From June 4-6, 2025, the Nordic Association for American Studies (NAAS) is hosting its 28th Biennial Conference at the University of Turku, Finland. 

The NAAS welcome proposals that think through, reflect upon, and reconsider the significance of Aspirations in the pasts, presents, and futures of the United States. Aspirational ideals and beliefs have always been at the crux of the United States’ national ethos, but they have also evolved during the course of history. Inviting colleagues to consider a range of temporal, spatial, and performative aspects of aspirations, it poses the following questions:

How has aspirational thinking, rhetoric, and action evolved over the course of U.S. history? What meanings does aspirational thinking carry in the 21st century and in anticipation of the future? Where does aspirational behavior, action, or performance find fruitful ground? What kinds of creative, expressive, or aesthetic forms do aspirations take? What do we make of unfulfilled aspirations, aspirations gone astray, or destructive aspirations? How do we conceptualize American Studies research, teaching, and institutions by way of aspirations?

Abstract Submission: Abstracts for individual papers are max. 250 words and for panel/workshop/alternative sessions max. 500 words. Deadline: June 15, 2024.

For more information on how to sumbit a proposal, click here.