CFP: Culture, Language and Identity Formation: Diaspora in a Globalizing World (The Department of Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian Studies, University of Delhi, India)

Deadline: December 15, 2018

Globalization, transnational migration, global communications and the media revolution have given rise to the discipline of diaspora studies as an important field of research in social sciences. The 20th century has been distinguished by intensified globalization and the simultaneous upsurge of national identities.

The social, political and economic upheavals, revolutions and conflicts of the 20th century led to waves of migration from East and Central Europe and Russia. Many migrants from these parts of the world set out for distant shores in search of a new life and a new beginning, a brighter future for themselves and their families. However, they did not go empty-handed to these new lands. They carried with them their language, their culture and their way of life.

How did these cultural artefacts fare in their new domains? How did the process of cultural assimilation work? How did fusion develop between the old way of life and the new emerging Lebenswelt? How did the continuing linkages with their home country impact their worldview, the formation of a new identity, the development of their literature and arts. Since these migrants settled in a very wide range of different countries in Western Europe, the Americas and Australia, how country specific were their experiences? How did they negotiate the process of building a new life while retaining their old roots? How was the emerging, complex, multifaceted identity formation different for the second and third generations of the diaspora from the experiences of the first settlers?

These and many other related themes form the backdrop of the conference and give us a unique platform and perspective through which we can analyze some of the most interesting literary and socio- cultural phenomena of our times. The conference promises to be a significant intellectual event in the development of diaspora studies, globalization, and modern comparative studies in literature and linguistics.

The following list includes a number of suggestive topics, themes and subjects which may be explored at the conference. The list, however, is by no means an exhaustive one. Participants may look into other aspects which are related to the broader theme of the conference.

 Theoretical and methodological aspects of diaspora research

 History and specificity of East and Central European and Russian diasporas

 Fundamental or comparative research on diaspora literature, art, music, cinema and other fields of culture

 Social Institutions/ diaspora societies and their role in preservation of diaspora cultures

 Media and the internet as a link and medium of connections between diaspora groups

 Complexities of interaction of non-monolithic diasporas and identity formation

 Nostalgia as false memory and as a medium of cultural transmission

 Linguistic assimilation, bilingualism and multilingualism

 Cultural assimilation

 Diaspora in academia of adopted country

 Diaspora as soft power

Director of the Conference:- Dr. Neelakshi Suryanarayan

Organizing Committee:- Dr. Rashmi Joshi, Dr. Ranjana Saxena, Dr. Girish Munjal, Dr. C. V. James, Dr. Yogesh Kumar Rai, Ms. Anju Rani, Dr. Margit Koves, Dr. Zeljana P. Sostik, Ms. Veronika Resslova, Ms. Magdalena Mendrok

Important dates:

- 15th December, 2018 - Abstracts of not more than 300 words with 5-6 keywords to be sent to diasporaconf2019@gmail.com

- 27th December, 2018 - Notification of acceptance

- 20th January, 2019 - Payment of registration fees (Foreign participants: €50, Indian participants ₹ 1000 (Bank details will be provided at a later date).

Additional Information

1. Language of the conference: English and Russian

2. Participation fee includes: accommodation at the University Guest House and meals for the days of the Conference

TO APPLY: 

DEPARTMENT OF SLAVONIC AND FINNO-UGRIAN STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF DELHI DELHI – 110007 TEL: (011) 27662226 | Email:sfusduad@gmail.com 

REGISTRATION FORM Culture, Language and Identity Formation: Diaspora in a Globalizing World (With Special Reference to East and Central Europe and Russia) 27th – 28th February, 2019

Full Name:

University/Organization:

Position:

Mailing Address:

City:

State/Province:

Zip/Postal Code:

Country:

Telephone:

Fax:

Email:

Title of the Paper……………………………………………….……………………………….

(Please attach the abstract of your paper)

For foreign Nationals only

Passport Number:

Date of issue:

Date of expiry:

Place of Issue:

Date:

Signature:

Please mail completed registration form to diasporaconf2019@gmail.com

Please also fill the online form at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSce1rDgstpT4Xor4uTgM-1Il808q9VHT4cnRiSBHf_fGvqlNw/viewform?usp=sf_link