The World History Association, in conjunction with Pannasastra University of Cambodia, announces a symposium on the world-historical significance of Southeast Asia. The symposium seeks to generate dialog among scholars within and outside of the region regarding its place in world history. It seeks to identify those world history processes that have application to the region's past, present and future and stimulate discussion of world history methodology and pedagogy in the Southeast Asian context.
Among the topics that may be addressed at the symposium are: the nature of world history; the processes of indigenization, localization, and syncretism; the decline and fall of classical societies; Diaspora and gender studies; the colonial experience; nationalism; conflict and post-conflict studies; trade; economy; religion and culture; art; regional questions in global perspective such as borderlands; regional diplomatic relations; investment, tourism and resource management issues; the environment; comparative genocide; and models for World History and global studies in terms of scholarship and instruction. These topics are examples only and should not be taken to exclude proposals on other topics. Scholars from all disciplines are encouraged to submit proposals. Select refereed papers from the conference will be published in the e-journal "World History Connected" (University of Illinois Press) and a book project is planned.
The conference will be held minutes from the Archeological Conservation Area that includes Angkor Wat. Pre/post and concurrent symposium activities will be structured so as to permit tours of these and other local sites which connect them to the wider region and the world.
Panels will meet in air conditioned rooms on the newly-built Pannasastra University of Cambodia's Siem Reap campus. The time limit for presenting papers will be 20 minutes, and the deadline for submitting papers to the session moderator is three weeks in advance of the conference. Individual paper proposals must include a 100-200 word summary with the title of the paper, name, institutional affiliation, e-mail address, phone and fax numbers, and brief curriculum vitae, all integrated into a single file, preferably in MS-Word. Proposals for entire sessions or panels must contain the same information for each participant, as well as contact information and a brief C.V. for the moderator if you suggest one. (The program committee can help find moderators, if necessary.) There is a limited number of AV-equipped rooms available so it is essential that you indicate your need for audiovisual equipment (and what kind) in your proposal. All meeting rooms are air conditioned.
Please send your completed proposal with the following in the subject line of the email: WHS, followed by Your LAST NAME (family), and then Your First name, then short paper/panel name to the WHA Symposia coordinator, Maryanne Rhett, at mrhett@monmouth.edu.
Individuals wishing to moderate a session should send a statement of interest, contact information, and a brief C.V. to the program coordinator.
The deadline for the submission of paper and panel proposals is September 1st, 2011.
All panelists must register to be on the program. The language of the conference is English. A rolling acceptance process will be in place to assist panelists to solicit travel support from their home institutions and organizations. Unfortunately, the conference does not have funds to subsidize scholars' travel and lodging at the meeting.
Registration rates, benefits of registration for WHA members, and waivers for Cambodian teachers, in-service Teachers Across Borders members and others will be posted on the WHA registration site shortly. Please check the World History Association website (http://www.thewha.org/) for registration information, low-cost housing options and both conference and optional touring logistics information (to be posted shortly). Excellent inexpensive lodging, food, shopping and entertainment are all available close to the conference site. Local transportation is available in the range of $2.00 per ride and can be arranged for $20.00 for an entire day. The weather in Siem Reap in early January is ideal: dry with cool mornings, high in the mid 80s at mid-day. Siem Reap is famous for its Pub Street district, a five minute walk from the conference site. It features sidewalk restaurants, cafes and shops; most visitors make evening strolls there a habit. Siem Reap still has the flavor of a small town, albeit flooded with both backpackers and traditional tourists whose presence has led to widespread spoken English and Western-style supermarkets. Heath and crime issues are minimal (See State Department advisories and your travel medicine specialist before undertaking any travel). Tourist visas are inexpensive. Siem Reap's international airport is serviced by a variety of airlines from most Asian hubs. Most international travel passes through Bangkok's international airport. Because of the International Dateline, attendees departing January 4 will be able to make connections permitting participation at the American Historical Association in Chicago later that week.