Book: The City of Translation: Poetry and Ideology in Nineteenth-Century Colombia

José María Rodríguez García, "The City of Translation: Poetry and Ideology in Nineteenth-Century Colombia" (Palgrave Macmillan, August 2010):

http://us.macmillan.com/thecityoftranslation

Publisher's description: "The two principal questions that The City of Translation sets out to answer are: how did poetry, philology, catechesis, and literary translation legitimate a coterie of right-wing literati's [sic] rise to power in Colombia? And how did these men proceed to dismantle a long-standing liberal-democratic state without derogating basic constitutional freedoms? To answer those questions, José María Rodríguez García investigates the emergence, development, and decline of what he calls 'the reactionary city of translation' – a variation on, and a correction to, Ángel Rama's understanding of the nineteenth-century 'lettered city' as a primarily liberal and modernizing project. The City of Translation makes the tropes of 'translatio' the conceptual nucleus of a comprehensive analysis that cuts across academic disciplines, ranging from political philosophy and the history of concepts to the relationship of literature to religious doctrine and the law."

The last chapter of the book is titled "Conclusion: On Lettered Cities, Political Theologies, and the Writing of Lyric".

Endorsements: "Few books deserve to be described as necessary. This one does. Rodríguez García brings remarkable rigor and insight to his examination of the nineteenth-century debates that defined the first decades of the Colombian republic. Particularly significant are his penetrating reconstructions of conservative thought, a much neglected area since 'progressive' historians often seem more interested in finding antecedents for their own ideas rather than taking seriously the arguments of Catholic imbued anti-liberalism. He also brings remarkable insight to the ways that notions of proper grammatical usage and belle-lettriste literature were early marshaled to support conservative, hierarchical notions of society and government. In sum, this is an excellent book and a major contribution to nineteenth-century studies." (Nicolas Shumway, Rice University)

"The City of Translation elucidates the complex strategies of the reactionary Colombian political elite to usher in new legislation under the guise of a homogenizing national project. The author's keen insights on the pivotal role of lyrical production, translation (in theory and practice), and the mediating agency of the translator/lyricist in political objectives constitute an outstanding contribution to Latin American intellectual history, one that will compel us to expand our understanding of the term 'foundational fictions.'" (Carlos J. Alonso, Columbia University)

Spanish-born José María Rodríguez García is Associate Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at Duke University.

CONF: Society of Christian Ethics annual meeting

2011 Annual Meeting of the Society of Christian Ethics (SCE), the Society of Jewish Ethics, and the Society for the Study of Muslim Ethics, Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel, New Orleans, LA, USA, 6-9 January 2011

www.scethics.org/annual-meetings/all/2011

A number of sessions on political theology have been scheduled for this conference, including:

Pieter Dronkers (Protestant Theological University, Utrecht), "The Netherlands: One Nation under God? Christendom, Citizenship and the Re-sacralization of National Loyalty" (7 January, 11.00 am-12.30 pm, room: Grand Ballroom B)

Abstract: "Globalization puts the question what makes a good citizen on top of the Dutch public agenda. Today, some political parties define citizenship in secularist terms, limiting the space for public religious engagement. Others argue that undivided loyalty to the Dutch nation is required. Sometimes Christendom is used to frame and sacralize this allegiance. From a political-theological perspective, the paper evaluates the Dutch debate and especially the remarkable return of Christendom. It argues that the Christian conviction that allegiance to the state is temporal is an important antidote against the idea that absolute civic or national loyalty is a precondition for building a secure society."

John E. Senior (Emory University), "Cruciform Political Agency: Politics Between the Penultimate and the Ultimate" (7 January, 4.00-5.30 pm, room: Bourbon)

Abstract: "The dominant norm of political agency in both political theory and political theology is cooperative, relational, and public discourse. But what, if any, theological sense can be made of political agency when it is uncooperative, instrumental, and even aggressive? This paper first critiques recent Augustinian ontologies of political life, arguing that these fail to respond to the morally ambiguous character of political agency. The paper then develops an alternative model of political agency, which it terms 'cruciform political agency.' This framing posits a political ontology that negotiates the tension between the world and the eschaton and thereby renders theologically intelligible complex configurations of political agency."

Karen V. Guth (University of Virginia), "Beyond Nonviolence: The Feminist/Womanist Political Theology of Martin Luther King, Jr." (8 January, 9.00-10.30 am, room: Bienville)

Abstract: "Scholars often view Martin Luther King Jr.'s contributions to political theology in terms of his philosophy of nonviolence. Drawing on feminist and womanist thought, I argue that King's theo-political practice extends beyond nonviolent resistance to include any 'agapic activity' that forms and sustains community. I uncover in King's thought a conception of agape that resonates with a number of feminists' emphases on the relational and community-oriented nature of love, and I draw on womanist thought to highlight the role of creativity in King's thought. Both suggest a vision of the church's political role as a community of creativity."

Interest Group "Ethics and Catholic Theology" session on "Racism: A Theological Analysis", with the speakers J. Kameron Carter (Duke University) and Bryan N. Massingale (Marquette University; 9 January, 9.00-10.30 am, room: St. Charles B)

Abstract: "Prof. Jay Carter will speak on 'The Christological Problem Revisited; or, The Imperial God-Man and the Catholic Invention of Race' which is material for a book theorizing at the intersection of [C]hristology and political theology. Prof. Bryan Massingale will speak on 'Idolatry/Heresy and the Challenge of Cross-Racial Solidarity,' which will examine the liberationist contention that racism represents not simply an ethical failure, but a theological defect, one which qualifies the task of the virtue of solidarity in Catholic social thought. After their presentations, our speakers will have an opportunity to briefly respond to each other, with ample time for audience questions following."

A few sessions on liberation theology have also been scheduled.

Please find additional information, a full programme, and a registration form on the above website.

Book: Chicano Liberation Theology: The Writings and Documents of Richard Cruz and Católicos por la Raza

Mario T. García is the editor of "Chicano Liberation Theology: The Writings and Documents of Richard Cruz and Católicos por la Raza" (Kendall Hunt Publishing, May 2009).

Publisher's description: "[García's book] focuses on the role of religion in the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. This was the most widespread and significant civil rights, identity, and empowerment movement by Mexican Americans in the United States. This book highlights the most important faith-inspired urban movement to bring about social change inspired by Catholic social teachings. Chapter topics include: The Chicano Movement and the Catholic Church; The Origins of Católicos Por La Raza; Católicos in Action; Oral Histories; Richard Cruz: People's Attorney; Reflections by Richard Cruz. This is an edited collection of the writings and documents of Richard Cruz and Católicos Por La Raza, along with additional supporting material and interviews with former Católicos members."

www.kendallhunt.com/index.cfm?PID=219&AUT=&ISB=&DIS=375&GRA=0&DES=&MTC=exact&BOOL=AND&KEY=&PPS=25&SRT=Author&CMD=detail&SRH=&PRD=23010

Mario T. García is Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies in the Department of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

CFP: Catholicism and Fascism(s) in Europe 1918-1945: Beyond a Manichean Approach

International conference "Catholicism and Fascism(s) in Europe 1918-1945: Beyond a Manichean Approach", at the Academia Belgica, Rome, Italy, 15-17 September 2010

Call for papers

Outline: "The general theme of the proposed conference is the ideologisation of the relationship between Catholicism and fascism in Europe (1918-1945). The historiography in this particular field of research has often been characterised by rather outspoken and sometimes conflicting ideological currents. In extreme cases, some historians fully deny any possible convergence between catholic religion and fascist ideology, where others sustain that catholics unconditionally supported fascism. The conference intends to make a meaningful contribution to this fundamental methodological and theoretical debate, through the presentation of original research presented by a group of international scholars, each of whom will focus on a European country or region where in the interwar years a fascist movement or regime flourished, and where there was a significant catholic presence in society.

"Participants will explore a wide range of relevant contexts and methodologies. More in particular, the following investigative pathways will guide a series of thematic panels: 1) the heuristic notion of fascism as a 'political religion'; 2) the concept of catholic 'politicisation of religion'; 3) the phenomenon of 'clerical fascism' and its manifestations; 4) value and usefulness of a comparative approach; 5) the various forms of reception of German, Italian and Spanish fascism by catholics in foreign contexts; 6) the prospect of research based on recently discovered and/or released archival materials (cf. the Vatican interwar archives); 7) importance of the role of catholic and fascist intellectuals: towards a historiography of fascist and catholic culture?; 8) the relationship between catholic and fascist 'modernism'.

"The conference intends to serve a double purpose: on the one hand participants will present research on the general theme of the relationship Catholicism-fascism in Europe (fundamental contribution concerning content); on the other hand the discussion will be moved to a theoretical level (fundamental methodological contribution). In addition, the aim to cover as large as possible a number of countries and regions will make for a highly complete and complex understanding of the general theme. It is hoped that this will contribute to a more refined and nuanced understanding of not only the notions 'catholic Church' and 'catholics', but also of the highly enigmatic phenomenon of 'fascism'. Much in the same way as traditional religion, as a form of 'political religion', the latter denomination could indeed cover very heterogeneous constituents. The final aim is to contribute to the development of an interpretive 'cluster' model that ideally incorporates a series of investigative matrixes, thus acting as a catalyst to future research."

Abstracts of 300-500 words (in English, French, or Italian), accompanied by the title of the contribution as well as a CV which mentions the participant's most relevant publications and his/her institutional affiliation, are to be sent, as an e-mail attachment (in Word, RTF, or PDF format), to Jan Nelis (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for the Study of Christian Traditions, University of Ghent): jan.nelis@ugent.be
with a 'cc' to nelisjanunighent@gmail.com

Deadline: 10 May 2010

Abstracts should clearly indicate the originality of the projected paper presentation, and situate it in the general theme of the conference. Proposals concerning Poland, Slovenia, and Austria are particularly encouraged. Abstracts will be evaluated in function of their relevance to the general conference theme and panel structure, as well as of the available places.

Notification of acceptance or refusal will be given by 1 June 2010.