Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) 19th Biennial Conference 2012

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The University of Western Sydney, 11 - 13 July 2012

Call for Papers - Knowing Asia: Asian Studies in an Asian Century



The 19th Biennial Conference of the Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) will be held on the Parramatta Campus of the University of Western Sydney, 11 to 13 July, 2012, hosted by the University's Institute for Culture and Society, the School of Humanities and Communication Arts, and the Centre for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies. The theme is ‘Knowing Asia: Asian Studies in an Asian Century’.

In the past few decades massive economic, political, social and cultural transformations have taken place in the region known as Asia. In the process, it has acquired an increasingly prominent place in the world. Whether or not this ‘rise of Asia’ merits talk about a coming ‘Asian century’, it is clear that the historical context for the study of Asia has irrevocably changed.

Four major considerations are at play here. First, increasing globalisation has led to growing interpenetration and interdependence between different parts of the world. This problematises prevailing boundaries, not least those between ‘Asia’ and ‘the West’.

Cross-border interactions and transnational connections across and beyond the region are now vital determinants of local and national conditions in all parts of Asia. As a consequence, now more than ever, such local and national situations cannot be meaningfully studied without consideration of the constitutive role of the broader regional and global context. At the same time, studies of global significance must increasingly include studies of what is occurring in Asia.

Second, economic development throughout the region has given rise to the emergence of complex and vibrant new societies for which descriptors as ‘traditional’ or ‘postcolonial’ are inadequate, and whose understanding can no longer be pursued through using Western modernity as a benchmark. These societies are becoming modern in their own ways, requiring new concepts and tools for analysis.

Third, these recent transformations have led to a burgeoning interest in studying Asia among scholars who do not call themselves ‘Asianists’, for example in cultural and media studies, gender and sexuality studies, and human and urban geography. Thus, while specialist area studies and the disciplinary cores of political science, history, languages and so forth remain central, intellectual engagement with Asia has widened considerably.

Fourth, and crucially, as modern Asian societies mature there are new generations of Asian scholars who conduct research and scholarship on and within their own societies, establishing their own, intraregional scholarly networks. For these scholars, Asia is not ‘other’, as is still often the case for Western scholars.

In short, as Asia becomes an increasingly prominent, complex and self-confident region in the world, the meanings and potentials of ‘knowing Asia’ require fundamental rethinking at multiple levels.

The conference will encourage reflection on the implications of these shifts on the field of Asian studies, both in Australia and internationally. In this light, we are seeking panel proposals which are organised around themes. At the same time, the conference will be open to general papers as well as area-specific panels.

Possible themes include (in no particular order):

  • ‘Chindia’ in the 21st century: myth or reality?
  • New Asian hegemonies?
  • Transnational Asia: the role of English
  • Transport, mobility and tourism
  • Australia – Asia interactions
  • Translating texts, translating culture
  • Nations and their boundaries in a global age
  • Gender, sexuality and queer studies
  • The politics of heritage, nature and the environment
  • Sport and society in Asia 
  • Urban cultures and social transformation
  • Asian regionalism   
  • Race, ethnicity and multiculturalisms
  • Technology and society 
  • Media and popular culture
  • Asian modernities  
  • Cultural diplomacy and cultural policy
  • Religion and secularism
  • Asian Studies in Australian universities.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers 

Professor Lily Kong

Vice-President (University and Global Relations), and Acting Exec Vice-President (Academic Affairs), Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Professor Jie-Hyun Lim

Professor of History, Director of the Research Institute of Comparative History and Culture, Hanyang University, Seoul

Professor Prasenjit Duara

Raffles Professor of Humanities, Director, Asia Research Institute, and Director of Research, Humanities & Social Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Paper and Panel Proposals

Paper and panel proposals based on original research and addressing themes of contemporary interest contributing to our knowledge of Asia are invited. Proposals spanning one or more themes are especially welcome.

  • Individual paper proposals (200-300 words)
  • Panel proposals (200 words for the panel concept and 200-300 words on each panel paper)

As a presentation guideline, please note that sessions will generally be of 90 minute duration. Papers would therefore be presented in 15-20 minutes with 10 minutes for questions.

Panel organisers should submit the full proposal (opens in a new window)including panel concept and papers that make up the panel. Individual author details are to be included with their respective paper summary.  Responses to panel proposals will be sent to the panel organiser.

Individual papers that are not part of an organised panel proposal, should be submitted separately (opens in a new window). Individual paper proposals that are accepted will be scheduled with other papers on similar themes by the conference organisers.

Should you have any problems submitting your abstract online, forward to s.martinez@uws.edu.au

The deadline for abstract submissions is 28 February 2012.

Notification of acceptance will be 15 March 2012.

Registration Costs

Registrations will open after the call for papers has closed. Registration costs are as follows:

  • Early Bird registration $450 (with ASAA members’ discount $400)
  • Full registration $550 (with ASAA members’ discount $500)
  • Postgraduate students (currently enrolled) $250
  • One day registration $250
  • Conference dinner (Thursday 12 July) $100.

To qualify for the ASAA member discount, become a member or renew your membership at the ASAA's registration page (opens in a new window).


Convenors

For information please contact Project Coordinator Silvia Martinez at s.martinez@uws.edu.au or Associate Professor Judith Snodgrass at j.snodgrass@uws.edu.au 


Conference Venue

The conference is taking place at the University of Western Sydney’s historic Parramatta Campus, in the heart of the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area. Please see the Parramatta Campus map (opens in a new window)for your information.

The Parramatta Campus is a short bus ride and only 30 minutes’ walk from the Parramatta CBD (opens in a new window), which is a thriving urban centre located on the banks of the Parramatta River.


Travel and Accommodation

The best ways of getting between Parramatta and the airport are by taxi or train.

Taxi: Allow around 60 minutes by taxi (please expect a longer trip if travelling during peak hour)

Train: The train costs between $15-$20 from the airport to Parramatta. (Please note that a change may be required at Central station). See CityRail (opens in a new window)for timetables, fare calculators and any other information.

There are several transport options available in getting between Parramatta and UWS’s Parramatta Campus. See UWS's Transport Access Guide (opens in a new window)listing bus and train routes to the campus for more information.

A number of hotels in and around Parramatta will be offering conference delegates negotiated, reduced rates. These details will be made available to delegates once the online ASAA Conference registration is opened. 

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