International Conference to commemorate the 150th anniversary of abolition of slavery, the 160th anniversary of Chinese immigration, and the 140th anniversary of immigration of East Indians in Suriname, Stardust Hotel, Paramaribo, 6-10 June 2013.
Organized by the Institute for Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Social Science Research Institute (IMWO) of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, in collaboration with the National Archives Suriname (NAS), and the following cultural organizations: NAKS, Federasi fu Afrikan Srananman, CUS, NSHI, VHJI, Committee 10 th. October.
The present Surinamese and other Caribbean societies are a product of different forms of migration of people, starting with the coming of the Indegenous people thousands of years ago, followed by colonization by Europeans who subsequently introduced African slaves and indentured labourers from Asia. In Suriname we experienced flows of new immigrants who arrived from Guyana, Brazil, Haiti and China.
Just as the rest of the Caribbean, Suriname became part of the global economy through European expansion since the sixteenth century. Starting with Spain, several European countries founded colonies and introduced forced laborers from Europe, Africa and Asia. As a result the societies in the Caribbean and other former colonies became multi-ethnic and multi-cultural.
In the case of Suriname, the import of indentured as well as free laborers goes back to years before the abolition of slavery. As a result we have various groups of Amerindians or Indigenous people, Creoles (descendants of former slaves), six Maroon tribes (Bush Negroes), Hindustanis, Javanese (Indonesians from Java), Chinese, Europeans, Jews, Lebanese, Haitians and Brazilians.
Since the second half of the 20th century a reverse migration process is taking place as a consequence of which a large proportion of the population of postcolonial states is presently living in diaspora. In the age of globalization, boundaries between states are vanishing. In relation to modern migration and diaspora we see transnational links and loyalties, which sometimes have been perceived as problematic.
Suriname shares with the Caribbean and other postcolonial states an experienc of European colonization, African slavery followed by immigration of indentured laborers from Asia, and massive emigration to the former metropolis and North America during the second half of the twentieth century. Many of the processes and developments are not unique for one country or a region, on the contrary, we see that those problems and issues can be compared with each other. So we can understand our present world much better and will be able to find solutions for different problems by comparing those issues.
The aim of the conference is to connect historical specificities of slavery, indentured labor and migration to contemporary issues of globalization, diapora, identity formation, nationalism and transnationalism.
At the same time we want to promote new perspectives and approaches in the study of forced and free migration and their impact on the society. By bringing together scholars from various parts of the world - senior scholars as well as new promising talents - we hope to stimulate exchange of ideas, set up new networks and strengthen existing networks.
Some questions to be answered during the conference are:
The organizers would like to stimulate the submission of panel propoposals, but individual paper proposals are also wellcome.
A panel proposal should consist of a framework of the panel, with relevant questions, a number of paper proposals, abstracts of the papers and biodata of all members of the panel. The number of papers within a panel will be between three and eight. Each panel will have a chair and a discussant.
Individual paper proposals can be submitted by by e-mail in MS Word by sending an abstract of 300 - 350 words, together with a short CV.
Panels and papers with a comparative nature will be given higher priority than others.
Deadline for submission of paper or panel proposals: December 15th 2012.
Deadlines for submission of full papers: April 30th , 2013.
Publication: A selection of papers will be published by the University of Suriname.
Language: The conference language will be English.
People who want to participate in the conference without presenting a paper, are also welcome.
All participants will get a set of papers on CD-Rom.
Note: The organizing committee is not in a position to assist participants with financial assistance.
All participants are advised to seek funding through their respective institutions or by other means.
Accomodation costs in Stardust Hotel are very reasonable.
The venue of the conference is Stardust Hotel, located in Leonsberg, in the northern part of the capital city of Paramaribo.
All overseas participants are advised to book a room in this hotel, but there are also attractive appartments in the neighbourhood. People who prefer to stay in the centre of Paramaribo, will arrange their own transport to Leonsberg.
Conference Secretariat:
Co-ordinator of the Organizing Committee: IMWO, Anton de Kom University of Suriname
Maurits S. Hassankhan, POB 9212, Paramaribo, Suriname. E-mail: mauritshassan@yahoo.com
Phone: (597) 462003; E-mail: diasporaconfsur@yahoo.com