper:

Abstract (up to 300 words):

Contact information (address, phone number, e-mail):

Do you apply for funding to cover travel costs? YES (please, specify)Â  NO

Do you apply for funding to cover accommodation costs? YES (please,
specify)Â  NOÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 
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