Call for Papers

The Call is now closed. Please register here to attend the conference.

CfP Border Struggles and (Cross-)Border Alliances

"Border struggles" encapsulates a spectrum of struggles, troubles, conflicts, and contestations surrounding the demarcation, management, and particularly the crossing of borders. These struggles manifest in various forms, ranging from the physical act of traversing borders to the ideological and political disputes over their legitimacy and control. In the context of migration, border struggles include the perilous journeys of individuals and groups seeking refuge or better opportunities, often in the face of stringent border controls and restrictive immigration policies. These struggles are not merely physical but also symbolic, as they challenge notions of sovereignty, identity, and belonging. And they are represented in cultural texts, literature, films, and media. In war and conflict, border struggles involve the contentious processes of territorial reconfiguration, where borders are not only contested lines on a map but also sites of violent clashes and geopolitical maneuvering. These conflicts underscore the fluid and often arbitrary nature of borders, reflecting broader historical and cultural tensions. Furthermore, border struggles can also be understood through the lens of social and economic disparities, where marginalized communities grapple with exclusionary practices that reinforce boundaries of inequality. Thus, border struggles are multifaceted, encompassing the geopolitical, socio-economic, and cultural dimensions of human mobility and territoriality, reflecting broader dynamics of power, resistance, and negotiation.

Experiences of border struggles often highlight the violence and injustices inherent in border regimes, thereby necessitating the (re)formation of alliances and coalitions. The topic of "(Cross-) Border Alliances" thus assumes special importance, embracing a broad range of collaborative efforts that transcend national boundaries and build on a history of joint cultural heritage. These alliances can include different forms of initiatives, from grassroots movements and non-governmental organizations to formal intergovernmental agreements and regional cooperation frameworks. They are driven by the recognition that many issues, such as bordercultures, migration, climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability, security, and economic development, inherently cross borders and therefore require cooperative, transnational approaches.
 

We invite panel (up to 3 papers) and paper (20 minutes max.) submissions focusing on “Border Struggles and (Cross-)Border Alliances” in their complexity, zooming in on:

  • Geopolitical Contestation and Cooperation
  • Migration and Mobility
  • Social and Economic Inequalities
  • Culture and Language, particularly in relation to Questions of Identity and Heritage
  • Environmental and Resource Management
  • Legal and Human Rights Issues
  • Historical Developments of Border Regions
  • Theoretical and Methodological Contributions

We welcome panel and paper submissions from the UniGR-CBS scholars and equally from senior and junior border studies scholars from across the globe.

Panels should be designed for 90 minutes; individual papers for 20 minutes plus Q&A. The conference languages are English, French, and German (no translation). Abstracts can be handed in in either language.

Please send your abstract (300 words max. per paper) and a short bio-bibliographical blurb to borderstudies@uni-saarland.de by 4 August 2024.

Download the Call for Papers here.

 

Within the framework of our UniGR-CBS Jubilee Conference, we are happy to host the Transform4Europe Regional Heritage Workshop entitled "Between Contestation and Proclamation: Cultural Heritage in Border Struggles and (Cross-)Border Alliances" as well as activities of Saarland University's Eastpartnership program. The CfP for the T4EU Regional Heritage Workshop can be found here.

 


Contact
Eva Nossem 
borderstudies@uni-saarland.de