Nearly seven decades after the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the hopes embedded in that document remain largely unfulfilled. The theme of the 2017 IAGS conference revisits the two core components of the Convention: justice for acts of genocide and prevention of future genocides.
While the conference theme will concentrate on these twin notions of justice and prevention, the 2017 IAGS conference is open to any whose work connects with the study of genocide. We aim to bring together scholars, activists, artists and survivors to examine genocidal violence from a wide range of disciplines and approaches. Participants are encouraged to examine the interdisciplinary aspects of violence from around the world, and to question the methods and outcomes of truth-telling and justice-seeking mechanisms. We encourage presenters to examine the processes and politics, strengths and failures of attempts to deal with past mass atrocities, and to identify best practices for achieving justice. Scholars and practitioners working in the field of genocide and mass atrocity prevention are also encouraged to examine the causes and drivers which exacerbate or constrain violence, and to discuss strategies for both long- and short-term prevention and reaction to mass atrocity crimes.
Abstract submissions are now closed.
Submissions exploring any topic related to the study of genocide are welcome, and submissions on the following themes are particularly encouraged:
- Application of international and domestic law for justice, accountability and prevention
- Theories and methods of prevention of genocide and mass atrocities
- Indigenous experiences of and responses to genocide, in particular Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders
- Cases of genocidal violence in the Asia Pacific region
- Sexual and gender-based violence
- Genocide and disability
- Justice and prevention in the context of refugees of genocide
- Representations of genocide in culture, art and museum studies
- Genocide education
- Genocide and human rights
- Intersections between genocide studies and peace studies
We welcome proposals for single paper presentations and for thematic panels comprising no more than three presenters. Each speaker should aim to speak for no more than 20mins, with question time additional (time limits will be strictly enforced). Each submission (individual and panel) must include: an abstract of no more than 250 words, 4 keywords, the speaker’s full name including title, position, contact details and institutional affiliation, as well as a short biography of no more than 150 words (no CVs, please). Panel submissions should also include a short description of the panel theme in addition to the abstracts and each speaker's details.
In addition to panels and papers, the organisers encourage other modes of presentation. To obtain formal guidelines for submitting a proposal for book launches, film screenings, cultural media, and artistic works/readings, please email the organisers directly (IAGS2017@uq.edu.au). Decisions will be made based on available space, time, and funding, among other things. Proposals for workshops will also be considered. Applications must include a list of participants including a 150 word biography for each participant; and an abstract of no more than 250 words regarding the topic and the intended outcome of the workshop. These workshops will be outside the official conference, will not be funded, and can be held separately on 9 July; room availability is limited.
All submissions should be emailed in a single Word Document to IAGS2017@uq.edu.au by 16 January 2017 (last submission 23.59 UTC -12). Submissions will be assessed on a rolling basis, and applicants will be notified of the outcome by 15 March 2017 at the latest. Submissions will not be accepted after the deadline. Multiple submissions are permitted, but due to the high number of submissions received, the Committee cannot guarantee acceptance of more than one submission.
We strongly encourage submissions from scholars and activists in the Asia Pacific region, as well as from post-graduate students and early career researchers. A limited number of scholarships will be awarded to postgraduates, unwaged or under-employed early career researchers, and participants from developing nations on a competitive basis: please visit the conference website for details.
The conference organisers anticipate that a special edition of Genocide Studies and Prevention will arise from the 2017 conference. Presenters will be invited to submit a written version of their papers to the journal; a call for papers will be issued later by the journal. Submission of a manuscript does not guarantee inclusion in the special issue: a limited number of articles will be selected through a rigorous peer-review process. Manuscripts must be formatted in accordance with journal guidelines.
Please note that, in order to attend and/or present at the conference, you must be a member of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS). This is additional and separate to the registration fee for the conference.
For more information on the 2017 conference, please contact the co-convenors, Dr Melanie O’Brien and Dr Annie Pohlman, via email IAGS2017@uq.edu.au.
