Still Postsocialism? Cultural Memory and Social Transformations

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 keeps this 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 thatpostsocialism 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

-  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@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)  NO

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