Oct 6, 2006

CfP: Collective Violence: Emergence. Experience. Remembrance

Tobias Bütow, Michaela Christ, Christian Gudehus and Veronika Springmann.
6 June 2007 - 10 June 2007, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Deadline: 17 November 2006

Workshop on the history and theory of violence in the 20th century Collective Violence: Emergence, Experience, Remembrance

There has been a slew of new research on the escalation of violence and mass murder in National Socialism in the past two decades, expanding our knowledge of the
period tremendously. Explanatory models, terminology, sources, research methods and narrations are numerous and differentiated. The same is true of research on the transmission and discourse of memory and the forms memories of violent crimes in National Socialism can take. There have also been many, albeit less numerous, new
studies of other cases of collective violence, for example in Yugoslavia and in Rwanda. The comparative study of processes of collective violence however, including the study of the cultural and psychological consequences of violence, is still in its infancy.

The subjects of this research are extensive and complex, making comparative study very demanding. This complexity often leads comparative study to be written off
directly as unprofitable. In practice, however, current comparative (violence) research, particularly genocide research, proves the theoretical and practical benefits comparative study can bring. Often, the particularities and commonalities of
genocidal processes only become clear in the process of comparison. Research from other disciplines and other countries on other areas and epochs can widen our perspective and expand our knowledge. Our workshop aims to initiate a forum for the new generation of researchers studying the processes of collective violence. We want to gather the understanding of violence which has been gained by researches from all parts of the world working in many diverse disciplines. Collective violence is a
complex and global phenomena. Research on collective violence should be the same.

The workshop will offer young researchers the chance to present and discuss innovative approaches to the study of violence. It will present a platform from which new points of access can be examined and within which researchers can take a fresh look at their own methods of analysis, use of terminology and research methods. The workshop is explicitly not for one discipline only. We assume that events with a strong societal impact, such as collective violence and mass murder, can and should be the object of transdisciplinary scrutiny. The call for papers is aimed at doctoral candidates. This workshop shall help these candidates build networks and take part in an international dialogue.

Possible foci and questions for discussion are:
Discourse / Semantics
Is collective violence set up on a discursive level? What function do concepts of self, other and the enemy have? Do violent societies experience an aesthetization and heroization of violence?

Gender
Are their gender specific roles in the formation of violent processes? Are particular concepts of masculinity and femininity developed within processes of violence? Can we identify particular practices of violence along gender lines?

Violent practices / Violence as social practice
How and by what means is violence practiced? Do violent practices change in time? What effects does violent practice have on the society it takes place in?

Space
What space does violence require? How do violent people form space, how does space form violence?

Actors / Figuration
Who enacts violence? What is the triangulation between perpetrators, victims and bystanders? What role do neighbors, observers and correspondents play? Are there
turning points in the escalation of violent processes? How and why do groups or individuals become helpers or rescuers?

Remembrance / Transmission
How is the violent event remembered in retrospect? How are memories transmitted? What are the differences in the memories of perpetrators, victims and bystanders?

In addition to scientific discourse, a one-day excursion to Srebenica and the Potocari Memorial Cemetary are planned. The program will also include examples of
cinematic handlings of collective experiences of violence. The workshop language will be English

We look forward to receiving your one page topic proposal by Nov. 17th 2006. Please mail all proposals to sarajevo-2007@ web.de. Your contribution may be either a case
study or a solely theoretical study of the processes of collective violence and mass murder as social practice.

[sursa balkans]