International conference
January 16-17 2009, University of Aarhus
The End of Transition?
Analytical and local understandings of 'transition' in post socialist space In the early nineties, the concept of 'transition' became a much used framework for describing the phase the former socialist countries had entered: a phase that was supposedly leading the countries from socialism, plan economy and dictatorship to democracy, market economy and globalization. Over the years, scholars working in the region began to criticise the concept, its neo-evolutionist connotations and lack of
analytical value when it came to actual processes of change taking place in the post socialist countries. However, although being abandoned little by little by within academia, the concept is still widely used locally, both in political rhetoric and on an everyday level, among 'ordinary citizens'. This conference aims to examine the social lives of the transition concept. We pose the question of whether we should continue to use the term when analysing the social, political and economical processes in the post-socialist world. If so, how should it be defined or measured? How does the analytical concept 'transition' as used in the social sciences differ
from the way it is used by local actors across the post socialist world? In short, we call for papers that investigate the concept of 'transition' and its social life in academia, among political advisors, as well among the people who are presumably undergoing 'transition' .
The conference will take place at the University of Aarhus in Denmark on January 16-17 2009. Following the conference, the accepted papers will be considered for a publication on the theme.
Key note speakers:
Valeri Bunce, Cornell University
Caroline Humphrey, Cambridge University
Steven Sampson, Lund University
Laszlo Bruszt, European University Institute
Send your abstract (not exceeding 250 words) to etnmdf@hum.au. dk
Deadline for abstracts: 1.10.2008
Organizers:
Maria Louw, Department of Anthropology and Ethnography, Aarhus University
Nina Dadalauri, Institute of Political Science, Aarhus University
Martin Demant Frederiksen, Department of Anthropology and Ethnography,
Aarhus University
Nils Bubandt, Department of Anthropology and Ethnography, Aarhus University
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