Conference of the International Association of Historians of Asia (IAHA)

Dates of Implementation/Duration:  November 22-25, 2006

Partner Institution: NCCA, Japan Foundation and IAHA

Objectives:

In keeping with the overall goals of the IAHA, the 19th IAHA Conference had three main objectives:

• To afford scholars in different countries an opportunity to come together for an exchange of views, ideas, and information toward the generation and utilization of historical knowledge to foster mutual respect and understanding among Asian peoples. 
• To find ways and means of addressing common problems in research for fruitful information, with a view to discarding myths and stereotypical claims appearing in the guise of facts in history books.
• To continue to expand the network of scholars on Asia, and promote the relevance of written history as an instrument for the promotion of world peace, goodwill, and understanding.

Project Description:

For the fourth time, Manila will be hosting the Conference of the International Association of Historians of Asia (IAHA) on November 22-25, 2006 at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila. It will be the IAHA’s 19th conference, which is held every two years. The very first conference was held in Manila in 1960.

Around 200 international scholars and 50 local academics will speak and present research papers in the three-day IAHA conference to shed new light on various aspects of Asian history. Dr. Filomeno V. Aguilar Jr., Professor of History at the Ateneo de Manila University and Chair of the Philippine Social Science Council, serves as Conference President of the prestigious gathering of international scholars of Asia and on Asia. The Philippine Social Science Council is the institutional host of the conference.  

Paper readers at the conference will present their most recent research findings and historical scholarship on Asian history and culture. The topics are wide-ranging and include archeology, cultural heritage, ethnic relations, literature, gender relations, diplomatic relations, national security, diseases, ecology, trade, religion, war, intercivilizational encounters, and historiography. The conference has a total of 52 panels, with an average of five paper presentations per panel. There will be ten panel sessions, with five to six panels running simultaneously.