1Ninth Annual Symposium of the Consortium for Asian and African Studies(CAAS)

MINORITIES BETWEEN GLOBALIZATION AND AREAL APPROACHES.
[Self]Definitions, Constructions, Realities, Identities and Memories

INALCO (Paris), October 19th and 20th, 2018

CALL FOR PAPERS
The theme of this year’s conference is a critical questioning about the evolving concept andthe diverse and complex realities of “Minorities” in Asia and Africa as well as among
migrants from these areas all over the world.
The construction of the concept of “Minority" fits different definitions in terms ofinternational law and it occasionally varied according to places and periods.
It broadly refers to a numerically inferior group with specific ethnic, linguistic, cultural,religious, political or sexual features—whether claimed by the group itself or imposed by thedominant society—therewith maintaining more or less problematic relationship,
marginalization or even discrimination, sometimes embracing violent forms.
But if “Minority” frequently appears as a symbol of otherness, there are often contacts,
links and some permeability between the different social and societal components and aMinority may also, at certain moments in History, be acculturated, integrated into the leadinggroup or even assimilated—although a specific identity affirmation eventually re-emerges
with the 2nd or the 3rd generations or even much later, through memorial claims thatparticipate in the resurgence of a “subordinates’ culture” (A. Gramsci). Among other issues,
the question of “indigenous peoples” is notably relevant.
On the other hand, inferiority in numbers is not always equated to a lower status andthere are cases where it comes along a dominant position. In addition, one group may form a
Minority in one region and make up a Majority in another one. Both in a national or in atransnational context, “Majority” and “Minority/ies » thus remain intertwined and mutually
implicated—between processes of social inclusion and exclusion—despite apparent
paradoxes. Then what are their most adequate “definitions”?
With the increasing advent of the idea of “supranationality” and the progress ofglobalization announcing the decline of the nation-state, but also in the context of a new riseof nationalisms—sometimes aggressive—and identity demands, how does the question ofMinorities arise in Asia and in Africa? What situations does the recognition of identity
pluralism conduce to? Can any “areal” specificity be distinguished on this point?
Another question: how does the “Minority Law” has evolved, within the framework of
the willingness of the international organizations since 1947 to ensure and to protect it?
The issue of Minorities in the context of immigration and the creation of Diaspora
groups will be also explored.

Graduate students and faculty of the eight CAAS member universities (Leiden, INALCO,2SOAS, NUS, HUFS, Columbia, TUFS, SISU) are invited to submit proposals for papers
dealing with these and related questions with regard to Asia, Africa, and their interrelated
histories and presents.
All disciplines of Area Studies are welcome, including, History, Sociology, Anthropology,
Political Science, Economy, Migrant Studies, Geography, Religious Studies, Literature,Linguistics, Theater and Film Studies as well as multi- and interdisciplinary approaches thatcombine them.
Papers will be selected based on content and approach. The papers will be grouped by themes,
which will be conducted as workshops, with 15-minute presentations by speakers, and asmuch discussion as possible among participants and audience. The organizers can also accept
panel proposals with three or four presentations. Each panel must contain at least one CAAS
presenter, but it can include non-CAAS presenters as well.
Papers should be submitted to the organizers by September 15th, 2018 and will be madeavailable to symposium participants.
English is the language of the Symposium, and as in the past eight CAAS Symposia weespecially welcome applications from graduate students and post-docs as well as from faculty
members.

Application procedures:* For individual applications, applicants should send:
1) a one-page proposal describing the topic and approach of thepaper,2) a brief curriculum vitae of one page maximum* For panel proposals, applicants should send:
1) a one-page proposal of the panel,
2) a one-page proposals and curriculum vitae from each presenter.
Proposals should be combined into a single PDF document, which should be sent as ane-mail attachment to anne.grynberg@inalco.fr and to jean-francois.huchet@inalco.fr , withreference to the CAAS Symposium.
The deadline for submission is May 2nd, 2018.
Applicants will be notified of their selection by July 2nd, 2018.
As in earlier CAAS Symposia, travel and accommodation expenses will not becovered by the host institution.
For further information or questions about the Symposium, please contact theINALCO CAAS coordinator, Pr. Anne GRYNBERG : anne.grynberg@inalco.fr