Networks: Europeanist Network

Madrid, 15 October 2007
NEWS FROM THE EUROPEANIST NETWORK

Europeanist Network business meeting: We also need to give some thought to the setting of the agenda for our bi-annual business meeting, to be held in the course of EASA's conference. Please, let us know about issues that you would like to put in the agenda to be discussed during this meeting.
We have not been able to hold a mid-term meeting, as suggested in Bristol we should aim to do, due to lack of adequate funding. However, there will be an occasion for the exchange of views, even if informally, at the end of October in Paris, during a seminar that is to be attended by some members of the network (see below).

Website arrangements: As you may be aware, the new EASA website allows some space for networks to set up their own webpages. Yet, somebody has to take up the responsibility to set up and develop such a webpage, in cooperation with people from Nomad it and EASA's Secretariat in Vienna.
In parallel, there are plans to set up a permanent website and e-mailing list, independent of EASA's website. To this end, one option available to us is the University of Madrid's Campus Virtual. However, alternative options may be pursued if any member/s of the network would like to take the initiative, and make a proposal in this regard.
Is there anyone who would like to volunteer for the task of webmaster (or ‘webweaver' !) to the network's website?

Directory of Members: The Directory of members of the network is also in need of updating and completing. Would you please download the directory form , fill it out and send it to me at abarrera(AT)cps.ucm.es? This is a request addressed specifically to new members of the network; but I would also like to ask those who already sent their profile time ago, please to update it and send it again (just a matter of some cut&paste, and a quick updating of relevant info).
In sum, it is our hope that the coming EASA conference in Ljubljana will mark the consolidation of this network, and a substantial expansion of its activities. To meet these goals we are in dire need of your personal involvement and initiative.

LIT Verlag series on Europeanist Anthropology: We are in talks and negotiations with Dr Veit D. Hopf, general editor of the Ethnologie/Anthropology collections at LIT Verlag publishers, to start a new series on Europeanist Anthropology/Ethnology. This might be a very useful tool for the development of the network's publishing projects. I will keep you updated on the outcome of these talks. Any alternative proposals on the issue would be most welcome.

Wenner-Gren Foundation workshop: A W-G funded workshop will take place in Paris, 25-27 October 2007, on the theme: Anthropology in Europe. Facing the Challenges of European Convergence in Higher Education and in Research. This workshop is meant as a preliminary/planning meeting linked to the proposed endeavour to carry out the mapping and reviewing (a drawing of the ‘state of the art') of the fields of Socio-Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology in Europe. If you would like to have more information on this event, please pay a visit to http://www.u-paris10.fr/dep_ethno by going under 'Actualités' . It goes without saying that if this project does eventually go ahead, it will require the involvement of professional anthropologists, and the institutions they are affiliated to, all over Europe. One issue we may discuss during the Ljubljana's business meeting is in what ways members of the Europeanist network might get involved in the development of the proposed scholarly endeavour.

W-G new Grant Programme: You may have heard of a newly established grant program at the Wenner-Gren Foundation, named “Institutional Development Grants”. The aim of these grants is “to support the growth and development of anthropological doctoral programs in countries where the discipline in underrepresented”. Just take a look at the call and see if your emerging department or institute falls into this category. It is a very good opportunity for getting some substantial funding for the development of your doctoral program http://www.wennergren.org/programs/ .
I will keep waiting for your reactions and suggestions as regards the issues raised above.
Also, please do not forget to send your updated academic profile for the building of a new Directory of Members.
Andrés Barrera-González ,
Head of the Steering Committee,
EASA's Europeanist Network.
 
Wednesday, 20th September 2006, University of Bristol (at the 9th EASA Conference)
Business Meeting of the Europeanist Network
AGENDA
1.- Report from the coordinator and the steering committee
2.- Organizational matters and sharing of responsibilities
3.- Website and e-mailing list
4.- Setting of a priority research agenda on Europe
5.- Specific proposals for collaborative work
6.- Election of a chair and a steering committee
7.- Any other business
We cordially invite all present and likely new members of the network to take active part in this late evening meeting. Once business matters are sorted out, we might continue our meeting informally in the Malinowski Café or in some convenient pub nearby.


Madrid, November 2005
News from the Europeanist network
Since the formal establishment of the network at the beginning of the year, we are planning on convening and holding a large symposium (hopefully in 2007) on the theme: Anthropology in Europe. Facing the challenges of academic convergence and cooperation in higher education and in scientific research . This symposium is meant to appeal to practitioners from the different areas, ‘traditions' and schools of Anthropology; in an effort to recapitulate on this broad discipline's past and present identity and its likely future status, in Europe more specifically. Moreover, the symposium will aim at becoming a forum for debate on the challenges and opportunities the discipline is to face in the establishment of the European Higher Education and Research Areas (the so called Bologna doctrine and policies). In preparing the ground for the symposium, our intention is to appoint a task force with the special commission to research and produce a Report on the Status of Anthropology in Europe . The Report would then be taken as a sort of White Paper or basic document, which to a considerable extent help in framing the symposium's works and debates; as well as being thoroughly scrutinized and discussed in a specific panel during the meeting.
On the occasion of the 9 th EASA Conference (Bristol, September 2006) the Europeanists network will hold its first formal ‘business meeting', where final decisions should be taken in regard to the issues referred to above; as well as all other issues that pertain to the aims and management of the network. On top of these, we endeavour to elaborate and agree on a priority research agenda in the field of the Anthropology of Europe, from which a number of collaborative research projects would eventually spring. We expect that we would be able to produce the first of potential research proposals stemming from the network's agenda by the end of 2006, at about the time when the EU's 7 th Framework Programme will be in place. Apart from the above mentioned ‘business' meeting, members of the network are planning to convene several workshops on Europeanist issues in the framework of the 9th EASA Conference.
The editing of the proceedings or the European Science Foundation's workshop Towards an Anthropology of Europe…, held in Litomysl, Czech Republic, is in progress. A volume is scheduled to appear in 2006; as well as one or maybe two journal's special issues. Work is also being done in setting up a mailing list, as well as an independent website for the network, with link's to EASA's website. We take these as being important tools for communication between members of the network. They are also to become a platform for carrying out all type of exchanges and interactions online, and for the development of the network's projects.
If you would like to have more information about the Europeanists Network or become a member, please contact: Andrés Barrera-González abarrera(AT)cps.ucm.es.
Or alternatively write to any of the members of the Steering Committee. A full list of members of the network, their academic affiliation and e-mail addresses appeared in the previous EASA Newsletter, Nº 39, May 2005.
 
 
 
Madrid, March 2005
News from the Europeanist network
On the occasion of the 8 th EASA Conference in Vienna a decision was taken and made public, at the Member's Forum, to establish a Europeanists Network . And it was granted status as an official network within EASA at a meeting of the Executive Committee following the Conference. All members of EASA who are interested in taking Europe as a frame of reference, for purposes of teaching, research, and professional practice generally, are welcome to join in. With the establishment of this horizontal structure of cooperation we aim at pulling together personal and academic resources, for the benefit of all members. Networks also contribute to enrich and enhance the activities of a professional association such as EASA overall.
The objective of this network of Europeanists is to provide a forum for communication and exchange, and an arena for intellectual and professional debate between members on issues relevant to a region of the World named Europe. It should also be instrumental in identifying new themes in research and teaching, as well as ‘professional niches' of interest to social anthropologists, and in providing a platform for developing in collaboration all sort of projects to deal with these challenges and opportunities.

Network's steering committee
With the aim to set the network firmly on its feet, and steer the boat of this academic venture to a vigorous start, it has been decided to set up a steering committee of seven active members of EASA, who will represent different regions and professional stands, and act in different roles to carry out specific tasks, as follows:

Andrés Barrera , University Complutense of Madrid. General coordination
Magdalena Elchinova , New Bulgarian University. Liaison with Eastern Europe
Peter Skalník , University of Pardubice. Liaison with Western Europe and Scandinavia
Jon P. Mitchell , University of Sussex. Liaison with the Mediterranean area
Sarah Pink , Loughborough University. Liaison with the United Kingdom
Ullrich Kockel , University of the West of England. Liaison with SIEF
Jacqueline Urla, University of Massachusetts. Liaison with SAE (AAA)

Programme of activities
By informal exchanges via e-mail with members of the steering committee and some other network members, we have agreed to start work along the following lines:
Making an initial effort to pass the information about the Europeanists Network object and purpose (within the EASA constituency and beyond) with the aim to recruit new members.
 
Calling the first official meeting of the network at a convenient date and place along 2005 or during the first half of 2006. A thorough discussion should take place during this first meeting on the purposes of the network and on setting the (definitive) agenda for work over the following three or four years.
Developing a policy of collaboration with other networks, working groups or societies in Europe or elsewhere that might have overlapping interests and share common pursuits in general, or at a particular moment in time.
Also at this inaugural meeting we are to take a formal decision about two specific work proposals already on the board:
Firstly , whether network members would want to get involved in the researching and producing of a Report on the Status of Anthropology in Europe. This is a project to be carried out as a ‘commission' from EASA's executive committee; with sponsorship and funding to be obtained from some private foundation or public agency in Europe or elsewhere.
Secondly , whether the Europeanists Network as such (or in collaboration with other networks and/or professional associations) would want to get involved in convening and organising a conference on the theme Anthropology in Europe. Facing the challenges of academic convergence in higher education and in scientific research. The proposal advanced is to hold this conference sometime in 2007, with financial support from EURESCO or other similar European programmes.
At any moment to receive and take into consideration whatever other proposals
come from individuals or groups of network members for the onset of collaborative projects in the areas of teaching, research and professional practice generally, within social anthropology or as part of an interdisciplinary set up, within or outside academic departments.
If you would like to have more information about the Europeanists Network or become a member, please contact: Andrés Barrera-González abarrera(AT)cps.ucm.es.
Or alternatively any of the members of the Steering Committee.
 
 

Vienna, September 2004
Founding Statement of the Europeanist network
 
On the occasion of the 8 th EASA Conference in Vienna a decision was taken to establish a Europeanist Network . The announcement was made at the Members' Forum, where it was granted status as a network within EASA. All members of EASA who are interested in taking Europe as a framework of reference, for purposes of teaching and/or research, are welcome to join in. With the establishment of this horizontal structure of cooperation we aim at pulling personal and academic resources together, for the mutual benefit of all. Networks also contribute to enrich and enhance the activities of a professional association such as EASA overall.
The objective of this network of Europeanists is to provide a forum for communication and an arena for debate between members on issues relevant to this region of the World, Europe. It will also be instrumental in identifying new themes in research and teaching, and in providing a platform for developing in collaboration all sort of projects to deal with them. Practical tasks ahead of us are: to build an e-mail list of members; to set up a webpage as part of EASA's website; to establish links of communication and exchange with other networks or organizations sharing common or overlapping concerns (i.e. AAA's Society for the Anthropology of Europe, EASA's Mediterraneanists network, ASA's or SIEF's relevant committees or working groups). We should also start planning the first of the network's workshop, either on the occasion of the 9 th EASA Conference or before if it is judged convenient.
We invite you to become a member of the network, and to let us know of whatever suggestions you might have as regards its organization.