Conference: Critical Approaches to Romani Studies
Date: May 18-20, 2022
Deadline: February 15, 2022
Venue: Södertörn University, Stockholm, Sweden and online (hybrid format)
The Critical Romani Studies Department at Södertörn University and the Romani Studies Program at Central European University, in cooperation with the European Institute for Arts and Culture and the Romani Studies Program at FXB Centre, Harvard University, are pleased to invite scholars to submit paper and panel proposals for the Critical Approaches to Romani Studies conference held between the 18th and 20th of May 2022 in a hybrid format, in Stockholm (Sweden) and online.
The Roma have been an object of academic inquiry for centuries. In spite of the increasing number of articles, studies, and books, especially since the collapse of communism, Roma participation in shaping the discourse on themselves has remained very limited. In the name of scientism and objectivity, Roma have been de facto excluded from knowledge production. Recently there has been an increasing number of Roma and non-Roma scholars using critical theories and methods in their work on and with Roma. They propose a paradigm shift in Romani Studies and challenge the dominant academic and policy discourses. They question the status quo and suggest inquiries into the forms of oppressions Roma are facing and the importance of structural racism for Roma and Romani identity.
The conference takes place annually and aims to provide a forum for scholars embracing critical approaches and methods to Romani Studies. We are especially keen to receive papers on the following topics:
- Critical Perspectives in Nordic Romani Studies
- LBTQIA+ and intersectionality in Romani Studies
- History of Roma Holocaust, commemoration, distortion, denial
- History of Roma enslavement, commemoration, distortion, denial
- Conceptual perspectives on antigypsysim and anti-Roma racism
- Romani emancipation and civil rights
- Structural racism and inequities, antigypsyism, and racialized poverty
- The relevance of Postcolonial studies for Romani studies
- Romani women’s activism and gender politics
- Epistemic and structural violence against Roma
- Applying Critical Race Theory for studying forms of oppression of Roma
- Empirical inquiries into forms of antigypsyism and anti-Roma racism
- Critical analysis of Roma inclusion policies
- Roma representation, self-representation, and cultural appropriation
- Populism and far right discourses on Roma
- The role of new technologies and social media in the empowerment and/or oppression of Roma
- Historical justice: truth, reparation and reconciliation
- Environmental justice for Roma
Guidelines for authors
Proposals are welcome from researchers at all stages of their careers (including MA graduates and PhD students). Scholars of Romani origin are particularly encouraged to apply.
Please submit proposals including the author’s name, title, a 500-word-long abstract, and a 100-word long biography at https://forms.office.com/r/ie5XJZnxSw. Panel proposals should include three paper-givers. Panels with at least two Romani and/or female presenters will have a priority. Panel proposals are to be submitted at https://forms.office.com/r/0pUYjVDPuG .
Deadline of submission: February 15, 2022. All proposals are reviewed by the academic program committee. Successful applicants will be notified by March 1, 2022.
Original (not yet published) draft papers are to be submitted by April 30, 2022.
The organizers can cover the costs of a limited number of emerging / Romani scholars who otherwise could not afford to participate and commit to submit an original (not yet published) draft paper. In case of co-authored papers, only one author may apply for funding. Junior scholars (MA graduates, junior PhD students) may submit 2000-3000-word-long papers (including critical reviews of books or cultural events, products), whereas senior scholars are expected to contribute 4000-7000-word-long papers. We encourage the organizers of panel proposals to consult with the conference organizers in order to identify a chair and a discussant. Book presentation panels will be considered as well. Please inquire about details by email.
We recommend authors to present their draft paper at the conference. Selected papers might be published - after peer review – in the Critical Romani Studies journal. However, we are accepting submissions from scholars who cannot attend the conference but would like their papers to be considered for peer review and publication.
Individual paper proposals are to be submitted at: https://forms.office.com/r/ie5XJZnxSw
Panel proposals are to be submitted at: https://forms.office.com/r/0pUYjVDPuG
All inquiries should be directed to romaconference@ceu.edu
About the organizers:
The Critical Romani Studies Department at Södertörn University has the governmental assignment to develop Romani Studies as a field of research and education, including a teacher education in Romani chib. Within research, the department has had a strong focus on human rights, including the right to education, antigypsyism as a particular phenomenon and in comparison with other forms of racism, Romani history, including both the history of persecution and liberation, as well as the Romani language. The department strive to integrate emancipatory and critical perspectives on power and racism in all research and teaching. The department has an institutional agreement with ERIAC, and uses their teaching materials in courses in Romani chib, and their Barvalipe Roma online university lectures in their courses in Critical Romani Studies.
The Romani Studies Program at Central European University (RSP) aims to engage scholars, policy makers, and activists in interdisciplinary knowledge production and debate on Roma identity and movement; antigypsyism; social justice and policy making; gender politics; and structural inequality. RSP encompasses the Roma Graduate Preparation Program and the Advanced Certificate in Romani Studies. RSP offers courses for MA and PhD students of CEU and summer courses for graduate students and activist scholars from all over the world. RSP organizes annual academic conferences promoting critical approaches to Romani Studies and publishes Critical Romani Studies an international, interdisciplinary, double blind peer-reviewed open access journal. RSP supports internships and offers various fellowship primarily targeting Romani students and scholars.
The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) has a unique and single mandate as the transnational, European-level organization for the recognition of Roma arts and culture. ERIAC exists to increase the self-esteem of Roma and to decrease negative prejudice of the majority population towards the Roma by means of arts, culture, history, and media. ERIAC acts as an international creative hub to support the exchange of creative ideas across borders, cultural domains and Romani identities. ERIAC aims to be the promoter of Romani contributions to European culture and talent, success and achievement, as well as to document the historical experiences of Romani people in Europe. ERIAC exists to be a communicator and public educator, to disseminate a positive image and knowledge about Romani people for dialogue and building mutual respect and understanding.
The Roma Program at the FXB Centre, Harvard University, aims to shift Romani studies away from the margins of academic interest and toward a central place in social and political theory and in multidisciplinary and multiregional studies. We seek to put Roma rights on academic and policy agendas in the United States and elsewhere by amplifying the voices of leading and emerging Romani scholars and leaders through research, events, and publications. A cornerstone of our program is the use of participatory action research and case study methodologies to give voice to the issues identified as problematic by Roma themselves, to strengthen the capacity of Roma communities, and to support leadership among Roma youth.