CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
The American Institute for Indonesian Studies (AIFIS), in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU) Asian Studies Center, will hold the 5th annual AIFIS-MSU Conference on Indonesian Studies from June 17 - 21, 2025.
This year’s conference explores the theme “Indonesia in Motion: Aspirations and Apprehensions” to examine the intersections of precarity, resilience, and transformation in Indonesia and beyond. Building from last year’s focus on Indonesia’s global ascendance, our theme this year highlights uncertainties prompted by emerging trends in all aspects of life in Indonesia, past, present, and future. The conference considers the shared hopes and anxieties shaping the experiences of Indonesian and global communities.
Central to this year’s theme is the duality of volatility and potential for change. We highlight national and local, formal and informal institutional initiatives aimed at fostering resilience and ensuring the well being of Indonesia and the Indonesian people. Through interdisciplinary conversations, the conference seeks to illuminate pathways forward, emphasizing collective action and shared resources to navigate an era of uncertainty. Join us as we reflect on the tensions and possibilities of a world in motion and envision futures shaped by both aspiration and apprehension. Proposals for panels and presentations engaging with this theme or on any other theme focusing on Indonesia and its place in the world are welcomed. Abstracts are accepted in Indonesian and English.
Deadline for the submission of Abstracts: Friday, February 28, 11:59pm ET
Types of Proposals Accepted:*
Organized Panel Session (Group Submission): This is the preferred format for submission of research for the conference. A group of presenters may propose a panel session of 3 or 4 separate paper presentations based on work that shares a set of common themes, issues, or research questions. Organized panel sessions are 90 minutes long. Panel organizers should identify a chair and a discussant in the proposal submission. The organizers encourage panels with presenters from different countries, gender, ethnic, and institutional balance and a combination of junior and senior scholars. Panel submission includes a panel abstract of up to 300 words, and individual paper abstracts of up to 300 words.
Roundtable Session (Group Submission): Roundtable sessions are intended to foster connections and substantive exchanges among a community of researchers and practitioners on a collaborative project, or a particular issue with implications on research and policy. The roundtable sessions are 90 minutes long and feature up to 4 presentations on the roundtable topic. As such, the presentations do not have individual separate titles. Roundtable organizers should identify a chair who will moderate the discussion. The roundtable session submission includes a brief description of the intended discussion for the roundtable of up to 300 words, and a preliminary list of invited participants (including name, affiliation, and contact information), who must also register for the conference.
Paper Presentation (Individual/Co-authored Submission): Individuals and co-authors are invited to submit abstracts for paper presentations. The conference organizers will form panels based on accepted abstracts submitted under this category. The panel sessions are 90 minutes long with a maximum of 4 live paper presentations (15 minutes each), followed by a discussion. Co-authored papers are given the same 15-minute time allotment as individual papers. A session chair will moderate and monitor time. Presenters are encouraged to volunteer as session chairs for the panel in which they are presenting. Paper presentation submissions includes an abstract of up to 300 words. Each person may submit only one paper abstract to the conference. While a paper may be co-authored by as many co-authors as necessary, a maximum of two of those co-authors may present a co-authored paper at the conference. Additional authors (if any) are welcome to attend the conference if they register as regular attendees. Please submit multi-authored individual paper abstracts within this category.
*All speakers must register to attend the conference.
Selection Guidelines:
Proposals are welcomed from scholars across the entire field of Indonesian Studies, regardless of their academic affiliation, with particular encouragement for those from academic communities that are underrepresented in international forums. One of the key goals of the AIFIS-MSU Conference on Indonesia is to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and scholarly exchanges that transcend the typical boundaries of academic networks. Indonesian and English bilingualism is welcomed across the conference, and panel and roundtable submissions with diverse participation in terms of gender, academic rank, national origin, and disciplinary approach are encouraged.
Contact Information:
For questions about the application process, please contact conference@aifis.org or asiansc@msu.edu
Note:
Conference registration will be required for all (paper, panel, and roundtable) presenters and conference participants.
Conference registration is NOT required at the time of submission.
Conference Registration Fee:
- Indonesian Participants - Rp. 250.000
- US participants (with annual income below $75k) - $35
- US Participants (with annual income of $75k and over) - $60
To register and for other information, please visit the 2025 AIFIS-MSU Conference on Indonesian Studies Website.
2025 AIFIS-MSU Conference on Indonesian Studies: Indonesia in Motion
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
The American Institute for Indonesian Studies (AIFIS), in collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU) Asian Studies Center, will hold the 5th annual AIFIS-MSU Conference on Indonesian Studies from June 17 - 21, 2025.
This year’s conference explores the theme “Indonesia in Motion: Aspirations and Apprehensions” to examine the intersections of precarity, resilience, and transformation in Indonesia and beyond. Building from last year’s focus on Indonesia’s global ascendance, our theme this year highlights uncertainties prompted by emerging trends in all aspects of life in Indonesia, past, present, and future. The conference considers the shared hopes and anxieties shaping the experiences of Indonesian and global communities.
Central to this year’s theme is the duality of volatility and potential for change. We highlight national and local, formal and informal institutional initiatives aimed at fostering resilience and ensuring the well being of Indonesia and the Indonesian people. Through interdisciplinary conversations, the conference seeks to illuminate pathways forward, emphasizing collective action and shared resources to navigate an era of uncertainty. Join us as we reflect on the tensions and possibilities of a world in motion and envision futures shaped by both aspiration and apprehension. Proposals for panels and presentations engaging with this theme or on any other theme focusing on Indonesia and its place in the world are welcomed. Abstracts are accepted in Indonesian and English.
Deadline for the submission of Abstracts: Friday, February 28, 11:59pm ET
Types of Proposals Accepted:*
Organized Panel Session (Group Submission): This is the preferred format for submission of research for the conference. A group of presenters may propose a panel session of 3 or 4 separate paper presentations based on work that shares a set of common themes, issues, or research questions. Organized panel sessions are 90 minutes long. Panel organizers should identify a chair and a discussant in the proposal submission. The organizers encourage panels with presenters from different countries, gender, ethnic, and institutional balance and a combination of junior and senior scholars. Panel submission includes a panel abstract of up to 300 words, and individual paper abstracts of up to 300 words.
Roundtable Session (Group Submission): Roundtable sessions are intended to foster connections and substantive exchanges among a community of researchers and practitioners on a collaborative project, or a particular issue with implications on research and policy. The roundtable sessions are 90 minutes long and feature up to 4 presentations on the roundtable topic. As such, the presentations do not have individual separate titles. Roundtable organizers should identify a chair who will moderate the discussion. The roundtable session submission includes a brief description of the intended discussion for the roundtable of up to 300 words, and a preliminary list of invited participants (including name, affiliation, and contact information), who must also register for the conference.
Paper Presentation (Individual/Co-authored Submission): Individuals and co-authors are invited to submit abstracts for paper presentations. The conference organizers will form panels based on accepted abstracts submitted under this category. The panel sessions are 90 minutes long with a maximum of 4 live paper presentations (15 minutes each), followed by a discussion. Co-authored papers are given the same 15-minute time allotment as individual papers. A session chair will moderate and monitor time. Presenters are encouraged to volunteer as session chairs for the panel in which they are presenting. Paper presentation submissions includes an abstract of up to 300 words. Each person may submit only one paper abstract to the conference. While a paper may be co-authored by as many co-authors as necessary, a maximum of two of those co-authors may present a co-authored paper at the conference. Additional authors (if any) are welcome to attend the conference if they register as regular attendees. Please submit multi-authored individual paper abstracts within this category.
*All speakers must register to attend the conference.
Selection Guidelines:
Proposals are welcomed from scholars across the entire field of Indonesian Studies, regardless of their academic affiliation, with particular encouragement for those from academic communities that are underrepresented in international forums. One of the key goals of the AIFIS-MSU Conference on Indonesia is to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and scholarly exchanges that transcend the typical boundaries of academic networks. Indonesian and English bilingualism is welcomed across the conference, and panel and roundtable submissions with diverse participation in terms of gender, academic rank, national origin, and disciplinary approach are encouraged.
Contact Information:
For questions about the application process, please contact conference@aifis.org or asiansc@msu.edu
Note:
Conference registration will be required for all (paper, panel, and roundtable) presenters and conference participants.
Conference registration is NOT required at the time of submission.
Conference Registration Fee:
- Indonesian Participants - Rp. 250.000
- US participants (with annual income below $75k) - $35
- US Participants (with annual income of $75k and over) - $60
To register and for other information, please visit the 2025 AIFIS-MSU Conference on Indonesian Studies Website.