[URBANTH-L]CFP: Tourism and Consumption in Socialism (Paris)

[Angela Jancius]

Call for Papers: 'Tourism and Consumption in Socialism'
Abstract Deadlines: March 28, 2006

The International Association for the History of Transport, Traffic and
Mobility (T2M) invites proposals for papers to be presented at the Fourth
International Conference on the History of Transport, Traffic and Mobility,
to be held in Paris and Marne-la-Vallée between 28th September and 1st
October 2006. Papers of the panel 'Tourism and Consumption in Socialism'
should address the historical relationship between tourism and transport,
traffic and/or mobility linked to specific characteristic of socialist
systems. Proposals exploring theoretical or methodological issues as well as
those of a more empirical nature are very welcome. In this way we should be
able to analyse the genesis, development and interaction of different
cultures of travel in order to illuminate the various historical meanings of
tourism. For more detailed information on the conference itself, please
follow:  http://www.t2m.org.

The conference language is English (only).The deadline for abstracts and a
short cv (max. 1 page each; Word or rich text format only) is Tuesday 28th
March 2006. Send proposals to wolter_heike at yahoo.de. I will forward all
documents to T2M after designing a concise overview of what the session is
about, why it matters, and how the papers each address the panel's theme.
Notification of acceptance will be sent by 30 April 2006. The full text of
papers accepted must be submitted by 15 July 2006 if they are to be included
on the conference CD-ROM sent in advance to all participants and if they are
to be eligible for T2M Awards. All participants are absolutly required to
register before the 1st September, in order to secure the conference
programme. The socialist societies in Middle and Eastern Europe were not
only ,economics of shortage' (János Kornai). Firstly this means, there were
differences in the dimensions of shortage. Secondly it means, that the
socialist countries developed a specific socialist type of mass consumerism
or consumer culture (Stephan Merl, Ina Merkel). This type does not conform
to John Brewer's six criteria of 'modern or western consumer society' (offer
of a broad variety of goods, sophisticated communications system,
development of distinguishing groups of objects, spheres of taste, of vogues
and of style). Rather it followed a discrete logic that is on the one hand
marked by shortage, but on the other hand characterised by a more or less
apparent imitation of a western understanding of consumerism as well as by
the forming of a specific socialist concept of consume and luxury.

As far as tourism history is considered one aspect of the whole history of
consumption is extracted. Basing either on one case study or on comparative
perspectives, the central questions are: To what extent was tourism a
socio-political task and/or a consumistic desire of the population in
socialist countries and how far did the governance understand tourism as
economic factor? Are there any criteria for a socialist type of consumption?
Which values cause this understanding of tourism?

In the session, the single contributions should result in a vivid exchange
about so far largely unconnected research efforts. Heike Wolter
(wolter_heike at yahoo.de).