[KS] FW: Call for conference papers: Regional Reconciliation: The Korean Peninsula and North-east Asia (Deadline 15 Feb. 2010)

[Walraven, B.C.A.]

*CALL FOR CONFERENCE PAPERS*

Conference Dates: 10 June 2010 (Thursday)
Location: Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China
Organiser: Centre for Asian Pacific Studies (CAPS)
Website: http://www.ln.edu.hk/caps/korea.php

The year 2010 marks a hundred years since the formal Japanese occupation
of Korea began, sixty years since the start of the Korean War, and ten
years since the historic summit meeting in Pyongyang. Memories - and
interpretations - of these events have remained important for Koreans,
both north and south of the border, and have continued to have salience
in contemporary relationships on the peninsula as well as with
neighbouring countries.

The aim of this conference, therefore, is both to examine the extent to
which history and memory play a role in contemporary societies and
international relations surrounding the Korean peninsula as well as
discuss the methods and mechanisms - successes and failures - in
bringing about reconciliation between past antagonists. However, it will
not be just a review of the past, but also a projection of where the two
Koreas are going in the future. Based on the trends of the past, it is
hoped to obtain a better understanding of not just what has been
happening, but, more importantly, what might happen in the future and
how peace on the peninsula and in more broadly in North-east Asia might
be achieved.

The one-day conference will be divided into 4 main panels.

Panel one, tentatively titled "Peace and Reconciliation: An Overview"
will be a comparative panel, drawing on historians, political
scientists, cultural studies scholars and philosophers to discuss how
history, memory and public policy-making interact. It is hoped that a
cross-disciplinary dialogue and fertilization of ideas will be a
particular feature of this panel. Where appropriate, examples from
outside North-east Asia, from Europe or elsewhere, will be discussed.

A second panel will focus on key contemporary relationships surrounding
the Korean peninsula, such as relations with Japan and China. This panel
will focus predominantly on the relationship between Korea and its
neighbours such as the ongoing contestation over cultural and historical
memories, etc., between China, Korea, and Japan.

Panel three, "Relations between the North (Korea) and South (Korea)"
will examine the inter-Korean relationship. This will include
discussions on socio-political as well as economic, cultural and
humanitarian exchanges between the North and the South, and discussion
on the long-term aspect of peace building and reconciliation between the
divided nation.

The fourth panel will examine the political and security challenges to
be overcome in promoting peace and reconciliation on and around the
peninsula. The panel, tentatively titled "Regional Security and
Community Building: Alternative Approaches" will focus on vital issues
such as the issue of the denuclearisation of the Korea peninsula, the
balance of power in East Asia, and regional dynamics and the role (or
lack of role) of the United States.

The organisers welcome paper proposals which deal with these aspects not
only from political science perspectives but also from other
disciplinary backgrounds (including literature and films).

All papers will be eligible for publication in the conference
proceedings and/or selected to be published in the CAPS Working Paper
series. The organisers will also examine the possibility of approaching
an international academic journal for a special edition.

Since the organisers have limited funds, contributors who might need
assistance to come to present their papers in Hong Kong will be
considered on an individual basis and on the merit of the paper
proposals.

PAPER PROPOSALS:

Please send the following information via email to CAPS at ln.edu.hk no
later than 15 February 2010.

NAME:
PAPER TITLE:
PAPER ABSTRACT (up to 300 words):
INSTITUTION:
POSITION:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
POSTAL ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:

We will inform authors of accepted abstracts by 1 March 2010. Further
details of the conference will be forthcoming.