What happens to (Former)Third World Literature and Culture in a Multipolar World?

Keynote Speakers: Theo D’haen (Ku Leuven), Svend Eric Larsen (Aarhus University), Daniel Pratt (McGill University)

Date: 14-17 December, 2025

Location: Sichuan University, Chengdu, China (Hybrid: Online and In-Person)

Organized by: Yanli He (Sichuan University, Harvard University), Fabio Akcelrud Durão (State University of Campinas)

Co-organized by: Yingchun Dong (Guanxi Minzu University), Tingting Sun (Yunan University of Finance and Economics)

Many former Third World countries no longer identify as, or are regarded as, part of the Third World, especially following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Concurrently, a growing consensus suggests we are entering a multipolar world, where the influence of North America and Europe appears to be waning, and new centers of power are emerging. These shifts invite us to revisit the theory, history and future of “(former)Third World” literature and culture, particularly in the context of Asian, African, and Latin American contributions. To reflect the historical and evolving dynamics of these regions, we adopt the term “(former)Third World.” This shift in global configurations raises pressing questions: How is the dialectic between center and margins affected by this new political-ideological landscape? What changes can we expect in North-South and South-South interactions? To what extent can the primacy of the English language be challenged? How might culture in general, and literature in particular, evolve alongside increasing commercial and financial exchanges within BRICS, for instance? How is decoloniality impacted by the de facto provincialization of Europe? Furthermore, how have (former)Third World nations engaged with Fredric Jameson’s conceptualization of “Third World literature” within the framework of late capitalism since the late 1980s? In what ways have these nations shaped their national literary and cultural identities since the 1990s? What opportunities and challenges do the literature and culture of (former)Third World nations encounter in the 21st century amidst the dynamics of a multimedia, multipolar global system?

This conference centers on exchanges in literature, film, and acrobatics between the (former)Third World and the (former)First and (former)Second Worlds, alongside interactions within and across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Equal emphasis is placed on addressing gender and minority issues within these contexts. We invite submissions from scholars across disciplines to engage in this vibrant intellectual exchange.

Suggested Topics:

Theoretical Foundations and Critiques of Third World Literature and Culture:

• The global impact of Fredric Jameson’s “national allegory” and “modernism ghost”
• Dialogues between Third World literature & culture and world literature & culture
• Postcolonialism, colonial history, and national memory in Third World literature
• Perspectives on Gender and Minorities in Third World Narratives

Third World Cinema and Global Dialogue

• Representations of the Third World in First and Second World Films
• The development of Asian films and its strategies for global engagement
• The evolution of African films and its interactions with international film industries
• The growth of Latin American films and its connections with First and Second World cinematic traditions

Mutual Learning of Civilizations” in Global Acrobatics Arts and Culture:

• The dissemination and value of Chinese acrobatics in global culture
• Contemporary Chinese acrobatic creation and its strategies for international engagement
• Comparative analysis of Russian circus and Western European/American circus traditions
• Contemporary Western European/American “new circus” and its connections to postdramatic theatre trends

The Future of (Former)Third World Literature & Culture in a Multipolar World:

• (Former)Third World perspectives on new world system
• Innovation and Challenges in Asian, African and Latin American literature and film o New Challenges for Gender and Minority Issues in the Global System

Submission Guidelines:
Abstract Submission Requirements
Abstract length: 300-500 words.
Content: Clearly state the research question, methodology, and preliminary conclusions.
Include author’s name, title, affiliation, and contact information
Important Dates
Abstract submission deadline: 1 May 2025
Notification of acceptance: 1 June 2025
Full paper submission deadline: 5 December 2025
Language
Submissions in English, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese are welcome.

Please inquire via the contact form below

Special Note:

No registration fees. An electronic conference proceeding will be published, and outstanding papers will be featured in partner academic journals and book collections. Additionally, a follow-up conference is planned to take place in Brazil in 2026.