NATIONS & NATIONALISM

Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism
18th Annual Conference

Nationalism, East and West:
Civic and Ethnic Conceptions of Nationhood

15-16 April 2008, London School of Economics

 CALL FOR PAPERS

The Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism (ASEN) is holding its 18th Annual Conference, entitled “Nationalism, East and West: Civic and Ethnic Conceptions of Nationhood”, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, April 15-16, 2008, at the London School of Economics. 

It has long been standard in the field of nationalism studies to classify nations according to which principle serves to unify the nation. The distinction between the Western, political type of nationalism, and Eastern, genealogical nationalism as systematised by Hans Kohn in 1945 has been used, extended and adjusted by scholars of nationalism to conceptualise a framework of “inclusive” nationalism based on citizenship and territory and “exclusive” nationalism based on common ethnic ties and descent. This conference seeks to assess the continuing relevance of this dichotomy in its various forms: its contribution to theoretical work on nationalism, its usefulness for historical interpretation and its value for contemporary policy-making.

 The conference will include keynote addresses from leading scholars in the field, along with opportunities for scholars from various disciplines to examine the relevance of ethnic and civic conceptions of nationhood in a series of panel sessions.

 Suggested themes include:

Civic and Ethnic Aspects of Nation Formation
Is Nationalism a European Phenomenon?
Alternatives to Civic and Ethnic Nationalism
Experiences of Historical Migrant Nations
Citizenship and Immigration
Multiculturalism

The first day will explore the use of the classical dichotomy in theoretical works on nationalism, national identity and nation formation. By considering historical case studies, the development, interaction and conflict of ethnic and civic types of nationalism will be analyzed on the second day. Historical critiques of and alternatives to dichotomous types like the civic/ethnic and East/West will also be considered. On the third day, the framework of civic and ethnic nationalism will be explored by focussing on contemporary nationalism and approaches to citizenship and immigration.

The 2008 Conference Committee is now calling for papers to be presented on the conference. The application is open to any researcher who is interested in the study of nationalism and/or ethnicity, and PhD students and young scholars are particularly encouraged to apply. The abstracts of the proposed papers should not exceed 500 words and are expected by November 1, 2007. The Committee will notify applicants by November 30, 2007. Submit your proposal on-line now.

Suggestions for panels and additional themes are also welcome. Papers submitted to the conference will be considered for publication in a special issue of Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism (SEN).

Please note that ASEN cannot cover travel and accommodation costs. Presenters are expected to register for the conference. Further enquiries are welcome at .