American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies
Encyclopedia
The Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) is a scholarly society dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about the former Soviet Union
(including Eurasia
) and Eastern
and Central Europe
. The ASEEES supports teaching, research, and publication relating to the peoples and territories within this area and publishes a quarterly journal, Slavic Review. The organization holds annual conventions which provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and the sharing of original research dedicated to the region.
In 2008, the membership of the Association voted to change its name from the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (AAASS) to the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) , effective in 2010.
, the face of Europe
was greatly changed, with a number of countries of Central and Eastern Europe falling under the influence or control of the Soviet Union
following the defeat of German fascism
. Throughout the non-communist world political decision-makers felt the need for additional academic analysis of the politics and history of the USSR and the so-called "Soviet bloc" nations as well as for improved facilities for language training for a new generation of foreign affairs specialists.
A number of American universities established area studies programs and research institutes in the immediate post-war period, including notably Harvard University
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, Columbia University
in New York City
, and the University of Washington
in Seattle
.
By the mid-1950s, specialists in Slavic Studies began to constitute significant percentages of learned societies such as the American Political Science Association
and the American Historical Association
. These scholars began to formally organize themselves into an interdisciplinary organization of their own with the formation of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (AAASS) in 1961.
The organization grew quickly, numbering some 1700 members in 1965, including 400 student members. From the outset the AAASS published its own quarterly peer-reviewed journal, Slavic Review — successor to the American Slavic and East European Review, a scholarly magazine launched in 1941 by John Hazard of Columbia University. Professor Donald Treadgold of the University of Washington was the initial editor of the new official AAASS publication.
The organization also has produced a non-juried periodic newsletter, published to promote the flow of information among society members regarding the status of ongoing research and other matters of general academic interest.
. Although the organization initially held these gatherings every third year so as not to sap the strength of the organization, they have been held on an annual basis for decades, with the location of the gathering in constant rotation.
The ASEEES claims a membership of approximately 3,500 in 2010.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
(including Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
) and Eastern
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
and Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
. The ASEEES supports teaching, research, and publication relating to the peoples and territories within this area and publishes a quarterly journal, Slavic Review. The organization holds annual conventions which provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and the sharing of original research dedicated to the region.
In 2008, the membership of the Association voted to change its name from the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (AAASS) to the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES) , effective in 2010.
Background and formation
In the aftermath of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the face of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
was greatly changed, with a number of countries of Central and Eastern Europe falling under the influence or control of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
following the defeat of German fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
. Throughout the non-communist world political decision-makers felt the need for additional academic analysis of the politics and history of the USSR and the so-called "Soviet bloc" nations as well as for improved facilities for language training for a new generation of foreign affairs specialists.
A number of American universities established area studies programs and research institutes in the immediate post-war period, including notably Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
.
By the mid-1950s, specialists in Slavic Studies began to constitute significant percentages of learned societies such as the American Political Science Association
American Political Science Association
The American Political Science Association is a professional association of political science students and scholars in the United States. Founded in 1903, it publishes three academic journals...
and the American Historical Association
American Historical Association
The American Historical Association is the oldest and largest society of historians and professors of history in the United States. Founded in 1884, the association promotes historical studies, the teaching of history, and the preservation of and access to historical materials...
. These scholars began to formally organize themselves into an interdisciplinary organization of their own with the formation of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (AAASS) in 1961.
The organization grew quickly, numbering some 1700 members in 1965, including 400 student members. From the outset the AAASS published its own quarterly peer-reviewed journal, Slavic Review — successor to the American Slavic and East European Review, a scholarly magazine launched in 1941 by John Hazard of Columbia University. Professor Donald Treadgold of the University of Washington was the initial editor of the new official AAASS publication.
The organization also has produced a non-juried periodic newsletter, published to promote the flow of information among society members regarding the status of ongoing research and other matters of general academic interest.
Annual conventions
The AAASS has held conventions since 1964 as a venue for scholars to get together, present papers, hold panel discussions, and share ideas. The first convention of the organization was held in New York City in April 1964, under the chairmanship of Professor Holland Hunter of Haverford CollegeHaverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
. Although the organization initially held these gatherings every third year so as not to sap the strength of the organization, they have been held on an annual basis for decades, with the location of the gathering in constant rotation.
Change of name
In 2008, the membership of the Association voted to change the name of the AAASS, effective in 2010, to the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies (ASEEES).The ASEEES claims a membership of approximately 3,500 in 2010.
See also
- American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European LanguagesAmerican Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European LanguagesThe American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages is an academic organization founded in 1941.AATSEEL holds an annual conference each December and publishes the Slavic and East European Journal , a peer-reviewed journal of Slavic studies.AATSEEL is currently run by...
- American Council of Teachers of RussianAmerican Council of Teachers of RussianAmerican Council of Teachers of Russian is a professional organization that advances research, training, and materials development in the fields of Russian and English language; strengthens communication within and between communities of scholars and educators in language, literature, and area...
- SlavisticsSlavisticsSlavic studies or Slavistics is the academic field of area studies concerned with Slavic areas, Slavic languages, literature, history, and culture. Originally, a Slavist or Slavicist was primarily a linguist or philologist who researches Slavistics, a Slavic or Slavonic scholar...