[Call for Papers] Memory and the Margins: Plural Narratives and Transborder Commemoration of WWII in China
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, we cordially invite you to participate in the special workshop on WWII Commemoration in China, to be held from August 27-29, 2025, at the Centre for China Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. This workshop aims to explore the diverse and contested memories of WWII in China, including perspectives from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the broader transnational Chinese diaspora. This workshop moves beyond state-centered approaches to examine how non-state actors, civil society groups, and digital media participate in shaping war memory. We welcome interdisciplinary perspectives that reframe the study of WWII commemoration in China, integrating themes of gender, nationalism, and death rituals. We particularly encourage comparative approaches that highlight transnational connections in commemorative practices. The workshop closely examines the intricate relationship between the past and the present in recollecting human suffering during wartime, exploring the multifaceted connections between morality, gender, politics, conflict, and society.
Participants will enhance their critical analysis skills for evaluating the production and dissemination of war memories, while also fostering networking opportunities among researchers in relevant fields.
We encourage interdisciplinary approaches and welcome early-career scholars and Ph.D. candidates in their later stages from anthropology, history, cultural studies, gender studies, and related disciplines to contribute to these discussions.
[Workshop Organizer]
Dr. Jacqueline Zhenru LIN, Centre for China Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
[Workshop Coordinator]
Ms. Jiaxin HAO, Centre for China Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
[Key Themes]
We invite papers that engage with, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Transnational war memory
- Grassroots commemoration
- Digital Memory and WWII in China
- War memory, nationalism and political identity
- Masculinity, mourning rituals and gendered experiences
- The ethics of war remains
- Science, trauma, and the reconstruction of wartime deaths
- Tourism, place-making, and identity at war heritage sites
- Pandemic and commemoration
[Workshop Outcome]
Accepted papers will be considered for an edited volume on WWII commemoration in China and East Asia.
[Submission Guidelines & Important Dates]
Abstract Submission Deadline: 25 May, 2025 (200-250 words)
Notification of Acceptance: 5 June, 2025
Full Paper Submission Deadline: 10 August, 2025 (Paper word limit: 6,000-8,000)
Workshop Dates: 27-29 August, 2025
Travel bursaries and accommodation subsidies are available for those without funding. Please submit your abstract along with a short bio (100-150 words) and contact details to jiaxin.hao@link.cuhk.edu.hk with the subject line: WWII Memory Workshop Submission. For inquiries, please contact Jiaxin Hao at jiaxin.hao@link.cuhk.edu.hk.
