The International Institute (II) will hold a daylong symposium on Friday to examine the future of area studies, an interdisciplinary field of scholarship focused on the study of specific world regions.
Titled “Relevant/Obsolete? Rethinking Area Studies in the U.S. Academy,” the symposium will feature five leading scholars from across the nation. Presenters will discuss the changing relationships between area studies and the disciplines, the future of area studies centers, and the role of area studies in future research, policy and public education agendas. Topics will be presented in a lecture format, followed by prepared responses by a panel of U-M faculty members. Speakers at this year’s symposium include:
• Sugata Bose, Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs, Harvard University
• Michael Kennedy, Howard R. Swearer Director of the Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University
• Gilbert Merkx, vice provost for international affairs, Duke University
• Kevin O’Brien, Alann P. Bedford Professor of Asian Studies and Professor of Political Science, University of California at Berkeley
• Patricia Steinhoff, professor of sociology, University of Hawaii
“The International Institute is pleased to host such an accomplished group of scholars,” says William Glover, assistant director of II. “At many universities across the nation, area studies centers play a definitive role in preparing students to participate in a rapidly changing global community. Taking the time to evaluate the role area studies will play in the future is vital.”
II is a U-M resource on world regions and global themes, tapping the expertise of more than 400 affiliated faculty members from across the campus. In addition, seven of the institute’s centers recently were named recipients of more than $16 million in combined federal grants for their programs to advance international and area studies, foreign languages and international business education.
The symposium is co-sponsored by II’s centers and is free and open to the public. For a complete symposium schedule, including topics, speaker biographies and U-M panelists, go to www.ii.umich.edu.
