IAAB Conference 2018

International Conference on the Iranian Diaspora

September 22-23* | New York University, School of Law

IAAB’s International Conference on the Iranian Diaspora is an innovative forum for academics, journalists, artists, and community leaders to discuss the development, challenges, and needs of our global community.

The first and biggest program of its kind, presenters join IAAB from the Middle East, Europe, Australia, Asia and North America, bringing a truly global perspective to these important conversations.

Call for Presentations

DEADLINE: May 20, 2018*

Through a series of panels, workshops, and presentations, the 2018 IAAB Conference aims to engage a diverse array of academics, community leaders, artists, and members of the global Iranian diaspora. In addition to providing an open environment for productive and interactive dialog on cutting edge research, community programs, and cultural productions, the conference will also serve as an opportunity to build a stronger network of Iranians across our various borders.

*With our humblest apologies for the inconvenience, due to unforeseen staffing changes at NYU, we have decided to reschedule our conference to September 22-23, 2018.  As a result, we have reopened the Call for Presentations. We appreciate your understanding and patience with the change and look forward to seeing you in September.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS

IAAB seeks original research and presentations from any discipline, with emphases on the following areas, in the format of a paper presentation, pre-arranged panel, or workshop:

• Oral and visual histories documenting the diaspora
• Refugee, transmigrant, and undocumented immigration experiences, rights and challenges
• Demographic studies based on recent data (e.g. 2010 U.S. Census, 2011 Canadian Census, etc.)
• Collaboration across and between diaspora and immigrant communities
• The effects of sanctions on Iranians in diaspora
• Cultural production in diaspora (cinema, music, literature, TV, theater, new media, visual and performance art, curation, etc.)
• Fieldwork and case studies on local Iranian communities, particularly those outside the U.S. and in newer destinations (e.g. Malaysia)
• The role of social media and transnational networks in diaspora
• Emerging legal challenges in Iranian communities worldwide
• Second- and third-generation identity negotiations
• Historical analyses of Iranian diaspora communities pre-1979
• Studies of health-related community activism in the Iranian diaspora
• Effects of the global financial crisis on Iranians globally
• Challenging gender, sexuality, and racial taboos in the diaspora
• Innovative approaches to ethnic entrepreneurship and transnational economic networks
• Social work, family dynamics, and community needs-assessments in the Iranian diaspora
• Cutting-edge research in heritage language education
• Transnational politics and impacts of diaspora activism upon both domestic and Iranian issues
• Other topics regarding present conditions, contributions, or challenges faced by Iranians in diaspora

All presentations should be between 10 and 15 minutes in length and may be delivered in either of the conference languages, English and Persian. We encourage submissions of narratives, short films, and personal stories in addition to papers of a more academic nature. With the aim of engaging our diverse diaspora community, preference will be given to submissions that will generate discussion among a multigenerational and multidisciplinary audience comprised of academics, NGO and community leaders, students, artists, and members of the Iranian diaspora and international community.  

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES | DEADLINE: January 22, 2018

All proposals must be submitted along with a short biography (no more than 200 words) via our online form by January 22, 2018.  Please provide all biographical and contact information requested. Proposals without this information will not be considered. Proposals for paper presentations must include an abstract of no more than 350 words in length, submitted using the online submission form. Proposals for workshops must include the goals of the workshop, names and resumes of all workshop leaders (including previous workshops led), and an outline of content. Proposals for pre-arranged panels should consist of no more than 4 presenters and a chair (a panelist may be designated). Each panel member’s abstract must be submitted together with the panel proposal; each of these should be no more than 350 words in length and should be submitted together.

If submitting a short film or other audio-visual material for consideration, please submit a brief description through the online submission form and include a weblink to the material. If the material is not available online, please mail a copy to IAAB's New York office. Please note: submitted material cannot be returned.

IAAB | Attn: 2018 Conference Committee
154 Grand Street, New York, NY 10013 USA

US TRAVEL BAN

Thanks to our current legal challenge against the US Travel Ban, IAABvTrump, speakers from other countries whose proposals are accepted by IAAB are eligible to travel to the United States for the conference. It is our hope that the current legal battle over the Travel Ban does not dissuade community leaders, academics, artists, and other Iranians in diaspora from participating in the IAAB Conference. IAAB receives pro bono legal support from law firms and civil rights organizations committed to ensuring that the IAAB Conference remains an invaluable space for Iranians in diaspora. Our legal battle against the US Travel Ban is ongoing, therefore, we'll update our website if anything changes. 

Please direct any inquiries regarding the Conference to conference@iranianalliances.org.

IAAB is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen the Iranian diaspora community through leadership and educational programming that encourages collaboration and solidarity across various borders and among multiple communities. 

The 2018 IAAB Conference is organized in partnership with Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at NYU.