Call for Paper : « E/Im/Migration and Culture »,15-17 September 2007, Isik University, Sile (Istanbul, Turkey), Fourth Cultural Studies Conference.Co-organized by the Cultural Studies Association (Turkey) and the Department of International Relations of Isik University.Deadline : 1 October 2006.

The Cultural Studies Association of Turkey and Isik University invite proposals for an international cultural studies conference entitled "E/Im/Migration and Culture" they are co-organizing on 15-17 September  2007 in Sile (Istanbul, Turkey). Seeking to explore the topic from a wide range of scholarly viewpoints by focusing on issues of migration in its multiple relationships with various facets of culture, the inter/multidisciplinary conference aims to interrogate established notions of migration both in Turkey and outside of Turkey. We welcome proposals for papers that break new ground in generating theory, or constitute innovative critical or comparative work that would lead to theoretical formulations and methodology, as well as for papers on specific cases. The conference intends to examine issues of migration in Turkey, among the peoples in the lands of the former Ottoman empire, among the Euro-Turks (and Turkish-Americans, Australasian Turks, etc.), among the Turcophone peoples in countries and regions in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union (in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Russian Federation) and those Turcophone minorities in such countries as Iran and China.The story of migration is as old as the history of humankind. Factors such as geographic conditions, economic necessities, socio-political developments and wars have led to population movements for centuries. Whether for refuge or as exile, whether voluntary or forced, migration has always affected both society and the individual; and altered both the land that was left behind and the land that was reached.

A phenomenon of modern times, the nation-state as hegemonic entity contributed to these migration flows through bordering and re-bordering processes that put visible and invisible boundaries on people's movements. Additional factors leading to current population flows are observed to be primarily the challenge(s) of globalization and transnationalism. Migration within and out of countries continue in great numbers as more and more people in our global village look to either temporary or permanent migration as a path to freedom, the right to live, security, employment, health and education--while sometimes also encountering drama and tragedy along the way. E/im/migration has generated its own art, fiction and cinema. Thus, it has continued to be a force in culture, demography, economy and politics in the contemporary era, and constitutes, in its various aspects, a matter of paramount importance for the cultures of Turks and Turkey. This reflection has led us to select the topic of migration as the theme of the fourth cultural studiesconference to take place in Turkey.

We welcome submissions related to e/im/migration including, but not limited to, the following:

 - E/im/migration and culture: Theoretical approaches

 - Art /Literature /Cinema generated by e/im/migration

 - E/im/migration and urban space

 - E/im/migration during the Republican era

 - E/im/migration during the Ottoman era

 - E/im/migration and the (former) Soviet Union territories

 - Cultural representation of e/im/migration resulting from political

   developments: The cases of Western Thrace and the Balkans

 - Cultural representation of e/im/migration resulting from political

   developments: The case of Cyprus

 - Cultural representation of e/im/migration resulting from political

   developments: The case of Irak

 - Cultural representation of e/im/migration resulting from political

   developments: The case of Jews and Palestinians

As the conference takes place in Turkey and takes up the cultures of Turks and Turkey, the working language of the conference is first of all Turkish. However, since experience has shown that non-Turkish speaking colleagues doing studies related to the cultures of Turks and Turkey also wish to contribute, there will be English-language sessions as well. Abstracts of 100-200 words, containing five key words, should be sent along a brief curriculum vita. Panel proposals with three to five papers should include, besides the panel proposal and five key words, abstracts of the papers in the panel, and brief curriculum vitae of the chair, presenters, and discussant(s) if any. Poster presentation proposals containing noteworthy visual material are also welcome.

Send no later than 1 October 2006, by e-mail to programgoc@kulturad.org,  by fax to +90 212 292 2229 (Attn.: IV. Cultural Studies Conference). For more information, write to the same addresses or look at www.kulturad.org

The results will be announced on 1 February 2007.

The registration fee will be 60 Euro for Cultural Studies Association (Turkey) members and students, and 100 Euro for all other participants until 1 May 2007; and, after that date, 100 Euro for Cultural Studies Association (Turkey) members and students, and 160 Euro for all other participants.

The conference organizing committee regrets that it cannot assist in travel or accomodation fares in any way, but will provide low-cost accommodation for all participants on the Isik University campus (in Sile, a popular sea resort on the Black Sea coast). Further details will be sent later. For information on Isik University, please look at www.isikun.edu.tr

Organizers :

Gonul Pultar, gpultar@kulturad.org

Sule Toktas, sule@isikun.edu.tr