(U N) B O U N D I N G  T R A D I T I O N :

The Tensions of Borders and Regions

Eighth Conference of the International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments

The theme of the Eighth IASTE Conference is [Un]Bounding Tradition: The Tensions of Borders and Regions. The goal of this conference is to push the boundaries of the study of traditions, which has for the most part been grounded in neatly bounded regions defined by the academy, by regional genres of research or by the boundaries of separate disciplines.

The current moment of globalization, however, necessitates and provokes a remapping of such intellectual cartographies. The study of tradition, which has till recently been bounded by preordained geographical regions and accompanied by a belief in the inherent stasis of the "traditional" condition, has been challenged by the contemporary processes of migration, diasporas and hybrid cultures. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that despite porous borders and shape-shifting regions, despite e-freedom and e-trade, social and spatial fixities continue to intensify.

In a world bearing the premise of global citizenship, the legacy of political borders — and thus of identities — is creating unprecedented tensions between groups of people, which is manifested in practices of exclusion, segregation and conflict. But the border has always had a dual role, which, while defining the "other," has simultaneously validated the self. It is not surprising that the very borders which once served to exclude and differentiate have now reemerged as celebrated icons of cultural overlap and political mediation.

IASTE’s Eighth Conference in Hong Kong, brings together over 130 scholars from a variety of disciplines to address these issues by presenting papers structured around three broad themes: Reconfiguring Regions, The Space of Borders and The Tensions of Ethnicity and Hybridity.

We would like to thank our principal sponsors in Hong Kong, the Lord Wilson Heritage Trust, the Department of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong, and the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley.

We hope that you will all find this year's conference in Hong Kong a rewarding experience.
 

Nezar AlSayyad                                                                        David Lung
Conference Director                                                                     Local Conference Director
 

CONFERENCE PROGRAM
To view an outline of our final conference program please refer to our  2002 Conference Program.
 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Interested scholars who wish to register for the conference should send a request with name, affiliation, and mailing address.  Payment should be in U.S. dollars in the form of check, money order, or international bank draft in the amount of $375.00 made payable to University of California Regents.  All conference presenters must register.  Registration fees do not cover the expenses of travel and accommodations.  For more information, contact: