Feminist Border Crossings Between Post-State Socialist & Postcolonial Studies

INTER-UNIVERSITY CENTER

DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

May , 18th – 22rd 2009

Call for Applications

The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, Rutgers (The State University of New Jersey), the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, University of Belgrade, and the Department of Gender Studies, Central European University (Budapest) are pleased to announce the 10^th annual postgraduate course in Feminist Critical Analysis entitled, Feminist Border Crossings Between Post-state Socialist and Postcolonial Studies. The course will be held at the Inter-University Centre, Dubrovnik (www.hr/iuc/) on May 18^th – 22^rd, 2009.  The course will be co-directed by Dasa Duhacek of the Center for Women’s and Gender Studies, University of Belgrade, Ethel Brooks of the Women’s and Gender Studies Department, Rutgers University, and Allaine Cerwonka of the Gender Studies Department, Central European University.

TOPIC

Postcolonial theory and post-state socialist studies are each rich intellectual fields. Postcolonial theory tends to be focused on relations between former European colonies (the so-called third world) and the “West.” It offers a rich interdisiplnary analysis not only of historical global relations (at local and transnational levels), but also provides tools for understanding contemporary economic, political and cultural forms. Scholarly research on post-state socialism is also highly interdisciplinary and includes empirical and theoretical concepts for understanding the transformations occurring in former “communist” nation-states in a global context. Regrettably, however, these fields are rarely brought in critical dialogue with each other.

This course will attempt to think across these two scholarly fields. In this effort, we will explore the extent to which postcolonial theory is a useful tool for understanding the hierarchical relationship between the Soviet Union and less powerful nations in the Soviet bloc; for understanding relations of domination between minorities such as Roma people and dominant groups during and since state socialism; as well as consider how postcolonial theory lends insight into other power relations more directly related to questions of gender. Equally importantly, we will consider how the realities and theoretical insights from (post)state-socialist studies casts new shadows on postcolonial theory. For instance, how does the  liminal status of many post-state socialist countries and their citizens challenge the unexamined binary of power relations (found for instance in the formulation of the “Global North and Global South”) created by postcolonial studies? How does the liminality of post-state socialist workers in the global economy get configured in post-colonial spaces like London? In such spaces, East European workers, on one hand, are used to further mark the otherness of Muslims and people of color; and yet, on the other hand, are constructed as Other by the dominant culture who use similar orientalizing and gender discourses that are used for migrants from former colonies. Using these considerations as a springboard, we will think these theoretical academic fields through each other with a particular sensitivity to how gender operates as an important analytic for both areas of knowledge production. Participants in the seminar must have an interest in gender research and undertake research that relates to either postcolonial theory or post-state socialist studies. We invite applications from people who feel that their own gendered research could be enriched by considering these three research fields (feminist analysis, postcolonial theory, and post-state socialist studies) in relation to one another.

The course is built upon the assumption that intellectual dialogue among a 

diverse body of scholars from different geographical locations will result in a 

better understanding of the ways in which our particular locations are influencing 

our own theoretical and political choices. The number of participants is limited to 

25-30 students from different countries. The participating faculty are drawn from 

several different universities from around the world. Daily seminars take place in 

two 3-4 hours sessions a day.  All meetings are conducted in English. 

ELIGIBILITY

IUC courses are conducted at a postgraduate level.  All postgraduate students 

interested in the topic may apply for participation.  Participants should seek funds 

from their own institutions to cover travel and accommodation costs.  Limited 

financial support is available for participants from Central and Eastern Europe.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

A short narrative explaining your interest in the topic and your C.V. with your 

current contact information should be submitted by e-mail by January 3, 2009.  

Submissions will be reviewed by the Feminist Critical Analysis Selection 

Committee.  Acceptances to the seminar will be distributed via email by early 

February 2009.

Please submit applications to Judit Zotter zotterj@ceu.hu with Dubrovnik 2009 

in the subject heading.