Deadline for Submissions
15.03.2023. Abstract (approx. 300 words) and short CV
Notification:31.03.2023
Conference proceedings planned for 2024 by an international academic publisher

Thematic Focus and Issues:

In the transnational Corona pandemic, Asian-related racism became common headlines in the media of many Western immigration societies. In the course of this development, the term as well as the topic of “anti-Asian racism” became more prominent – in Germany for the very first time. Although anti-Asian projections and its accompanying colonial-racist constructions have been a constitutive component of Western modernity, they have hardly been perceived as a relevant topic in many European nations. This is also the case in German-speaking countries and its political, cultural and educational institutions. Thus, the academic research on the history and complexities of Asian German Diaspora, the subjectivities and needs of Asian immigrant communities is still largely marginalized and mostly deemed as unimportant. This is especially true for academic researches that centers the rich history of anti-Asian discourses and stereotypes as well as related contemporary practices, immigration policies and movements in Germany and other European countries.

To tackles this, the workshop aims at strengthening local cooperation as well as transnational networking. We like to invite scholars from all academic disciplines to contribute. Inquiries from the Humanities including but not limited to Asian German Studies, Asian Diasporic Studies, Asian American Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, German Studies, Anthropology, Media Studies, History and Social Sciences in general as well as other fields of expertise are welcome. Through the inclusion of multi-disciplinary exchanges and insights we seek to broaden our perspectives and understanding. We encourage especially scholars of Colour and young academics to apply, who aims to explore this field of research in the German context.

The conference is divided into three sections:

1) The section “History” discuss historical backgrounds of the origin of Asian diasporas in Western societies. In addition to legal frameworks and political practices, the attitudes and reactions of the White mainstream are also relevant. Travel routes, work, housing, language, and gender differences and other social and spatial dimensions are also of great importance for the structure of Asian diasporic communities. Likewise, modes of response to racism, self-organization, and community building are also important for the arrival and settlement processes. In this context, a comparative perspective allows for inferences not only about local, regional, and national, but also about transnational analogies and differences.

2) The section “Theory” deals with approaches that historically reconstruct, define, and analytically classify anti-Asian racism and its various manifestations. In addition to the functioning of structural exclusions and institutionalized discriminations, the construction and meanings of cultural stereotypes in popular culture or media can also be examined. Intersectional relations to other forms of racism and social categories such as class, gender and sexuality are also of great interest.

3) The section “Case Studies” narrows down the object of study and, with its inductive approach, allows for a change of perspective that highlights interesting aspects that are easily overlooked in the macro view. Possible formats include historical, political, cultura eventsl, but also individual cases, smaller-scale thematic aspects, biographical analyses, exemplary reception histories of cultural artifacts, and so on, which are also significant through their detailed view.

Practical informations

Due to budget limits, we can only provide a limited travel reimbursement (up to 200.00 Euro), hotel accomodation for one night in Tübingen and meals, snacks and soft drinks for selected submissions. Online presentation is possible in order to give overseas scholars the chance to participate. Please send proposals (approx. 300 words) and a short CV (up to 150 words) to the organizers. Please pass this CFP along to anyone else who might be interested.

Thank you for your interest!