Xenophobia and Alterophobia in Pre-Modern Ottoman Lands
The University of Chicago | October 22-23, 2015
https://cmes.uchicago.edu/news/xenophobia-and-alterophobia-pre-modern-ottoman-lands

A Symposium organized by Hakan T. Karateke (University of Chicago);
Helga Anetshofer (University of Chicago), and Erdem Çıpa (University
of Michigan)

Historians know well that post-nationalist societies are not unique in
nurturing dislike, hostility, or hatred of foreigners and members of
marginalized subcultures. Positioning certain groups against perceived
outsiders or alternative groups within the same society is a salient
feature of bygone societies as well. In fact, it is fair to say that
the distrust of outsiders is an essential condition of society
throughout history.

Recent historical studies on the Ottoman Empire, as well as a
contemporary Turkish political rhetoric that glorifies the Ottoman
enterprise, have lately taken for granted that subjects of the Ottoman
polity flourished under the so-called “Pax Ottomanica.” The widely
accepted view posits that the economic and social stability of the
sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Ottoman Empire made it a safe and
secure environment for a peaceful coexistence. Historical sources,
however, suggest that the social and cultural realities of the Ottoman
era were far more complex. In an effort to fill a major lacuna in the
accepted narratives of Ottoman society, our symposium focuses on two
related themes: xenophobia and alterophobia.

This symposium aims to reconstruct, to the extent possible, the
mind-set of people living in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century
Ottoman lands. Presenters will explore patterns in expressions of
dislike in literature, historiography, and religious texts, but
particularly in those texts that one would classify as “ego
documents,” such as memoirs or otherwise personalized accounts. By
studying a range of historical narratives, we will be able to develop
rare insight into the self-described perceptions of individuals.
Perceptions are necessarily difficult to delineate, and can be open to
multiple interpretations. One needs usually to read carefully between
the lines, sweep through the adjectives used about a group of people,
and compare expressions uttered about various other groups in order to
reconstruct a perception. However, utilizing a range of historical
narratives yields opportunities to identify people’s perceptions which
can become a very useful tool to understand the intricate workings of
bygone societies.

Call for Papers

We encourage historians, literary historians, art historians,
sociologists working with historical data, as well as those who think
that they would bring comparative perspectives to the topic to submit
a proposal for the symposium. Pending funding, round trips to Chicago
and accommodation will be covered by the organizers.
NOTICE: The organizers are determined to collect the developed
articles by February 1, 2016 and prepare the volume for publication as
quickly as possible. Therefore, those who think that they can not
provide an article by that deadline are kindly asked not to apply for
the symposium. Please send your 300-word abstracts to symposium
coordinator Nazlı İpek Hüner by April 15, 2015.