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Global Asias in a Deglobalizing World?
October 31
The 64th annual meeting of the Southeast Conference of the Association for Asian Studies will be hosted by the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, on January 24-26, 2025.
As an academic discipline with roots tracing back to the Cold War era and its associated ideologies, Asian studies is currently facing a host of new challenges and opportunities due to the evolving geopolitical landscape within the Asia-Pacific region and globally. The forthcoming 2025 SEC-AAS conference serves as a vital platform for scholarly engagement and debate aimed at advancing the field of Asian studies amidst what could be arguably termed as a process of “deglobalization.” Factors such as the wars in Ukraine and Palestine, the escalating tension between China and the United States as well as other countries in Asia, and the rise of ultranationalist groups worldwide collectively contribute to this significant restructuring process that could bring about profound changes.
We cordially invite conference participants to evaluate the dynamic concepts and methodologies that are paramount to our understanding of Global Asias at this pivotal moment. These encompass, though are not confined to, overarching themes such as “Global,” “Asia(s),” “Asian/ness,” “Asian American,” “Asian Diaspora,” “Asia-Pacific,” and “Transpacific.” Of particular interest are submissions that focus on understudied areas, notably South and Southeast Asia, and that offer innovative and unconventional perspectives on the following submissions that engage with, but are not limited to:
- How is the construct of “Asia(s)” formulated as a multifaceted entity, encompassing geopolitical, material, cultural, and imaginative dimensions, across spatial, temporal, and affective realms?
- What are the various representations, manifestations, actions, and transformations of “Asia(s),” and what are the underlying factors contributing to their diversity and contestation, particularly when viewed through feminist, queer, anti-racist, and other critical lenses?
- In what ways do various stakeholders—including individuals, communities, environments, both human and nonhuman agents, and different marginalized groups—participate in the ongoing negotiation, contestation, and reshaping of “Asia(s)”?
- Within the context of the New Cold War era, how have the trajectories of Asian studies and Asian American studies diverged and converged?
- What innovative methodologies and conceptual frameworks offer potentials for advancing the study of Asia(s) beyond the confines of the nation-state paradigm, with a particular emphasis on exploring cross-border and transnational contexts and exchanges?
- To what extent are AI technologies being integrated into both research and pedagogical practices concerning Asia(s), and what implications does this integration have for the field?
- How might scholars explore and capitalize on potential synergies between the fields of global Appalachian studies and global Asian studies? Studies of global health and global Asias?
- In what ways is creative writing, including using the forms of (digital) graphic narratives and video games, being utilized and experimented with as an innovative methodological approach for conducting research on Asia(s) and more?
We extend a warm invitation to inquiries that deepen our understanding of the histories, cultures, languages, peoples, diasporas, and both local and global issues within the expansive purview of “Asia(s)” as broadly defined. We welcome submissions in various formats, including individual papers, panels, roundtables, and new book roundtables.
Please use the following links to submit your proposal:
The deadline for submission is October 31, 2024.
If you have any questions or concerns about the conference, please do not hesitate to contact our local coordinators, Dr. Charlie Yi Zhang (charlie.zhang@uky.edu) and Dr. Liang Luo (llu222@uky.edu).
