COTA has been formally established as an official commission during the 13th ICAES at Mexico City in 1993.
Continental Networks and Contact Persons
The aim of COTA is to provide an international forum for coordination and communication between scholars steming from various theoretical and methodological horizons.
In the long run of the history of anthropology, the science split into various subdisciplines, as for instance social anthropology, medical anthropology, visual anthropology, anthropology of religion, material culture studies, aesthetic anthropology, etc.
Furthermore, our science is going through different theoretical and methodological developments, questions, and focal points, aspects and orientations which are also related to the specific geographical regions where it is practitioned. Often, colleagues face the problem of communication, of publication and of participating at internatinal conferences.
Nevertheless, discussions and informations among these various scientific communities seem most opportune in order to improve our scientific tools and to develop new theories and methodologies, which could fit better the needs of our science in challenging social reality and asserting the importance of our science for our societies.
In the consciousness that the holistic approach is hardly realisable - because of regional divergences, because of various topics, etc. - COTA aims to be an open forum for the exchange of ideas, for the coordination and cooperation in research and training. Therefore, continental networks between interested colleagues have been estalished (see the respective Contact Persons above).
The Continental Contact Persons are basically organising the specific regional networks and maintain the information flow. They can also help in organising conferences and round tables, in establishing common research topics and in coordinating possible publications.
As a means of information about COTA - activities, a Newsletter, appearing about three times per year, is being distributed to COTA members via the Continental Contact Persons. In addition, COTA is participating in the editing of an electronic journal, THEORETICAL ANTHROPOLOGY. Articles, training material, informations on symposia and congresses, on recent publications and job announcements, they all can be published in this medium. The intention of this journal is upper all the possiblity to reach scholars world wide. This medium should also be seen as a basic tool for trans-continental thematic networks.
Within the next years, continental Anthologies, with contributions by scholars of the respective networks, will be edited by COTA.
COTA will be present at ICAES - Congresses and Intercongresses by organising specific symposia. Furthermore, COTA is realising Round Tables. Propositions or suggestions for such evens can be submitted by any member.
If you are interested in participating in the work of COTA, please fill in the following application-form.
Name and title:
Affiliation:
Contact Address:
Phone Number:
Fax Number:
Email:
Subjects of interest (keywords):
Send this application to the following address (E-Mail is possible):
Thomas Fillitz
Institut für Völkerkunde / University of Vienna
Universitätsstrasse 7 / 4; A - 1010 Vienna / Austria
Fax: 0043 -1- 406 96 66
Email: thomas.fillitz@univie.ac.at