Kennan Institute 2005 Title VIII Research Workshop Series: "Religion in Post-Soviet Societies"

The Kennan Institute is pleased to announce a new series of research workshops on "Religion in Post-Soviet Societies." Religious affiliations, identities, and perceptions of the world are experiencing a rapid resurgence in the former Soviet Union. In a post-1991 climate of new state formation, local authoritarianism, concerns over the meanings of democracy and the ethics of the new economy, and—in far too many instances—of poverty and war, religion has emerged as an affiliation and a form of understanding of growing prominence. Religion touches upon all spheres of social, political, and cultural life, and its resurgence profoundly affects the defining and shaping of broader social movements as well as individual behaviors. In a region in flux, questions of religion also relate—though are by no means limited—to issues of national and international security. The Kennan Institute proposes to convene a workshop series that will bring together fifteen practitioners, policymakers, and scholars from various disciplines who study the many issues related to religion in this region.

The Workshop Series is designed to serve as a forum in which scholars from a variety of disciplines can discuss the different aspects of religion and religious affiliation, share research findings, and suggest policy recommendations. Participants in the series will explore the ways in which policymakers and practitioners can utilize the specialized knowledge of academics, while scholars, in turn, can recognize how policy affects their field. The workshop series will be directed by Catherine Wanner (Pennsylvania State University) and Mark Steinberg (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). The series will consist of two or three meetings and target specialists with recent field experience. The first meeting will be held in Fall 2005. Participants will be expected to contribute an original submission to a collection of papers on common themes.

Selection for the workshop series will be based on an open national competition. Participation in the series is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents at the post-doctoral level (pre-tenure) and to Ph.D. candidates who have completed field research for their dissertations. For non-academics, an equivalent degree of professional achievement is expected. The workshop series is interdisciplinary. Any area of social science or humanities research that focuses on issues of religion in the former Soviet Union—contemporary or historical—is welcome. Per diem costs and travel support for workshop participants will be provided by the Kennan Institute.

Interested applicants should submit an abstract (fewer than 1000 words) of their current research, a current CV, and two letters of recommendation to: Religion Workshop, Kennan Institute/Woodrow Wilson Center, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004-3027. Abstracts and resumes may be sent by email to: kennan@wwic.si.edu; recommendation letters must be sent by mail. All application materials must be in English and must be received by 1 March 2005.

The "Religion in Post-Soviet Societies" Workshop Series is supported by the Program of Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII) and the George F. Kennan Fund.

For further information, please contact Erin Trouth at 202-691-4132 or trouthed@wwic.si.edu.