Section7 History, Politics and International Relations

Convenors:

Sven Saaler, DIJ, Tokyo
Wolfgang Schwentker, Osaka University

Deadline for abstracts: October 31, 2004

Call for Papers:

The Power of Memory

Recent studies of historical sciences, politics and international relations in Japan have been increasingly affected by issues relating to "memory" – social or collective memory, national memory, minority as well as individual memories, and the respective relationship of these different kinds of memories to each other. Inspired to a large degree by the research of scholars like Maurice Halbwachs, Pierre Nora, Carol Gluck, Aleida and Jan Assmann and others, an increasing amount of theoretical and empirical research is under way, both in Japan and in Japanese Studies worldwide. Especially since Pierre Nora's work on lieux de mémoire has been translated into Japanese, the subject of collective memory is broadly discussed. In a parallel development, research exploring the historical consciousness of the Japanese has surfaced, due to persistent debates on history that have haunted postwar Japanese politics and society.

The political relevance of historical debates and the close relationship of history and politics in Japan become particularly obvious when looking at the transformation or the merger of history into collective memory. There is a lively debate about the question how the past is remembered in the present and what relevance these memories have in the framework of current politics and society. Some instances of this transformation are, among others, the so-called history textbook controversy; discussions about the construction and funding of memorials; debates about the Japanese way of cultural self-assertion. Within the framework of these debates, not only professional historians and political scientists are engaging in the "making and controlling of history", but also novelists, particularly authors of historical fiction, the mass media and court justices. Above all, politicians-turned-historians are aiming to establish a selective historical memory aligned with predefined political objectives. Furthermore, in international relations, the importance of a "correct view" of history as a base for bilateral trust can be hardly underestimated at the present stage, as, for example, the continuing resistance against visits by Japanese politicians to the Yasukuni Shrine clearly demonstrates.

Against the backdrop of such developments, we propose to apply the concept of collective memory to Japan, analyze Japanese approaches to memory, and reconsider postwar Japanese history debates, history education, and historical consciousness from the perspective of memory construction. Taking current Japanese and international debates on "the concept of memory" as a point of departure, a wide range of topics and questions might occur. In applying the concept of collective memory as a major facet of the relation of history, society and politics to Japan, we particularly encourage multidisciplinary approaches that combine methods of historical science and/or political science with methods of other disciplines. Due to the topic's transnational implications and its relevance for the field of international relations, we also strongly suggest comparative approaches or research, keeping in mind the international dimension and/or reactions to Japanese debates on historical memory in other countries.

Suggested Panel Themes

  • Conceptualizing "Social or Collective Memory": Japanese Studies and Interdisciplinarity
  • Memories of Wars, Wars of Memory
  • The Diplomacy of Memory: Japan and its Neighbours
  • Institutions of Memory: Museums, Memorials, Festivals
  • Places of Mourning/ Death Cult
  • Lieux de mémoire, Japanese Style
  • Minority Memories/ Forgotten Memories/ Suppressed Memories/ Invented Memories
  • The Political Use and Abuse of Memory
  • Historical Memory in Premodern Japan
  • Public vs. Private Memories

Submission of abstracts

Proposals for panels, which should consist of 3 presenters (or two presenters and a discussant) and a chair (normally the organizer of the panel), will be treated with priority. Individual paper proposals will be grouped in panels by the convenors. While the focus of the section will be on the topic of "memory", we will also consider off-topic panel proposals. As a rule, no participant should be in more than one session, and she or he should be a member of the EAJS. The total time for each paper, including discussion, shall be 30 minutes.

Please submit an abstract not longer than one page plus the following information: Panel theme and/or themes of presentation(s); name(s) of presenter(s), chair and discussant of panel; contact details (postal address, telephone no. and email-address) of all participants.

Submissions for panels and individual paper proposals must arrive until 31 October 2004.

Submission of proposals should be sent as an e-mail-attachment to the following address only: