CFP Comm & Democracy: Critical Race Theory

“Publication

Call for submissions to a special issue of Communication and Democracy on Critical Race Theory. Deadline for full papers: 15 January 2025.

Guest Editors: Danielle Hodge (University of Colorado) and Karma Chávez (University of Texas).

In 1995, critical race scholar Derrick Bell asked a pointed question of the legal critics of the time: “Who’s afraid of critical race theory?” Interrogating the ways critical race theory (CRT) was reduced to a discipline of “deficiencies,” Bell articulated CRT as an epistemology concerned with the racialization of law, power, and policy that demanded a process of radical assessment. Rearticulated as the “perfect villain” (Wallace-Wells, 2021) and a “divisive concept” (Vought, 2020) twenty-five years later, CRT has since been subject to an onslaught of nationwide assaults that seek to ban its teaching and discussion in both K-12 and higher education contexts. These bans have detrimental implications for free speech, academic freedom, and the possibility for a healthy democracy as they limit what can be taught, learned, and discussed about US history, race and racism, and the contemporary political sphere. Understanding and intervening in these attacks is thus of vital importance for scholars of communication and democracy.

Consequently, in this special issue, the editors ask: Who’s STILL afraid of critical race theory? They seek a venue to respond to the persistent attacks against non-white, but specifically, African American and Black thought, bodies, and lives. Importantly, we are concerned with how these intellectual ambushes are inextricable from broader attacks on democracy that CRT helps to explain. In other words, how do we understand CRT as a sociocultural and political lightning rod that has exposed a democratic and communicative crisis?

Bell (1995) reminds us that “at a time of crisis, critics serve as reminders that we are being heard, if not always appreciated” (p. 908). Yet, in the face of so many attacks, the lack of being heard, let alone appreciated, is palpable. This special issue seeks to bring scholars together to be heard and to lay out an agenda for the relevance of CRT in the field of Communication.

CFP Journal of Family Communication: Global Families

“PublicationCall for submissions for a special issue of the Journal of Family Communication on Communication in Global Families Deadline for abstract: 15 October 2024; deadline for full manuscripts: 1 January 2025.

Special issue editors: Haley Kranstuber Horstman (University of Missouri) and Meng Li (Loyola Marymount University)

The purpose of this special issue is to spotlight scholarship on communication in global families. The editors seek research on family communication that 1) demonstrates global diversities in communication within and about the family and/or 2) reveals the impact of globalization (i.e., the movement of people, ideas, images, capital, goods, and risks on a global scale) on family communication. They call for research that would continue the efforts of the Journal of Family Communication to increase the diversity and inclusivity of family communication scholarship, which has primarily focused on families in the United States.

This special issue will celebrate and encourage current momentum in research on communication in global families. Diverse methodological approaches and innovative theoretical perspectives that reflect the complexities and diversities of communication in global families will be included. The editors encourage researchers from a wide range of fields (e.g., communication studies, ethnic studies, family studies, health fields, psychology, sociology, and women’s and gender studies) to submit. They seek two types of papers: data-based and critical reflections.

CFP: Potential Expert Groups (part 2)

About CID A week ago the Center for Intercultural Dialogue called for expressions of interest in expert groups. Thanks to all who sent in their suggestions!

As a reminder, the major goal of having expert groups is to help make connections between followers of the Center. At present, 251 of the nearly 4500 people who follow on one social media platform or another have profiles on the site. As a result, it can be difficult to first, learn who shares your interests, and second, connect with them in some meaningful way. At the moment, we are assuming initial connections would be conversations held on Zoom, for an average of an hour at a time, but final decisions about meetings should be made by members of each group.

Here are topics already proposed. Please think about which would fit best with your own interests.

  1. Media and intercultural families/intergenerational cross-cultural relationships.
  2. The civic imagination and bridging divides.
  3. Fine arts and intercultural dialogue/the role of art in memory’s construction.
  4. Youth in the cultural and creative sector.
  5. Impacts of digital transformation on intergenerational cultural exchange.
  6. The 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026 – reflections upon multiculturalism and multiracialism as part of the US cultural identity.
  7. International migration/migrant integration – specifically, issues of migrant wellbeing related to student mobility and highly skilled migrants.
  8. Critical approaches to intercultural communication in the context of study abroad.
  9. From intercultural to inter-epistemic competence in the global south EFL education
  10. Culture’s role in shifting and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
  11. Promoting intercultural understanding through education for global citizenship.
  12. Gaps and barriers between policy approaches and implementation mechanisms for social inclusion.
  13. Exploring trainable communication techniques that can enhance human connection, especially across cultures.
  14. Innovations in dialogue design for intercultural communication.
  15. Future of tech in intercultural communication.

In addition, there were several requests to establish geographic groups:

  1. Africa-Europe relations
  2. Latin American cultural studies
  3. Caribbean cultural studies
  4. American cultural studies
  5. Central and Eastern European studies

If you are interested in participating in one or more of these groups, please email (intercult.dialogue@gmail.com) us the following:

  • Which of these topics do you want to join? (You may express interest in several, but will be put into whatever group attracts sufficient interest to be established in this first round.)

  • Within a topic, is there a specific issue you would most like to discuss? Or a specific action you think it might take (perhaps organizing a conference panel, a journal special issue, or an in-person meeting)?

  • Would you be willing to serve as a moderator if asked?

  • Tell us a little about yourself. If you already have a profile on the Center’s website, please check to see that it is current, and if not, please send us updates. If you do not yet have a profile, look at what others have included in theirs, and send us comparable information, as everyone who participates in at least one activity of an expert group will be granted a profile.

Please send in your answers by 7 October 2024 if you wish to participate in the first groups established (there likely will be additional opportunities to participate in the future).

We will start with just a few groups, depending on interest, and they will need to be of manageable size, so it is possible that you will not initially be asked to participate in one.

San Francisco Bay U: Assistant Provost for International Programs (USA)

“JobAssistant Provost for International Programs, San Francisco Bay University, Fremont, CA, USA. Deadline: open until filled (posted 25 September 2024).

San Francisco Bay University is seeking a dynamic and dedicated Assistant Provost for International Programs to develop and support the business operations, design, and delivery of remote educational offerings to students still residing in their country of origin. This is a full-time, remote, staff position, reporting to the Provost, that offers an exciting opportunity to help transform higher education. Through the cultivation, development, and management of innovative partnerships and other entrepreneurial ventures, the Assistant Provost for International Programs will seek, evaluate, and execute growth in new markets of educational opportunity through which SFBU can have an impact by delivering high-quality degree offerings. This is a 12-month contract renewable contingent upon performance review. Work location is remote, with period travel required.

Seeds of Peace: US Director of Dialogue & Training (USA)

“JobUS Director of Dialogue, Seeds of Peace, New York, USA (other offices in UK and Israel). Deadline: open until filled (posted 17 September 2024).

​​Seeds of Peace is in search of a United States Director of Dialogue and Training to design and deliver engaging training programs that enable educators and others to create constructive spaces for dialogue across lines of difference. This person will bring a deep expertise to their work to create and deliver meaningful dialogue and training programs. The ideal candidate will foster a culture of connection, inspire and motivate training participants, and design and execute impactful programming. The US Director of Dialogue and Trainings will be responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing training programs and dialogue initiatives across key locations in the US, in consult with our Director of Multinational Dialogue Programs. This role requires deep understanding of adult learning principles, experience facilitating dialogue across lines of difference, and effective facilitation strategies. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in creating impactful dialogue and training programs specifically in schools and organizations.

U Tübingen: Postdoc in Peace & Conflict Studies/International Relations (Germany)

Postdocs

PostDoc Position in Peace and Conflict Studies/International Relations, Universität Tübingen, Germany. Deadline: 18 October 2024.

The Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Political Science, University of Tuebingen is seeking to fill one vacancy in the research cluster on Peace and Conflict Studies/International Relations from 1 February 2025 one PostDoc Position in the area of Peace and Conflict Studies. The PostDoc will contribute to research within the areas of conflict analysis and post-conflict peace building. S/he will also be given the opportunity to develop and pursue her independent research and contribute to teaching. The teaching load is 4 hours per semester and includes introductory modules in International Relations as well as seminars in conflict research and quantitative methods. The successful applicant will be expected to contribute to the administration of the research cluster.

Smithsonian Institution Fellowships 2024 (USA)

FellowshipsThe Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Deadline: 15 October 2024.

The Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program offers opportunities for independent research or study related to Smithsonian collections, facilities, and/or research interests of the Institution and its staff. Fellowships are offered to graduate students and predoctoral students as well as postdoctoral and senior investigators to conduct independent research and to utilize the resources of the Institution with members of the Smithsonian professional research staff serving as advisors and hosts.

Parts of the Smithsonian that might be of specific interest to CID followers include: Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Office of International Relations, and there are Fulbright-Smithsonian Awards for those outside the US to travel to work with the Smithsonian collections.

IMéRA Fellowships 2025-6 (France)

Fellowships

IMéRA Core Fellowships 2025-6, IMéRA Institute for Advanced Study at Aix-Marseille University, France. Deadline: 21 October 2024.

In collaboration with its partners, Imera is offering 9 residency positions for periods of 5 or 10 months, dedicated to scientists and/or artists. These positions are distributed across four programs developed within Iméra: “Arts &Sciences: Undisciplined Knowledge,” “Interdisciplinary Explorations,” “Mediterranean,” and”Necessary Utopias.”

Prerequisites common to all available fellowships and that must be taken into account before the eligibility criteria specific to each fellowship include:

  • An active knowledge of French and/or English (written and spoken) is essential. Linguistic skills in both languages are desirable due to the bilingual context of Iméra.

  • Candidates commit to participating in the scheduled activities with other residents and the Iméra scientific team. The Community Building Seminar (CBS) is one of the central activities, held each week (all day Thursday). The time investment amounts to one day per week in total.

  • In the interest of research internationalization, just as the local scientific and cultural community should benefit from the methodological traditions brought by the residents, the latter should also benefit from the numerous expertise present on site, where most disciplines are represented. For these reasons, candidates must be based abroad and submit a project that maximizes the resources available on-site (around a hundred laboratories, various archives, a vibrant cultural and associative life, etc.). It is highly recommended to identify key local resources related to the research theme beforehand, mention them in the project, and outline the envisioned modes of collaboration.

CFP PhD Research about Translation (Spain)

ConferencesCall for Papers: International Conference on PhD Research about Translation, Universidad Complutense Madrid, Spain, 13-14 March 2025. Deadline: 15 October 2024.

This second edition of the conference continues focusing on doctoral research in the field of translation, as well as providing a forum for exchanging ideas and improving together. Part of the formative activities in the scope of the PhD programs in Literary Studies and Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, this event is organized by the PhD students of these programs. This conference is supported by the Department of Linguistics, and Arabic, Basque and East Asian Studies, the Department of Romance, French, Italian and Translation Studies, as well as the Vice-Deanery for Research and PhD Studies of the Faculty of Philology of the Complutense University. This encounter is geared towards PhD and Master students and the people who have recently defended their thesis (within the last three years). Speakers will have the opportunity to present one of their own Translation and Interpreting Studies monographs or literary translations published in the timeframe from 2023 to 2025 during the days of the conference. In addition to promoting current research in the field of translation, organizers want to offer a safe space for getting to know each other and learn from each other.

The conference welcomes contributions both in Spanish and English.

CFP: Starting Expert Group Discussions on ICD Topics

About CIDThe Center for Intercultural Dialogue is interested in organizing several expert groups, which will hold discussions and facilitate collaborations.

The major goal of having expert groups is to help make connections between followers of the Center. At present, 251 researchers and practitioners have profiles on the site, but that is only a small percentage of the total who follow on one social media platform or another. Specifically, there are 4,491 followers as of today (1,527 on WordPress directly, 2,109 on Facebook, 696 on LinkedIn, and 159 on YouTube). As a result, it can be difficult to first, learn who shares your interests, and second, connect with them in some meaningful way.

At the moment, we are assuming initial connections would be conversations held on zoom, for an average of an hour at a time, but final decisions about meetings should be made by members of each group. If you are interested in suggesting one, and/or participating in one, please email us the following:

  • What is the topic of a group you would most want to join? (You may name up to three, but only participate in one, at least initially.) Think of a topic related to your current interests, that would benefit your current endeavors, or something about which you are passionate.

  • Within that topic, is there a specific issue you would most like to discuss? Or a specific action you think it might take (perhaps organizing a conference panel, a journal special issue, or an in-person meeting)?

  • Would you be willing to serve as a moderator if asked?

  • Tell us a little about yourself. If you are one of the 251 people who have a profile on the Center’s website, please check to see that yours is current, and if not, please send us updates. If you do not yet have a profile, look at what others have included in theirs, and send us comparable information, as everyone who participates in at least one activity of an expert group will be granted a profile.

Please send in your answers by 30 September 2024 for the first round (there will be additional opportunities to participate in the future).

We will start with just a few groups, and they will need to be of manageable size, so it is possible that you will not initially be asked to participate in one.