CALL FOR PAPERS

European Association of Social Anthropologists

8th Biennial Conference of EASA
Vienna, September 8th-12th, 2004


EASA Workshop:
PROXIMITY AND ASYMMETRY IN BORDER ENCOUNTERS


International borders are social fields for defining difference
and
distances and allowing transcultural encounters and proximity at
the same
time. Face-to-face interaction on the border brings people with
different
ethnic and national backgrounds into close social contact and
physical
proximity at the same time.

But the underlying institutionalization and hierarchy of the
border setting
often goes hand in hand with 'backstage' activities where actors
seek
to reach personal goals by manipulating the Other. In the
fluidity
of the face-to-face encounter on the border social actors
sometimes try to create mutual understanding and intimacy
in order to arrange a personal deal. The interesting point to
reflect on
is the interconnection of antagonism and mutual trust
involved in face-to-face border interaction.

The workshop would like to bring together contributions on
various forms of
face-to-face relations on international borders including case
studies on
conflictive interaction with state agents, case studies on
smuggling and
bribery on the border, or studies in the reception of illegal
immigrants.

The central dimension of the discussion will focus on the
interaction of
social actors with an antagonistic and conflictive relationship
establishing
proximity through face-to-face contacts in a specific border
context.



Deadline for paper proposals: 1st March 2004
Paper abstract (150-200 words) can be proposed to the Workshop
Convenors:

Dr. Jutta Lauth Bacas, University of Fribourg/Switzerland
email: bacas@otenet.gr

Dr. William Kavanagh, San Pablo-CEU University, Madrid and
Comillas
University, Madrid
email: williamkavanagh@hotmail.com