Conception| «CESWW» is sponsored by the Harvard Program on Central Asia and the Caucasus |
I. Introduction to «Central Eurasian Studies World Wide»
II. Entrees into Central Eurasian Studies
What's Current in Central Eurasian Studies (the Central-Eurasia-L
announcement archive)
New Scholarship: Dissertations in Central Eurasian
Studies
The Main Periodicals in the Field
Central Eurasian Studies on the World Wide Web
III. The Institutional Dimensions of Central Eurasian Studies
IV. Making Contact: Scholars in the Field
Guide to Scholars of Central Asia
Internet-based Information Exchange (E-mail
Lists, Web, etc.)
For Journalists and Others Seeking Expert Guidance
Employment and Internship Opportunities
Transliteration of Central Eurasian Alphabets
*
The English Spelling of Central Eurasian Terms
*
Use of Central Eurasian Scripts on Your Computer
*
Conversion of Calendar Dates, etc. *
VI. Collaboration in Building This Website
If you Want to Add or Correct Some Information
Areas Where Contributions Are Particularly Needed
at Present
VIII. Synergies
Some Projects of the Harvard Program on Central
Asia Which Are Contributing to This Website
Central-Eurasia-L Announcement List for Central
Asian Studies
Guide to Scholars of Central Asia
Guide to Scholarly Resources for the Study of Central
Asia
* Sections marked with asterisk are still in draft.
NOTE: This site is currently in development. Development of this site will entail a process of feedback and growth which will continue as long as it exists. We hope that you will forgive any shortcomings and join in the effort to improve it.
«Central Eurasian Studies World Wide» is meant to provide a global perspective on Central Asia studies, and to provide a key point of access to highly dispersed resources in this field. It seeks to provide basic information which is useful to both "beginners" and "experts", encompassing all fields of the social sciences and humanities wherever in the world people engage in such study. This site is sponsored by the Harvard Program on Central Asia and the Caucasus, but it is not oriented toward Harvard in particular. Rather, it is meant to be inclusive, and we hope it to grow as a collaborative effort among individuals and institutions as widely as possible.
"Central Eurasia" -- for the purposes of «Central Eurasian Studies World Wide» -- is a not-too-neatly circumscribed domain on the interior of the Asian continent. Much ink has been spilled trying to come up with definitive definitions. Though the domain encompasses great diversity, there is also cultural continuity across the broad region, as well as shared history and contemporary problems. In rough terms, "Central Eurasia" encompasses the region from Iranian Azerbaijan and Turkic/Muslim regions of southern Russia in the west, through northern Afghanistan and southern Siberia, to Tibet and Mongolia in the east.
The rationale for this broad definition is that much of the region shares one or many of the following characteristics:
For a more comprehensive description of the meaning of "Central Eurasia" in our use of the term, see:
"What's
Included in Central Eurasia"
The site is meant to make a contribution to the strengthening of Central Eurasian studies. It will assist students and others newly entering the field to orient themselves, and to develop basic skills and knowledge. It will hopefully also help the field of Central Eurasian studies to become more integrated, building the community of scholarship which is crucial for fostering greater exchange of information and higher scholarly standards. One of the greatest problems that this field faces is the fact that it is dispersed and divided. In most universities and countries, there is an absence of a substantial critical mass of scholars. Furthermore, those studying Central Eurasia typically find themselves on the periphery of other scholarly communities which focus on other regions -- the Islamic world, the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, East Asia, or South Asia. The field of scholarship will inevitably remain fragmented in many ways, but this site will perhaps provide one of the key places where scholars focusing on the disparate dimensions of Central Eurasia can come together to find and share information.
«Central Eurasian Studies World Wide» is meant to be a tool for sharing information, and we will all benefit from the active participation of as many people as possible. We invite anyone who is interested to take an active part in the development of this resource. There is much work to be done and this will require input from distant corners of the world. Please assist in ensuring that your own particular part of the world and scholarly interests are well-represented. In its early development, the site will inevitably be more suggestive than comprehensive in many of its dimensions, and visitors will find sections that are currently unavailable as they are still in draft. Please forgive its shortcomings and oversights -- we shall try to err on the side of being embarrassingly rough and incomplete so as to make information available as much and as early as possible.
All who find the site useful are encouraged to play an active role in improving it, both in its conception and its coverage. If you can contribute a chunk of information, your contribution will be credited to you. If you can provide smaller pieces of information or corrections, this will also be tremendously appreciated. To make this resource truly global, it will be necessary to seek to overcome imbalances resulting from "where we sit", what languages we use, and differential access to technology. To do this requires input different perspectives and parts of the world. How this process will proceed remains to be seen, and it will be something of an adventure to watch how the new technology of computer communication makes possible new kinds of collaboration and new ways of building and sharing information. So we need both your information and your imagination....
In its design, this website is above all meant to be simple and comprehensible, so that access to it from all corners of the world and with all types of technology will be as quick and easy as possible. It is also meant to be comprehensive and even-handed; resources are included inasmuch as they contribute something to the field, without any assessment or endorsement of the view-points they may represent. The site provides:
This web site is not primarily oriented toward providing access to Internet-based resources. Though wherever possible we seek to provide weblinks to information sources, much of the relevant information is only accessible by other means, and we are dedicated to providing this information equally.
In order to make access to the site easier for users in all parts of the world,
we have avoided using graphics, complex functions and programming code and complicated
tables. We initially avoided using frames, as some users may have older
browsers, but they have been adopted because they greatly enhance functionality
for a multi-lingual and richly interlinked site. If you encounter problems
in using the site, we would be grateful if you bring this to our attention (CESWW
fas.harvard.edu).
Funding and assistance for this project have come from more sources than we can mention, but here are the main ones.
One
of the best ways to see what is current in Central Eurasian studies world-wide
is to subscribe
to the Central-Eurasia-L Announcement List, or to visit the archive
of earlier announcements (updated once every couple of weeks). The archive
has the following departments:
Publications
and Publication Opportunities
While the days have not yet come when you can do all your reading -- or even your best scholarly reading -- on the Internet, what we offer here includes:
Some
reading lists that people have compiled and posted to the web, linked here (*
now being drafted)
A
short list of recent books aimed at orienting you in literature in the field
(suggestions of additions are welcome)
The
Central-Eurasia-L Archive of announcements of new publications
Some
sources of reviews of new literature: So far, just one link to H-Net
Reviews
In Future: We will provide here listings of recent literature on particular topics and in particular languages. If you send us such topical bibliographies, we will credit you for their inclusion here.
The Dissertations
in Central Eurasian Studies pages provide a listing of recent disserations
from throughout the world. This is a way to find out the newest work from
innovative young scholars.
This section is in draft. It will consist of a bibliography of the reference sources, such as encyclopedias and bibliographies.
Periodicals
Published in English, French & German
Periodicals
Published in the Soviet Union and Its Successor States
Periodicals
in Persian (* now being drafted)
Periodicals
in Turkish (* now being drafted)
Periodicals
in Chinese (* now being drafted)
Others:
If you wish to submit listings of periodicals in a specific category, this is
most welcome.
Some
web links to Periodicals available on-line, and the websites of other periodicals
(usually providing the contents of recent issues)
Listings
of Bookshops related to this field in various parts of the world (* now being
drafted)
Throughout this website there are links to various institutions and resources in Central Eurasian studies, but we are not attempting to provide a comprehensive listing of links to related websites. This task is being pursued by a great many individuals and institutions out there, and there is no point in repeating their effort. (We can only revere their efforts, since keeping up on the very changeable world of the web is a very difficult task). Meanwhile, we offer here a few good starting points out onto the web of sites relevant to Central Eurasian studies.
A comprehensive
list of web links to University-based
programs which cover Central Eurasia (or parts of it)
A comprehensive
list of contact information for all University Programs in the
Former Soviet
Union and in other
countries (mostly not having websites). This is part of the work-in-progress
of the Guide to Scholarly
Resources for the Study of Central Asia. Please help
to ensure that this list is complete, as we in the process of sending
out questionnaires to all institutions to gather information on their activities.
We offer a form for you
to send us contact information about your institution or other institutions
that you think shouldn't be missed, as well as a comprehensive
questionnaire to submit full information if you can do this (we'll be very
grateful, as will those who use this reference source).
A listing
of programs where one may study the languages of the region -- Turkic, Iranian,
Caucasian, Tibetan, Mongolian, etc.
Some
information on language study materials (* now being drafted)
A comprehensive
list of web links to Research
Institutions which support the study of Central Eurasia.
A comprehensive
list of contact information for all Research Institutions in the
Former Soviet Union
and in other countries
(mostly not having websites). This is part of the work-in-progress of
the Guide to Scholarly
Resources for the Study of Central Asia. Please help
to ensure that this list is complete, as we in the process of sending
out questionnaires to all institutions to gather information on their activities.
We offer a form for you
to send us contact information about your institution or other institutions
that you think shouldn't be missed, as well as a comprehensive
questionnaire to submit full information if you can do this (we'll be very
grateful, as will those who use this reference source).
A comprehensive list of contact information for Archives (* now being drafted).
A comprehensive
list of web links to Libraries
which support the study of Central Eurasia.
A comprehensive
list of contact information for all Archives in the Former
Soviet Union and in other
countries (mostly not having websites). This is part of the work-in-progress
of the Guide to Scholarly
Resources for the Study of Central Asia. Please help
to ensure that this list is complete, as we in the process of sending
out questionnaires to all institutions to gather information on their activities.
We offer a form for you
to send us contact information about your institution or other institutions
that you think shouldn't be missed, as well as a comprehensive
questionnaire to submit full information if you can do this (we'll be very
grateful, as will those who use this reference source).
A comprehensive
list of web links to Scholarly
Associations which support the study of Central Eurasia.
A comprehensive
list of contact information for all Scholarly Associations in
the Former Soviet Union
and in other countries (mostly
not having websites). This is part of the work-in-progress of the Guide
to Scholarly Resources for the Study of Central Asia. Please
help to ensure that this list is complete, as we in the process of sending
out questionnaires to all institutions to gather information on their activities.
We offer a form for you
to send us contact information about your institution or other institutions
that you think shouldn't be missed, as well as a comprehensive
questionnaire to submit full information if you can do this (we'll be very
grateful, as will those who use this reference source).
A list
of the main conferences
relevant for the field, which meet regularly on a yearly or less frequent basis.
The
archive of conferences posted
to the Central-Eurasia-L Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies
A comprehensive
list of web links to Grant
Organizations which support the study of Central Eurasia
The
archive of Grant Opportunities
posted to the Central-Eurasia-L Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies.
The Guide to Scholars of Central Asia provides key information on the majority of scholars in Central Eurasian studies.
Ordering
the Guide (1995 edition)
Submitting
your data for the new edition of the Guide (publication due
in Spring 2000)
The
Guide database on-line at the IREX website (coming soon *)
Newsgroups
(* now being drafted)
Search
the Experts Directory for
people who can provide information, analysis and guidance on topics related
to Central Eurasia. NOTE: Currently, we are gathering information on people
to include. Submit your information if you should be included. Come
back soon as the increasing data will be made available.
The
Jobs Archive of the Central-Eurasia-L
Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies
The
Internships Archive of the
Central-Eurasia-L Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies
The
Academic
Jobs posting site at Indiana University, Russian & East European Studies
The
Non-Academic
Jobs posting site at Indiana University, Russian & East European Studies
Contacting
embassies for visa and related information
Transliteration systems for Central Eurasian languages; the spellings of Central Eurasian names in English; developing standards for transliteration of Central Eurasian language, etc.
Additional
resources to be added as «CESWW» is further developed.
If you
would like to contact us for any reason, please write to: <CESWWfas.harvard.edu>.
We would be particularly grateful for notes on any problems or shortcomings
you may find.
We want
to form an international and multi-disciplinary editorial board to ensure that
«Central Eurasian Studies World Wide» has broad coverage.
The commitment will entail simply providing input to extent that you are able.
Participants need have not specific credentials -- only a willingness and ability
to provide useful input. If you are interested in participating in this,
please let us know, at: <CESWWfas.harvard.edu>
We welcome information sent by e-mail to <CESWWfas.harvard.edu>,
or by regular mail to: Harvard Program on Central Asia and the Caucasus, 625
Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, U.S.A.
You may also submit information via on-line forms:
Scholars
(for inclusion in the Guide to Scholars of Central Asia, revised edition)
Join
our e-mail announcement list - Central-Eurasia-L
(for announcements on Central Eurasian studies world-wide)
Submit
information on Archives (coming soon *)
Submit
information on Libraries
Submit
information on Research/Scholarly
Institutions
Submit
Contact
Information on Scholars -- help ensure that your colleagues are included
-- or Full
Information on Yourself (for the Guide to Scholars of Central Asia)
We are currently involved in the following projects for which all possible assistance will be appreciated:
Guide
to Scholars of Central Asia
Guide
to Scholarly Resources for the Study of Central Asia
Language
Program Listings -- Gathering information on available programs for study
of languages of this region
Suggested
Readings -- Putting together reading lists for coverage of specific countries
and fields of study
In general, your contributions which further the following goals are requested:
International
Coverage: Assistance in filling gaps in coverage Central Eurasian studies
in particular countries or regions.
Inter-Disciplinary
Coverage: Better representing all field of the Humanities and Social Sciences.
Regional
Coverage: Better representing the study of all the various regions of Central
Eurasia.
Effectiveness
of Presentation: Any suggestions on how «Central Eurasian Studies
World Wide» may better gather and convey the information.
All suggestions are welcome: <CESWWfas.harvard.edu>
The «Central Eurasian Studies World Wide» website consists of:
A menu
system, with major headings at the top and sub-menus on the left of your screen
The
"Front Page" (this page), summarizes the main resources on one page,
with links other pages
Many
discrete units, including, for example, the Central
Eurasia Experts Directory
Many
ways to become involved, including participation in listservers
and building this site
Site
map, and a search function to
help you find what you are looking for
See
a Site Map for a overview of
the site.
Index
to scholarly institutions by country
Index
of Members of the Central Eurasian Studies Society
Other
indexes will be available as the site is further developed.
Subscribing to Central-Eurasia-L
Obtaining copies of the 1st edition of the Guide.
Submitting information for the revised edition of the Guide.
We make available here much of the preliminary information which we are using in compiling the Guide to Scholarly Resources. We also appeal for assistance in gathering key information so that the Guide will be as complete as possible. Eventually much of the Guide's key reference information will be available through «Central Eurasian Studies World Wide».
We highlight and link key partners who together form a key network of resources and information sources for the study of Central Eurasia. See a list of our partners (to be supplemented soon).
| Go to «Central
Eurasian Studies World Wide» Front Page |
| Contact us at: CESWWfas.harvard.edu
|
| «CESWW» is sponsored by the Harvard
Program on Central Asia and the Caucasus |