Identity Politics in a Transnational Context

Location: Aarhus, Denmark
Dates: Between August 26 and 28, 2008
Call for Proposals Deadline: February 20, 2008

Multi-ethnic cultural studies have undergone a recent shift from multiculturalism to transnationalism as a result of heightened interconnectivity between people. Therefore the conception that the question of belonging shapes a person’s identity raises issues about definitions of selfhood, definitions that address both internal and external notions of belonging. What is of particular interest here are the incongruencies between internal and external notions of self. Our panel invites papers on contemporary British authors such as Monica Ali, Zadie Smith, Mohsim Hamid, Hanan Al-Shayky, Caryl Philips and Hari Kunzru, to name a few, with specific attention to the writer’s treatment of internal and external notions of belonging, definitions of self and of identity politics in a transnational context.

Our workshop will take place at the ESSE 9 in Aarhus, Denmark, between August 26 and 28, 2008. For further information please check the ESSE website at http://www.esse2008.dk/ or contact either of the two workshop organizers.

Please submit a 250-word proposal by Feb 20, 2008 to both organizers:
Silvia Schultermandl and Sebnem Toplu 
schultermandl@uni-graz.at and sebnem.toplu@ege.edu.tr