CRN "Road Map"

Prepared for the network meeting in Geliopark, June 15-17, 2001

From: Andrzej Tymowski

To: All participants in the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) "Identifications"

Introduction

As we embark on this journey of collaborative research — in many respects it is an expedition into uncharted territory — it would be useful, I think, to have a "road map." In this note I will try to provide such a map, a description of the component sections of the CRN and a schedule for upcoming meetings.

Please note that activities in 2002 and 2003 still exist only as intentions. We have not yet planned their dates, locations, programs, or the lists of who will participate. Naturally, these activities will be determined by the results of our work over the coming months.

What is the Collaborative Research Network?

The CRN is an attempt to conduct research on an urgent topic — the role of "identifications" in the making of the modern world — simultaneously by several teams in different areas of the world. Each team is multi-disciplinary and brings American scholars together with their colleagues in other countries in working relationships for a cycle of field research (June 2001-May 2002), for a cycle of analysis and write-up of results (June 2002-summer 2003), and for a summative conference in 2003.

The CRN's founding document "Official and Vernacular Identifications in the Making of the Modern World" outlined a common framework of research questions and methodological approaches for use as a guide. Each team has adapted this general framework of ideas to the interests and experience of its own members, and to the needs of its geographic area.

What makes this the CRN different from a very large research project in which a number of individuals work side-by-side under the umbrella of a single topic is the network functions. The network connections among research teams exist to make possible sustained communication and constant comparative reference. Comparative analysis, sharing of data, and friendly but rigorous mutual critique will be possible at formal network meetings (June 2001. June 2002) and at the conference in 2003, as well as at other less-formal meetings and through Internet correspondence.

It is important to note that the organization of this network is a creative, collegial effort. The excitement of designing a new model of scholarly collaboration is a key motivation to participate in the network. But just like any journey into uncharted territory, it brings with it some measure of uncertainty and risk.

Network structure

The international network consists of five constituent parts: four area-based research teams and ACLS as secretariat and liaison among teams. The structure is nested and interactive, which means that each research team (which may contain several working groups) is welcome to contact and question each other section of the network, as needs or new questions arise.

The four teams are:

France (Peter Sahlins, professor of history, Univ. of California at Berkeley, is the coordinator.) This team has not yet organized a research project.

Russia. (Ronald Grigor Suny, professor of political science, Univ. of Chicago is the convenor of this team.) The initial organizing meeting of "Situating Russia" took place in December 2000 at the Klyazma Center in Moscow. Since then three working groups have formed:

• "Religious Identifications" (Juliet Johnson, professor of political science, Loyola Univ. Chicago, and Marietta Stepaniants, Director of the Oriental Studies Institute, Moscow are the coordinators.) The group has planned a series of meetings and research tasks leading to a conference at which papers will be given in May 2002.

• "Geography and Identification" (Mark Bassin, professor of geography, University College London is the coordinator.) Initial discussions have begun with potential participants in this group.

• "Center-Region Identity" (Ted Hopf, professor of political science, Ohio State Univ., and Vladimir Gelman, professor of political science and sociology, Saint Petersburg European Univ., are the coordinators.) The group has met and planned new research as well as a coordination of work already underway, all of which will be accomplished in contact with the growing community of “regionalisty” in Russia.