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"The East-West Discourse"

 

Call for Papers

"The East-West Discourse", Edited Volume

Our edited volume examines the tendency of political actors to locate themselves in the middle of a symbolic geography stretching from “the East” to “the West.” We are interested in case studies that critique this discourse in a specific political context.

Edward Said’s work on “Orientalism” has inspired a huge literature examining how the imagined qualities of “the orient” informed imperial political structures, and several recent scholars have also developed an analogous literature on “Occidentalism.” Our project, by contrast, might be understood as “in-between-ism”: what political capital has been at stake for authors or political actors who described their chosen country as the point of transition between East and West? What motivates people to invoke East-West binaries?

We are looking for case studies that deconstruct the East-West discourse in a specific time and place. Our chronology runs throughout the modern period, though the twentieth century features prominently. Our geographic scope runs from central Europe or the near East. We are particularly interested in contributions discussing Germany, Turkey, or the Levant. Confirmed case studies examine Belarus, Transylvania, and Finland; there are also two contributions with a comparative geographic scope. Theoretical papers may be considered; contact the editor. We already have a book contract, but are hoping to fill gaps left when contributors pulled out. Any contributions must be finished quickly.

 

Contact:

Dr Alexander Maxwell

School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations

Victoria University of Wellington

PO Box 600

Wellington 6140

New Zealand

Phone: +64 4 4636753

Fax: +64 4 4635261

Email: alexander.maxwell(at)vuw.ac.nz

 

 

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