[Discussion] CONF./CFP- Mongolian Culture in the Age of Globalization, Aug. 2005, Western Washington Univ.

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

CONF./CFP- Mongolian Culture in the Age of Globalization, August 2005

The Center for East Asian Studies of Western Washington University will
host an international research conference on August 5-7, 2005 on the
subject of Mongolia at 800 : Mongolian Culture in the Age of
Globalization. The conference language will be English.

On the eve of the 800th anniversary of Mongolian statehood, this
research conference seeks to assess contemporary Mongolian culture and
the challenges it is facing in the current era of globalization. Given
the focus of this conference, Mongolia is defined not by current
political boundaries which have been in existence for less than
one-eighth of the time since the creation of Mongolia but in cultural
terms. Thus the geographical area considered by this conference is
defined as stretching from Lake Baikal to the Ordos and from the Xing'an
to the Altai Moun-tains.

This conference will focus on globalization's cultural and societal
dimensions, with Mongolia, as defined above, as a test case. Some
questions participants are asked to address include: What changes in
which aspect of Mongolian culture have taken place during the last
decade, and in what ways are those changes related to the process of
globalization? Have these changes been the same or similar in both North
and South Mongolia? If different, to what factors may the differences be
attributed? Turning tables, has Mongolian culture in any way shaped the
nature and/or intensity of globalization within the Mongolian cultural area?

When comparing the period of the Mongolian world empire with the present
situation, the emphasis will be on specific aspects of globalization,
such as trade and economic policy, social change, and development of the
arts. What are the similarities and differences of globalization 800
years ago and now? How did globalization affect any aspect of Mongolian
culture then, as compared with its effects on contemporary Mongolia?
Conversely, what comparisons might we draw between the impact of
Mongolian culture on globalization in these two periods of Mongolian
history?

Finally, with regard to China's relationship to Mongolia, how are the
vast differences between then and now to be explained? Simply in terms
of relative military and political strength, or have other forces been
at work?

Interested persons should submit the title and abstract of their paper
and a short biosketch to the conference chairman, Professor Henry G.
Schwarz, at schwarz@cc.wwu.edu before January 31, 2005.



Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian
Studies