Power and Change in Malaysia and Singapore

The 16th Malaysia and Singapore Society Colloquium

10-11 December 2010

The Australian National University, Canberra

Conveners: Dr. Gaik Cheng Khoo and Ms. Amrita Malhi

Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, Hedley Bull Centre. Cnr Liversidge St and Garran Rd, ANU.

Call for Papers

In the last few years, Malaysian and Singaporean societies have undergone a number of significant social and cultural shifts. A range of new debates is being heard, new players have come forward, and new perspectives on social life, both past and present, are being discovered. Some of these shifts have opened possibilities for political transformation, most notably in Malaysia after the ‘political tsunami’ of the March 2008 general election.

Since then older political discourses centred on race and religion are being reconstituted, as long-term players also begin to adapt to new, increasingly palpable, social and economic realities. Yet new racial and religious exclusivisms, and new scandals, have also surfaced, heightening the sense of political contest.

In the context of such change, whether openly or more subtly expressed, new research on Malaysia and Singapore is slowly beginning to decentre the narrowly national, racial or statist scholarship of the past. In particular, research which crosses or blurs the borders between localities, nations, disciplines, or racial, religious or gender constructs is beginning to impact on public discussion.

The Malaysia and Singapore Society of Australia (MASSA) calls for papers which reflect, analyse, grapple with, or reject these new trends in society and scholarship in Singapore and Malaysia, from any disciplinary or regional perspective.

Apart from papers dealing specifically with the 2010 Colloquium theme, papers on all subjects relating to the history, politics, society, economy, culture etc. of Malaysia and Singapore are also welcome.

Individual papers and panels are both invited. Abstracts of up to 250 words for each paper, along with panel abstracts of up to 250 words where relevant, should be sent to [email protected] by 15 September 2010.

Postgraduate students are encouraged to submit abstracts. A number of postgraduate registration fees will be waived on a competitive basis, and no further applications for fee waivers are required. MASSA regrets that it cannot fund travel or accommodation, and conference participants are encouraged to seek funding from other sources. Accommodation is available at reasonable rates on campus or close to it, particularly in university colleges.

Please direct all e-mail enquiries to Dr. Yasuko Kobayashi at [email protected].

Please consult the MASSA website for updates.