Irish Association for American Studies Annual Conference
28-29 April 2017
Belfast Campus, Ulster University, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Call for Papers

In 2013, Timothy Garton Ash wrote an opinion piece for The Guardian which stated that: ‘The world no longer needs to discover America; but America urgently needs to discover the world’s view of America.’ Garton Ash was writing about the US budget crisis but three years on, as the new Administration-Elect readies itself to take over the White House, the  IAAS wonders if the America the world thought it knew ever really existed. This year’s conference will challenge us to re-discover and re-engage with America – explore the changing political and cultural landscape, uncover previously unheard voices, challenge conventional wisdom, and examine the role of the academic in a post-factual world. This conference represents a unique opportunity to reorient American Studies, both in Ireland and beyond.

With this in mind, we seek papers on any topic relating to the study of America. IAAS conferences are wide-ranging interdisciplinary events and we are particularly keen to see this represented in the variety of topics discussed. While there is no strict theme, we do also hope to offer a strand that will honour the varied interests of our former Treasurer, IAAS stalwart, and former lecturer at Ulster University Tony Emmerson, who sadly passed away in 2014. Papers relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Churchill and America, the American West, trains and transport will be happily considered.

Proposals for individual papers or full panels are welcomed. Submissions should include:

• A title
• 250 word abstract for each paper submitted
• Email contacts for each presenter
• Proposals must be submitted as Word documents

Please send proposals to conference@iaas.ie by 19 January 2017