Call For Papers
Difference, Democracy, Justice: Toward an Inclusive Taiwanese Society

11th Annual Conference of North American Taiwan Studies Association

Date: June 02-05, 2005
Location: University of Colorado at Boulder, USA
Submission deadline (extended): November 30, 2004
Acceptance notification: February 2005

 
Conference Theme

Taiwan is now in the process of democratic consolidation and has gradually established the basic institutions of a liberal democracy. Yet for a democratic ideal to be realized, not only must it include everyone in the political community, but it must also afford each member equal opportunities and equal distribution of resources to participate in collective decision-making. The proliferation of differences is accompanied by various forms of discursive and state-initiated privileges or discriminations toward the newcomers. While transnational subjects with high-tech skills are warmly welcome and accorded investment incentives, lower-class foreign workers and spouses are often marginalized from the mainstream society and subject to invasive surveillance measures. In this stratified multicultural system, migrant populations are incorporated into the Taiwanese society on an economic basis, but by and large excluded from the cultural and political spheres of life. Similar processes of exclusion and marginalization also apply to many local citizens, such as those in the tongzhi/queer communities, and those whose livelihood suffers from the impact of economic liberalization. Our central concern here, therefore, is to understand how various kinds of social exclusion and economic injustice inhibit the realization of political democracy and how we can move toward a more just and democratic society. We encourage paper contributors to explore the many levels of cultural differences and their ramifications as witnessed in Taiwan in the advent of transnationalism. We attempt to go beyond a discourse of multiculturalism, which, although well-intentioned, often stops at recognizing differences while maintaining them in bounded and marginalized spaces. The 2005 NATSA conference specifically welcomes constructive discussions of the current situation toward a more inclusive Taiwanese society. In addition to this year𠏋 conference theme, submissions are encouraged regarding any topic of interest within the collective field of Taiwan Studies, which may include politics, economics, and social developments as well as issues related to Taiwan𠏋 cultures, languages, history, environment and education.

Submission deadline extended: November 30th, 2004
Submission Guideline

To encourage initiatives from conference participants and provide diverse means of presentation and discussion, submissions in the following two formats are welcomed:

1. Proposed Panels -- The NATSA strongly encourages self-organized panels. Proposals for a full panel should consist of 3 to 4 paper presentations as related to a shared theme. To submit a panel proposal, the panel organizer(s) must submit a title and a 400-500-word panel abstract (including the purpose and objectives and expected outcomes) along with abstracts of individual papers (with the same requirements as individual papers). NATSA reserves the right to ask for modification of submitted abstracts for panel proposals if necessary.

2. Individual Papers -- Individual papers present results of individual or collaborative research. Individual paper submissions will include a title and a 250-300-word abstract stating the purpose and objectives, methodology and research outcome.

Abstract submissions will include a title, body, any keywords, and one (1) category selection from the following:

  • Aboriginal Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Education
  • Environmental Studies
  • Gender/Sexuality Studies
  • History
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Literature
  • Media Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • Urban Planning
  • Others

    All abstracts for accepted papers and panels may be published in the conference handbook and proceedings. While we accept papers written in English or Taiwanese languages (usually including, but are not limited to Mandarin, Holo, Hakka and Aboriginal languages), all abstracts must be written in English. Please submit your abstract for individual papers and proposed panels through the online submission form. To ensure a fair review process, additional guidelines apply and will be detailed on the submission form.

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    Travel Grants

    Conference contributors may be eligible for travel grants to attend the
    conference. Details will be announced on the website in the future.
    Proposal Review Process, Notification and Obligations

    Proposals are evaluated through blind review by scholars from relevant
    fields. Criteria for inclusion in the conference program include:

    1. The quality and clarity of the research question, theoretical framework,
    methodology, and major arguments and findings;
    2. Contribution and significance to Taiwan studies;
    3. Program considerations, such as panel arrangements.

    Proposal contributors can expect to receive e-mail notice of proposal status
    in February 2005. Authors of accepted abstracts are required to submit a
    full paper following guidelines to be announced at the time of notification.
    The Conference Preparatory Council reserves the right to limit the number of
    accepted papers by any one author or group of authors.