[Daviscenter-list] Call for papers: Russia and the Circumpolar World, Apr. 15-19, 2008

The Russian, Central Eurasian and East European Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers invites papers for a keynote session "Russia and the Circumpolar world: transforming nations, contested frontiers" at the AAG Annual Meeting, April 15-19, 2008 in Boston, MA. Contributors from a variety of disciplines, especially those involved with the International Polar Year of 2007-2009, are welcome. Synopsis In the recent years, all Arctic countries quickly moved to re-evaluate the importance of their northern frontiers. Pivotal changes in the Arctic, coincided with the growing mutual interest and competition, require a new look at international issues of economic, political, environmental and social nature in the region. Some of related activities have been started under the auspice of the International Polar Year. This session focuses on economic transformations in the Circumpolar realm, and specifically, on the Russian frontier, as compared to other Arctic countries. We invite papers that analyze the place, role and potential of Russia as the past, present and future actor in the Circumpolar region. Comparative studies of economic, political and social transformations in Russia and other northern countries are also welcome. Please, direct your questions and notes of intent to session organizers Tim Heleniak (University of Maryland) heleniak(a)umd.edu and Andrey Petrov (University of Toronto) andreyn.petrov(a)utoronto.ca by October 1st . Abstracts must be submitted to organizers and to AAG by October 20th. 2007. AAG membership is not required. Conference information is available at http://www.aag.org/annualmeetings/2008/index.htm For information about the Russian, Central Eurasian and East European Specialty Group see www.rceeegeography.org