Call for papers on religion & anarchism, ASN Conference Loughborough 12-14 September 2018

CALL FOR PAPERS – please circulate widely

Anarchism and Religion //  Anarchist Studies Network 5th International

Conference // Loughborough University - 12-14 September 2018

The intersection of anarchism and religion has proved a fertile field

of intellectual inquiry. Some publications have focused on traditional

anarchist quarrels with religion and its institutions; others have

elaborated and discussed anarchist exegesis of religious scripture;

others yet have articulated theological reflections with an anarchist

angle; and others still have studied the histories of specific

religious anarchist thinkers, communities and movements. However, the

literature has tended to display familiar biases: authors are often

white and Western, the main religion is often Christianity, and few

have turned their attention to decolonisation.

In line with the central theme of the broader conference, papers for a

potential stream of panels on anarchism and religion which consider

issues around decolonisation are particularly encouraged (the broader

conference call for papers is copied below). Proposals developing

non-Christian perspectives are also encouraged. Nonetheless,

contributions on any topics relevant to the study of anarchism and

religion are welcome, with or without connection to decolonisation.

Any disciplinary angle is welcome.

Please send abstracts of up to 250 words with your name and (if

relevant) any institutional affiliation to stream convenor Alex

Christoyannopoulos at a.christoyannopoulos@lboro.ac.uk by 15 February

2018.

Anarchist Studies Network // 5th International Conference // 12-14

September 2018 // Loughborough University, U.K.

Call for Papers and Panels

The fight against domination and destruction continues under heavy

clouds. A global wave of resistance has once again been met with

reaction, as elites turn to barefaced nationalism, racism and

misogyny. For the world's majority, such oppression is neither

surprising nor new, given the enduring legacy of colonialism and

by-now-established forms of neo-colonial exploitation. Meanwhile,

hegemonic discourses show a frustrating capacity to co-opt and

neutralise: converting anti-capitalism into welfare-populism,

ecological resistance into green consumption, and militant

intersectionality into liberal identity politics. Anarchist literature

and organising are not automatically immune to these problems; posing

ideas and practices that are radically free from domination requires

critical reflection on assumptions and truths, including one’s own.

Despite challenges, anarchists have sustained and grown multiple sites

of resistance as well as constructive projects, while boldly

spearheading the confrontation with the far right. Confident that the

tide will turn again, the flame remains kindled.

In these uncertain times, the elaboration of anarchist analysis

bridging theory and practice, scholarly rigour and the insights of

social movements, is as necessary as ever.

The 5th International Conference of the Anarchist Studies Network will

be held at Loughborough University between 12-14 of September 2018.

Proposals are welcome for individual papers, as well as for panels

drawing together 3-4 papers around a common theme.

Please send abstracts of up to 250 words per paper to the address:

asn.conference.5@mail.com

Deadline for abstracts: 28 February 2018

ASN conferences aim to breach new frontiers in anarchist scholarship,

and encourage cross-pollination between disciplines. Contributions are

invited from within and outside the official academic sphere, from any

scholarly discipline(s), and on any topic relevant to the study and

practice of anarchism as a vital approach to social transformation.

The central theme for this conference is DECOLONISATION, which we hope

will inspire many of the presentations and panels. The purpose is

twofold: to stimulate discussion of colonialism and racism as forms of

oppression that anarchists oppose, but which continue to be felt in

anarchist organising; and to welcome individuals, groups and

communities who have not previously participated in ASN events. By

recognising the legacy of non-western and anti-colonial thought and

action in the anarchist tradition, we want to strengthen the ties

between contemporary anarchists and decolonial theory and practice in

the struggle against oppression, and to use the recognition of racist

and Eurocentric practices and mind-frames to open up the event to

marginalised groups.

We therefore particularly encourage submissions from the global south

and from people of colour, as well as from women, trans and non-binary

people, and people with disabilities. We strongly encourage panel

organizers to overcome exclusion. For the central theme, we welcome

presentations that are concerned with topics such as the following:

- Anarchist engagements with decolonial and race theory

- Anarchist geographies of decolonisation

- Anarchist movements in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific, etc.

- Anarchist resonances of non-western philosophies, religions and traditions

- Anti-nationalism and anti-fascism

- Decolonial critiques of anarchism

- Decolonial critiques of the state

- Histories of anarchist resistance to colonialism

- Intersections between race/colonisation and age, class, dis/ability,

gender, sexuality, etc.

- Non-western anarcha-feminism, green anarchism, individualism, etc.

- Non-western and western modes of (anti-)representation and the

movement between them

In addition, proposals are welcome on ANY TOPIC related to the study

and practice of anarchism.

As well as submissions that bridge the gap between “academic” and

other forms of knowledge, we also welcome proposals for workshops, art

events/performances and experimental pieces, and are happy to discuss

any ideas that you might have.

We welcome proposals for papers and panels in other languages, but

please send an abstract in English as well. Translation will be

self-organised during the conference on an ad-hoc, volunteer basis.

Loughborough University facilities are fully wheelchair accessible and

induction loops are available. We are hoping to have some travel

bursaries available for low- or unwaged participants, especially from

the global south, as well as co-organised childcare arrangements.

Although we cannot guarantee either of these at the present stage,

please do get in touch with any specific access needs and we will do

our best to meet them: asn.conference.5@mail.com

Critical time for Religious Studies, Stirling

Administrators are trying to shut down the entire Religious Studies department at Stirling University. 

This is significant for a number of reasons.

First, the religious studies department at Stirling is of particular import due to its emphasis on Critical Religion theories. In fact, Timothy Fitzgerald, one of the professors affected, is a prominent voice in that field. Critical Religion theories are important because they challenge the very colonialist basis upon which the study of "religion" is based.

The second reason is related to the first: Precisely because Critical Religion studies are a vitally needed, the shutting down of the entire department is an act of censorship that would damage not only the entire field of religious studies but also broader struggles against white supremacy and colonial domination. 

Third, this is significant because this type of sudden and arbitrary laying off of workers despite high student attendance— is exactly the type of business practice that we are all affected by and need to stick together to fight it. Despite a balanced budget and a healthy number of students, the administration offered four professors redundancy packages and plans to lay off the rest of the instructors. This type of brutal cutthroat practices cannot be accepted. 

What to do?

You can sign (and spread!) the petition:

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/keep-religion-programme-at-stirling-university

(Already 1,000 signatures in a few days!)

Read more about Critical Religion studies at Stirling:

http://criticalreligion.org

 

Further reading:

here.

Chagos motion / UK readers especially

Even if you do not believe in parliamentary action you might still consider taking action on behalf of the Chagossians, about whom more on Chagos Gulag Watch as of today.

The end of Aka-Bo

Just when I wanted to start writing about the apparent need for white Europeans to see (tropical) islands as pieces of paradise on the one hand, and the wish to end this condition as harsh and as quickly as possible on the other hand, I hear the news of the passing of Boa Sr, the last person to speak Aka-Bo, a language of Great-Andaman. The news item pictures the language as one of the oldest in the world, which sounds like a wild guess and which does not make the loss worse. A loss which depends on the fate of the people that spoke it.

The islanders were marginalised at their own place. The Danish sold the islands to the United Kingdom as if they were entitled to do that, and the UK acted like it was entitled to make it a penal colony for people from India, where the UK acted like an entitled power too. The original people have been deported to an islet which is meant as a reservation, the archipelago is being prepared as a tourist destination. Guess who will be visiting...

More about the people of the Andaman islands here and here (in a sense disturbing pictures welcoming you).

• A call to help the surviving Andamanians.
  
  
• The fate of the Andamanians runs parallel with that of the Chagossians, for whom you should sign this petition.