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 selfdefinition. 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 that postsocialism 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, multidimensional 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