UC Davis East Asian Studies in collaboration with Center for Taiwan Studies, UC Santa Barbara, America-China Talk, UC Davis, and Global Hong Kong Studies @ University of California invite scholars and PhD students to submit original paper proposals for this interdisciplinary conference. We welcome proposals from different theoretical and methodological approaches that are aimed at generating new knowledge about Asia.

 

The overall puzzle is: How does Asia look from its peripheries?

 

Using “peripheries” as an overarching theme, this event brings together scholars adopting a decentering approach in different disciplines to gain insights into Asian transformations in the 20th and the 21st centuries. We welcome empirical-driven scholarship on a wide range of subject matters in any part of Asia, analyzed through the lens of “peripheries.”

 

“Peripheries” means peoples, places, processes, and phenomena at the geographical, political, economic, cultural, or social margins, including intersectionality. “Peripheries” can also mean the use of non-mainstream theories and methods to reassess insights, observations, and ideas about Asia as well as its history, culture, and development in part or whole. It can include the examination of neglected yet politically, culturally, or intellectually impactful episodes, experiences, or epistemologies.

 

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following.

 

Spatial peripheries: geographical borderlands, rural communities, indigenous populations, nations and regions that occupy the semi-periphery or periphery in the Asian continent

 

Economic peripheries: urban laborers, migrant workers, informal workers, unemployed youths, unhoused populations, climate refugees

 

Sociocultural peripheries: populations marginalized on the basis of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, disability, nationality, religion, culture, etc.

 

Political peripheries: opposition parties, dissidents, political refugees, stateless populations, feminisms, gay rights activisms

 

Submission Guidelines

 

Confirmations of acceptance of the proposals will be sent by 15 December 2025.

 

We encourage contributions from early career researchers. Our goal is to produce a peer-reviewed conference volume or a special issue in a peer-reviewed journal. Accepted participants will receive full or partial financial support for travel to Davis. UC Davis East Asian Studies will arrange and cover hotel accommodation and meals.