Conference: “Contested Knowledge in a Connected World”

Connecting Themes Conference

September 16-17, 2021 in Berlin

Event location:
Hotel Berlin, Berlin // Lützowplatz 17 //
10785 Berlin

The conference “Contested Knowledge in a Connected World” brings together researchers from the large-scale research project “Knowledge Unbound: Internationalisation, Networking, Innovation in and by the Max Weber Stiftung”. The project is pursuing the aims of opening up innovative areas of research, strengthening the internationalisation of the foundation’s activity and expanding cooperation between the foundation’s institutes and external partners.

The conference title reflects the project’s fundamental direction: adhering to the precept of pursuing “knowledge unbound”. It focuses on selected research areas – which, in addition to Europe, comprise key regions such as the Near and Middle East, the Pacific region and the former “Eastern Bloc”. By exploring knowledge relationships and practices in various contexts, such as migration, mobility and exclusion, the conference will present multi-faceted perspectives from a truly transregional research project.

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Program

Thursday, September 16, 2021

9:30-10:30	Opening Session/Ceremony Keynote Matthias Hack (BMBF) Elke Seefried (MWS) Herfried Münkler (Keynote address)
10.:30-11:00	Coffee Break
11:00-12:30	Directors’ Discussion Panel “Knowledge Unbound: Multiple Perspectives on a Transregional Research Project/Group” Sandra Dahlke Christina von Hodenberg Simone Lässig Birgit Schäbler Chair: Miloš Řezník
12:30-13:30	Lunch Break (at the venue)
13:30-15:00	Panel “Relations in the Ideoscape: Entanglements of Knowledge between the Middle East and the Eastern Bloc” Discussant/Chair: Birgit Schäbler Mikuláš Pešta: “The World Marxist Review as a Cosmopolitan Space in Socialist Prague: Naim Ashhab and the Middle Eastern Delegates in the Editorial Office of a Global Journal” Zaur Gasimov: “Knowledge, Entanglement and Relationships between Iran and Eastern Europe: The Case of Kaweh Pur Rahnama (1937-2012)” Elmin Aliyev: “Female Militants of ‘Bizim Radyo’ and the Ideological Conflict in the TKP Foreign Bureau in Leipzig” Dorota Woroniecka-Krzyzanowska: “Architecture and Academic Mobilities during the Cold War: The case of Mosul University”
15:00-15:30	Coffee Break
15:30-17:00	Panel “Migration and Exclusion in the Pacific Realm” Chair: Simone Lässig Discussant: Christina Philips Simon Rowedder: “Going down by Road and Rail: Old and New Dynamics of Chinese Overland Migration to Southeast Asia” [pre-recorded presentation] Albert Manke: “Coping with Exclusion: Free Chinese Migrants in the Americas in a Transregional and Diachronic Perspective” Sören Urbansky: “Faces of Fear: A Global History of Anti-Chinese Stereotypes”
17:00-17:15	Short Break
17:15-18:30	Thematic Discussion “Reshaping Gender Norms: The Intersections and Transformations of Gendered Empowerment” Discussant/Chair: Christina von Hodenberg Melike Şahinol / Burak Taşdizen: “Entangled Empowerment: Connecting Shared Hair Transplantation Practices for Men in Turkey and Iran” Jane Freeland: “Empowerment in the Media: Feminism and the West German Press”
19:00	Conference Dinner (restaurant at the venue)

 

 Friday, September 17, 2021

09:00-10:30	Panel “Challenges in the Socialist Ideoscape: Experiences and Perspectives of Middle Eastern Students” Chair/Discussant: Ala Al-Hamarneh Stella Kneifel: “Differing Perspectives within the Ideoscape: Middle Eastern Students in the GDR between Endorsement and Critique of Marxism-Leninism” Olga Nefedova: “Arab Art Students in the USSR in 1959-1979: Ideology and Life Worlds” Constantin Katsakioris: “Algerian Art Students in the Socialist Countries during the Algerian War, 1954-1962” Ekaterina Vasileva: “From Marxism-Leninism to Postcolonialism (avant la lettre): Three Generations of Iraqi Media Students in the USSR”
10:30-11:00	Coffee Break
11:00-12:00	Thematic Discussion “Capitalism in Motion: Practice and Representation” Discussant/Chair: Martin Baumeister Yufei Zhou: “Imagining Capitalism in Early Twentieth Century Japan: The Discourse on the Capitalist Spirit, the Corporation and the Modern Menschentyp” [pre-recorded presentation] Carlo Taviani: “From Merchant Network to Institutions: Genoese Traders between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic (15th-16th centuries)”
12:00-12:15	Short Break
12:15-13:15	Thematic Discussion “Ties That (Un)Bind: The Performativity of Tradition in Knowledge Practices” Discussant/Chair: Katja Rieck Kamyar Nematollahy: “Is This Music Traditional?: A Discussion Around the Notion and Function of Tradition in Iranian Classical Music” Shahrzad Irannejad: “Iranian ‘Traditional’ Medicine: Local Responses to a Global Trend”
13:15-14:15	Lunch Break (at the venue)
14:15-15:45	Panel “Climate and Energy Policy in the Asia-Pacific” Chair: Franz Waldenberger Discussant: Felix Mallin Shaun Lin-Ziqiang: “Sustainability Defence: Nature and Environment in Global City-state Singapore” [pre-recorded presentation] Sarah Beringer: “The California-China Cooperation on Clean Energy and Climate Change: Between Knowledge Exchange and Industrial Policy” Benjamin Beuerle: “Climate Change Relevant Policies and Practices between Russia and the Asia-Pacific: Energy, Traffic, and Transpacific Knowledge Exchange”
15:45-16:15	Coffee Break
16:15-17:00	Presentation Of the Virtual Exhibition: „Forms, Voices, Networks: The Media and the Fight for Women‘s Rights in Germany, India and the UK“ Christina von Hodenberg Maya Caspari Jane Freeland
17:00-18:00	Closing Remarks Martin Baumeister Birgit Schäbler Sebastian Schwecke Franz Waldenberger Richard Wittmann Chair: Johanna Beamish

The hygiene standard is aligned with the German Infection Protection Act and the regulations of the Berlin Senate as well as the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute. Due to the current health situation the participation is only possible upon invitation. For more information please contact Ala Al-Hamarneh (al-hamarneh(at)orient-institut.org).

 

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