CfP: Representations of External Threats in History (Ancient World to 19th Century)
The Group of Asian and Pacific Studies, Institute of History of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Project Phil-Threats (Horizon 2020, nr. 653508) invite researchers to present papers for the international workshop “Representations of External Threats in History (Ancient World to 19th Century)”, focusing on human threats.
Challenging
our traditional understanding of external threats as parts of warfare
and external politics, this workshop will bring together papers which
offer alternative ways to consider and analyse external threats by human
agents. Instead of investigating movements of troops and diplomatic
approaches, it will take a closer look at a specific set of questions:
Who raised and maintained the issue as a threat and for whom
(audience)? Which issues (threats) were chosen and why? What is the
referent (threatened) object? Under what conditions did the
representation of external threats take place and what are its results?
One of the basic effects of threat representation is the strengthening of the internal cohesion and
of the existing order (G. Simmel, L.A. Coser). Consequently, the power
of the governing class to release rights, duties, or obligations, is
stronger in times of external threats than in times of peace. However,
there has to be a certain level of acceptance that the threat is real,
not only in democracies but also in colonial settings or other
autocratic rules. Hence, threats have to be outlined and indicated as
such.
Transmitting external threats is part of the academic field of political communication, which can be called “threat communication”
(W. Schirmer). Relevant components are: sender, receiver (audience),
the dynamic interplay between both, a reference object, a (real or
imagined) threat, and a constructed collective (“the internal”) which
contains all elements except for the outside threat (the “external”)
against which all efforts are directed.
The idea of the workshop is influenced by investigations in the wake of the Copenhagen School of Securitization Studies
and borrows concepts such as “Securitization” (when does an issue
become a security problem?) and “Securitizing moves” (government
attempts at transforming existing regimes of practices) (T. Balzacq et
al., P. Bourdieux), which are adapted to historical processes and
situations. However, it is not only discourses (e.g. chronicles,
letters, reports, leaflets, books, laws, speeches, sermons, or all kinds
of propaganda) that are in the centre of interest but also
non-discursive practices, buildings, or objects (constituting a
dispositive of threat).
Even though the workshop positions itself in the field of history, its features are interdisciplinary, crossing borders to cultural studies, anthropology, sociology, political science, security studies, and international relations, inviting experts from all of these fields with a historical focus. Moreover, researchers from all geographic regions are invited to present their papers, covering all historical periods until the (long) 19th century.
Concepts
of the workshop include, but are by no means limited to Securitization,
Fear, Othering, Enmification (demonizing people, religions, or
ideologies), security cultures (if they exist and how do they look
like?), governmentality (based on M. Foucault) and threat communication.
And of course, also the legal, social, or mental processes and changes
are of interest, which are triggered by threat communication.
Possible threats
may include for example the Roman Empire, the Barbarian Invasion, the
Crusaders, the Ottoman Expansion, the Protestants, the Pope, pirates,
competing European powers in America, Asia, and Africa, native tribes,
foreigners, migrants, or people with contagious diseases, different
religious practices, or revolutionary ideas.
Hosting Institution: Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales (CCHS), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Location: Calle de Albasanz 26-28, 28037 Madrid, Spain
Date: May 11-12, 2017
Abstract:
We invite 300-400 word abstracts for 20-minute papers (with keywords),
in addition: affiliation, research interest, and most important
publications
Deadline for the abstracts: December 4, 2016
Finances: Limited budget for travel and/or accommodation is available for all participants
Publication: Presenters will be asked to submit a draft version of their papers before the end of April 2017 for a possible publication.
Contact Info:
Eberhard
Crailsheim, Institute of History, Spanish National Research Council
(CSIC), C/Albasanz, 26-28, Madrid 28037 (España), Tel.: 0034 91 602 2765
Contact Email: