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Call for Papers Theme: Interrogating Buddhism and Nationalism Type: Interdisciplinary Workshop Institution: Department of Politics and International Relations and Asian Studies Centre, University of Oxford Location: Oxford (United Kingdom) Date: 27.–28.1.2018 Deadline: 15.9.2017 __________________________________________________ The Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford, along with the Programme on Modern Burmese Studies at St Antony’s College, invites proposals for this 2018 workshop entitled “Interrogating Buddhism and Nationalism.” The term “Buddhist nationalism” appears frequently today in academic, political and popular writing. In some cases, it has been deployed alongside even more provocative labels, such as Buddhist militarism, Buddhist extremism or Buddhist terrorism. Recent interest in Buddhist nationalism appears to respond to the growing visibility of exclusionary and sometimes violent Buddhist-led anti-Muslim groups in parts of the Theravāda Buddhist world, particularly Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand. But the apparent intersection of Buddhist and nationalist sentiments has been present in the Mahayana, Vajrayana and Zen schools as well, at present and in the past. This workshop invites scholarly papers that seek to explore, explain, complicate or challenge the perceived relationship between “Buddhism” and “nationalism,” not only in these contemporary movements, but in other times, in other locations and in other schools of Buddhism. Rather than simply assume a naturalized intertwining of these two elements, we aim to investigate the events, texts, movements, ideologies, practices, belief systems and historical processes that have led many people to posit a close connection between the two. We recognize that there are a host of different “Buddhisms” present in the world, expressed through belief, practice or identity. National identities are also regularly contested and interpreted in various ways by those inside or outside of different national or sub-national communities. We expect that participants will not simply take these categories or framings for granted, but will instead question and contextualize them through textual study, ethnography, archival research and other research methods. The purpose of this critical inquiry is not to separate “Buddhism” from “nationalism” for normative reasons, but to develop a better understanding of how the identities, symbols, rhetorics and logics related to the two have become connected, either in fact or perception. We accept that, whatever ideals might be expressed through Buddhist teachings, there have always been relationships of different types between political authorities and Buddhist religious authorities. Submissions can consider historical or contemporary phenomena, any school or practice of Buddhism, any geographic area, and can come from any relevant discipline. Potential topics of inquiry include (but are not limited to): - Religious framing of nationalist movements - The role of monastics in nationalist movements or organizations - State-sangha relations and monastic roles in shaping national identity - Gender dynamics in the production of religious or national identities - Buddhist attitudes towards religious or political Others - Development and transmission of religio-political ideas - Religious challenges to political authority, legitimacy or national identity - Pre-modern or pre-colonial religio-political complexes We expect participants to pre-circulate their papers and, after the workshop, to revise them for an edited volume or special journal issue by 30 June 2018. Paper abstract (500 words max) and a brief bio should be sent to m...@sant.ox.ac.uk no later than 15 September, 2017. Applicants will be informed by 22 September if their paper has been accepted. The conference organizers will cover travel, accommodation and visa costs for accepted speakers. The organisers are hoping to receive a wide range of submissions, representing different traditions, regions and time periods. Organisers: Matthew J Walton, Ma Khin Mar Mar Kyi, Aye Thein, Saw Aung Than Wai (from the ESRC-funded research project “Understanding ‘Buddhist Nationalism’ in Myanmar”) The Call for Papers and further details can be found here: https://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/materials/projects/Interrogating_Buddhism_and_Nationalism_Workshop_CFP.pdf Contact: Dr. Matthew J Walton St Antony's College University of Oxford 62 Woodstock Road Oxford, OX2 6JF United Kingdom Email: m...@sant.ox.ac.uk __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: https://interphil.polylog.org InterPhil List Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/interphil@list.polylog.org/ __________________________________________________
