CFP - Fifth International Conference on Lao Studies: Lao PDR in the ASEAN Context

What: The Fifth International Conference on Lao Studies

When: Friday, 08 July 2016 to Sunday, 10 July 2016

Where: Thammasat University; Bangkok, Thailand

The Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University and the Center for Lao Studies (CLS) are pleased to announce that the Fifth International Conference on Lao Studies (ICLS V) will be held from July 8 to 10, 2016 on the Tha Phrachan campus in Bangkok, Thailand. The main objective of the conference is to promote Lao studies, broadly defined, by providing an international forum for scholars to present and discuss various aspects of Lao Studies. Conference Theme The theme of ICLS V is "Lao PDR in the ASEAN Context," with particular (though not exclusive) emphasis on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). All Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states have committed to creating a region which is highly competitive, equitable in economic development and fully integrated into the global economy. The establishment of the AEC in 2015 will bring enormous opportunities as well as great challenges for the individual member countries in the region, especially for Lao PDR.

Suggested topics for ICLS V include, but are not limited to:

o Laos' trade integration within AEC

o Special economic zones (SEZs)

o Export survival

o Roles of the private and public sectors

o Human resources and effects on local employment

o Migration

o Infrastructure demands

o Balancing development growth and environmental conservation

o Tourism

o Traditional knowledge and cultural expressions in economic development

o Border Trade and culture

o Isan Regionalism

o Rural Development

o Other topics

Submissions for consideration may be individual paper presentations, panels, exhibits, posters, artistic and musical performances, and/or cultural activities. Comparative perspectives are welcome and encouraged.

Please submit abstracts in English before November 30, 2015.

1. Abstracts should be submitted electronically, preferably as a Microsoft word document in an e-mail attachment to ICLS2016@gmail.com (see below for specific instructions regarding preparation of abstracts).

2. The conference committee will review abstracts and send an acceptance letter (via email) in December 2015 with scheduling information and other instructions for submitting final abstract statements and full versions of papers.

3. Abstracts and full versions of conference papers will be collected for distribution on-line.

Abstract preparation guidelines:

INDIVIDUAL PAPER submissions should include the following information: • Title of the paper • Name, institution, address and email address of paper presenter • Abstracts (250 words or less) with identified keywords 

Related conference topic(s) Individual papers will be grouped into panels by the conference committee.

PANEL submissions should include 3 to 4 scholars presenting formal papers and 1 or 2 discussants. Panels will be approximately 75 to 90 minutes. Panel organizers are requested to supply the following information: • Title of the panel • Conference theme(s) related to the panel • Name, institution, address and email of the panel organizer • Name, institution, address and email of each paper presenter • Names, institutions, addresses and email of the panel discussants • Abstract (250 words or less) describing the panel as a whole.

For registration information and updates on the conference, visit the ICLS V website at www.laostudies.org/ICLS