Recherche litteraire / Literary Research - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

As the annual peer-reviewed publication of the International Comparative Literature Association (ICLA), Recherche littéraire / Literary Research is an Open Access journal published by Peter Lang. Its mission is to inform comparative literature scholars worldwide of recent contributions to the field. To that end, it publishes scholarly essays, review essays discussing recent research developments in particular sub-fields of the discipline, as well as reviews of books on comparative topics. Scholarly essays are submitted to a double-blind peer review. Submissions by early-career comparative literature scholars are strongly encouraged. En tant que publication annuelle de l’Association internationale de littérature comparée (AILC), Recherche littéraire / Literary Research est une revue expertisée par des pair·e·s et publiée par Peter Lang en libre accès voie dorée. Elle vise à faire connaître aux comparatistes du monde entier les développements récents de la discipline. Dans ce but, la revue publie des articles de recherche scientifique, des essais critiques dressant l’état des lieux d’un domaine particulier de la littérature comparée, ainsi que des comptes rendus de livres sur des sujets comparatistes. Les articles de recherche sont soumis à une évaluation par des pair·e·s en double anonyme. Des soumissions par de jeunes chercheuses et chercheurs en littérature comparée sont fortement encouragées.

Thinking in Common - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

This interdisciplinary volume brings together articles by researchers in the humanities and the social sciences analyzing the emergence of communities in the age of globalisation. The different contributions deal with the complex network of cultural, political and symbolic spaces that coalesce around commonly held causes or interests and examine ways in which these sets of connections impact on their members’ everyday lives, shaping attitudes and behaviours which transcend (or at least claim to transcend) the limits of the nation state, creating common spaces, communities, or at times both.

Cross-border exchanges - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

The main purpose of the book is to examine from numerous and distinct, albeit complementary perspectives how logistics feeds into region-building. The angle of approach is to reach resolutely beyond logistical and material aspects of border-crossing in order to tackle cultural, symbolic, identity-based as well as institutional, legal and political dimensions of the contemporary ‘pooling’ of sovereignties in today’s Eurasia. Thus, constitutive chapters of the book draw from analyses as remote as historical, environmental, diplomatic and cybernetic, to mention but a few. Its main conclusions are that region-building consists largely in concrete changes that affect material aspects of country-to-country dynamics, not just in material-political decisions even if these remain necessary to launch a novel process and to secure it into confidence-building. This blend of logics also involves a multi-scale evolution whereby both local (infra-regional) and regional (supra-national) levels, taken together, make sense. Hence, to probe into one dimension only – the changing nature of borders, both in Europe and Asia, from lines of sovereign divisions to passage-points for exchanges –, induces the bilateral and multi-lateral capacity to ‘innovate’ within long-term historical givens and to turn nationalistic hostility into dynamics of multiplication of shared exchanges and profits. From a methodological requirement, comparing what seems at first, very different – a fully integrating Europe and a newly co-operative Asia – makes it possible, on the face of it, to uncover and decipher dynamics that are similar in their essence (regional, post-war) even if they differ in details (institutional idiosyncrasies, hurdles).

Federalism and Secession - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

The controversial issue of secession has received little attention from experts of federalism. The best federal studies either evade it or dismiss it in a few lines. However, the issue of secession has been present throughout the history of federations. This book is one of the first to explore the complex relationship between federalism and secession. The authors whose work is presented here recognize the potential of federalism as a way to organize relations between several different states, peoples, nations or territories under the same government. However, they are not naïve or idealist about the ability of the federal idea to succeed in the complex situations in which it is applied. In some cases success seems assured (the United States, Switzerland, Germany, etc.), and the merits of federalism can be showcased. But there are also failures (the former Yugoslavia, or more recently Brexit) and semi-failures that have generated turbulence in recent years in devolutive systems (Scotland in the United Kingdom, Catalonia in Spain) or federative systems (Québec in Canada). This book provides a nuanced portrait of the issue of secession in federal contexts and lays the groundwork for questioning the still too fragile legacy of the great thinkers of federalism.

Internationalisation at home - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

The internationalisation of higher education has accelerated in recent years. Internationalisation at most higher education institutions mainly takes the form of study abroad. This immersion in an intercultural environment is believed to foster the development of academic and non-academic skills, thus improving graduates’ employability. Regardless of the geographical area, higher education institutions (HEI) have therefor put student mobility at the heart of their academic projects. However, the context has changed: the Covid-19 health crisis has led to a freezing of international mobility. Alternative solutions to traditional mobility must be found. With this book, we intend to contribute to reflections on how to develop intercultural sensitivity and intercultural competences among students through Internationalisation at Home . For this purpose, in the eight chapters of the book, we present some pedagogical methods that facilitate the creation of a context conducive to interculturality and the acquisition of plural skills by students at home. Some authors examine how these competences can be assessed. Finally, we propose a framework explaining how a combination of activities within an institution can foster the development of students'' intercultural competences. Regardless of the approaches chosen by the teachers observed, they answered similar questions. These questions set a framework for reflections on efficient approaches to supporting the development of students'' intercultural skills in an Internationalisation at Home context.

Intercultural Issues and Concepts - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

Why an intercultural glossary today? How does interculturalism deal with the cultural shifts led by the resurgence of populism in Europe leading towards increasingly close-minded and selfish attitudes? Are the social sciences helpful in the implementation of an intercultural approach? How to teach students the fundamentals of interculturalism? Over the last years, the fierce populisms raising around Europe has been a strong enemy of interculturalism which grow weaker in front of the simplest solutions provided by intolerance and racism. Social sciences provide strong concepts to be grounded in social policy, urban administration, education, and interreligious dialogue. Drawing from sociology, psychology, history, philosophy, education, human geography, and international law, the book offers a list of 18 «middle-range concepts»– as social integration, migration governance, cultural identity, participation, citizenship, reflexivity, resilience - and «thematic issues», like overcoming racism, revitalising urban periphery, and human rights enforcement. Each entry includes elements of reflection for the development of practices and projects coping with major societal challenges in the extra-academic areas. The book, written by a multi-national pool of European academic lectures, is meant to facilitate all actors committed to the building of a more inclusive society.

Discours croises sur l’architecture - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

Sans discours, quelle serait la portée de l’architecture ? Cet ouvrage collectif souhaite montrer comment l’architecture se nourrit d’un discours pour exister, se transformer ou se pérenniser. Le discours et l’architecture, deux constructions régies par des règles propres, se font naturellement écho. De quels motifs architecturaux le discours se fait-il le représentant ? Quelles sont les stratégies discursives propres aux manifestes pour l’avènement d’une architecture ou d’un urbanisme ? La part métaphorique largement présente dans ces discours relève-t-elle de l’imaginaire d’un architecte ou du bien-fondé d’une architecture ? La tentative d’identifier les mots, premiers outils de l’architecte, leur évolution et leur arrangement dans une mise en discours seront autant d’occasions de saisir des urbanités écrites, décrites, voire proscrites, et de mettre en évidence les caractéristiques discursives d’une vision urbanistique ou architecturale qui composent un « archilecte ».

L'Invention Du Geste Amoureux - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

Les traités de manières et les traités artistiques, de même que le discours amoureux dans le domaine littéraire, se sont donnés la tâche de définir, voire de codifier, la gestuelle amoureuse et établissent notamment des relations entre le domaine artistique, littéraire et la vie sociale. Par rapport au « geste écrit », le « geste en image » se manifeste sous une forme plus ambiguë et laisse transparaître, souvent, des rapports de réciprocité, de domination, d’assujettissement ou d’inversion des rôles d’autant plus lorsqu’il traduit le sentiment amoureux. Cet ouvrage rassemble des communications, interventions et réflexions menées à l’occasion d’un colloque consacré à L’invention du Geste Amoureux à la Renaissance ainsi que d’une série de workshops portant sur le même thème pour différentes périodes chronologiques. Quels que soient la période traitée et le support de la représentation, la gestuelle est entendue, au sens large, à la fois en tant que gestes et attitudes corporelles. Il ne s’agit pas simplement d’un geste intentionné mais également d’une posture du corps, celle-ci intervenant soit de façon suffisamment régulière pour être identifiée à un « topos », soit au contraire de manière si exceptionnelle qu’elle mérite qu’on s’y attarde. Les analyses exemplaires réunies dans ce livre abordent, enfin, les questions de la migration de gestes entre le champ du rituel et celui de l’art, entre le registre du sacré et celui du profane ainsi que les transferts trans-chronologique ou trans-géographique. Elles proposent une étude des postures, attitudes, gestes et expressions qui « disent » l’amour dans les arts visuels.

La lettre de l’estampe - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

Les relations entre le texte et l’image ont été surtout étudiées sous l’angle de l’iconographie, de l’illustration et de la présence – occasionnelle et souvent paradoxale – de mots dans la peinture. C’était sans compter avec l’estampe qui constitue, dès la fin du XV e siècle, un champ d’expérimentation majeur pour tous ceux qui cherchent à concilier les qualités formelles, esthétiques et sémantiques d’un texte et d’une représentation artistique. Les techniques de gravure permettent en effet de réunir dans une même composition une grande variété de signes, verbaux et iconiques, dont l’ensemble constitue l’image : la « lettre » gravée est donc la partie écrite et effectivement lisible de l’estampe. Centré sur la gravure de la Renaissance, ce livre explore une période particulièrement féconde, le XVI e siècle, qui a vu l’émergence en Europe d’une véritable industrie des arts de l’imprimé. Signatures, titres, légendes, dédicaces, commentaires, etc. sont passés au crible de l’analyse critique et interprétés suivant des méthodologies variées. Qui rédigeait les textes ? Comment étaient-ils gravés ? Quelle était la fonction des différentes inscriptions ? Comment étaient-elles lues et comprises par les usagers ? Ce livre offre, pour la première fois, une vision d’ensemble sur des questions d’écriture et de composition propres à l’estampe ; ce faisant, il nous invite à repenser de nombreux aspects de la création dans l’histoire artistique européenne.

Wine, Networks and Scales - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

Wine as a product arises from human connections in know-how and trade as much as from the natural environment in which grapes are grown. At each stage of decision-making about growing grapes, making wine, selling and drinking it, people with different roles are networked together into systems of production and distribution. The authors in this collection offer new studies of the individuals and groups who act as connectors in these networked systems, intermediating in the delivery of wine from growers’ vines to consumers’ glasses. These actors operate at multi-layered scales of geography or within multiple regimes of governance, all the while taking account of arbitrations of quality and taste. This collection highlights how intermediators in many different wine countries and periods of history are, and have been, significant agents of continuity and change in the wine industry.

Pragmatic and Cross-Cultural Competences - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

The L2 speaker is able to function in the target culture only when s/he is able to understand, anticipate and produce the choices that the said society makes. Being polite therefore means: knowing how to draw on the conventions of a society, taking into account the expectations of an interlocutor regarding social relations at any given point, and is based on the appropriate language register to the communication situation; being able to balance standard and non-standard features and to adjust one’s speech by moving it towards more or less familiarity, or formality. The learner therefore needs to be aware of the pragmatic flexibility of speakers – native and experts – who move from one register to another and juggle between respect and caution, first degree meaning and irony, exuberance and excess, with difference in levels, nature and degrees of politeness. This volume contains contributions whose theoretical reflections, field work experiences and authentic data from diverse African, Asian and European languages, literatures and cultures as well as a variety of corpora shed new light on politeness as a central phenomenon in pragmatics, and on what is at stake when teaching or learning the subject. It also opens up a conceptual dialogue with a whole range of domains likely to enrich the debate: sociolinguistics, literature, translation studies, semiotics, cultural anthropology, social psychology, etc.

Understanding Publics: Theories, Practices, Transformations - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

In the analysis of communicational practices — whether in the form of audience, audience, consumers, users, recipients, participants, spectators — there is an imprecision of terms and occurrences that leaves room for terminological and theoretical indecision. Hence the desire to clarify the contours of the notion of public, while relying on empirical material, and to examine its multiple transformations. Thanks to a collective interdisciplinary program, researchers in information and communication sciences and in language sciences from the Center for Research on Mediations of the University of Lorraine have studied the conditions of production and diffusion of information and knowledge, the attitudes and behaviors of the public, the mechanisms of intercomprehension or of communicational blockages and the weight of technological factors in mediations. These issues are addressed using methods that combine sociological surveys, targeted ethnographic studies, experiments, and corpus analyses. They are applied to a variety of fi elds, extending work that has already been done, but also shaking up certain results. This book gathers a selection of signifi cant studies around four sections: the concept of public space; the relationship to the digital; innovations in the fi eld of health; the relationship to writing in the cultural sector.

LSP Teacher Training Summer School - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

This book is the result of research carried out in partnership with seven European universities as part of an Erasmus+ project on training teachers of Language for Specifi c Purpose (LSP) in higher education. All university partners, i.e. Bordeaux (France), Zagreb (Croatia), Jade (Germany), Cádiz (Spain), Adam Mickiewicz (Poland), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Arcola Research (UK), and Bergamo (Italy) carried out surveys and developed a detailed report showing that in Europe there is very little training for this type of teaching, and that teachers generally need to be trained in the specifi cities of the language fi eld they are going to teach. Medical or maritime English, legal Spanish, French for tourism, etc. require both an expert domain knowledge and a grounding in language teaching. Several testimonies highlight this situation and show the lack of career development prospects for LSP teachers at European universities. The members of the Erasmus+ TRAILs project have therefore been interested in the specifi c needs of LSP teachers and have been able to update the information through several types of surveys. The competences of LSP teachers were thus identifi ed. Based on this precise inventory, they are proposing to draw up a complete training programme. A pedagogical approach has been developed: resources, lesson preparation, course design, innovative pedagogical approaches are presented. The research presented in this book goes well beyond the TRAILs project and questions the training of specialised language teachers. More generally, it highlights the need to provide effective training and professional development for LSP teachers and offers a contribution to overcoming the shortcomings of LSP teacher education.

Legal Actions for Future Generations - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

At present, legal definitions of justice take account of a wide spectrum of concepts operating as juridical tools to protect future generations. Environmental justice, climate justice and protection of the Commons figure alongside new ways of conceiving justice itself, which must evolve in order to fit our changing world. It cannot be denied that we live in an era of wide-ranging transformation both in Law and Human Rights. In 1993, the now famous Oposa vs Factoran case in the Philippine Supreme Court created a precedent for future generations law and paved the way for legal action on behalf of future generations. This legal action also set a global precedent, in the sense that it heralds a new era in legal action throughout the world. Is it possible to take legal action on behalf of future generations? If so, on what legal bases could this occur? What scientific or legal fields have already been successfully used in this regard? Are there any other bases upon which such legal action could be taken? Mass disputes and litigation on behalf of Humankind in defense of the planet’s future are invoking future generations in constantly increasing numbers.

Global South Powers in Transition - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

Employing a novel collaborative transnational methodology, this ground-breaking book presents the first comprehensive and systematic comparison of Mexico and South Africa. Although geographically, historically and diplomatically far apart, Mexico and South Africa are ambitious and influential powers in the Global South and also experience wide-ranging domestic transitions. A binational team of 26 researchers from the two countries, all specialists in their respective disciplines, probe the transitions that Mexico and South Africa are undergoing in areas such as socio-cultural diversity, domestic politics, economic development, labour dynamics, social and territorial inequality, food security, crime and violence, and foreign relations. The detailed country studies allow the authors to identify striking similarities but also profound differences between the two societies. In so doing, the book helps to explain Mexico and South Africa to each other but also to the world at large.

Museums go International - Rebecca Amsellem - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

Museums are increasingly developing international strategies to raise their profiles outside of their home markets. How can we define this trend? This book is based on a multiple correspondence analysis of a database populated by the results of a survey conducted by the author on international museums. The study reveals that museums fall into four categories regarding their internationalization strategies and can have two complementary international strategies: one geared toward economic profitability and one geared toward the preservation of heritage. However, traditional business models for museums are currently facing challenges from a decline in public subsidies, uncertainty surrounding private donations and stagnant ticket sales. The author argues that the internationalization of museums is having an impact on the historical models and is contributing to the evolution of these business models. Two case studies, of the Victoria & Albert Museum (London, UK) and the Musée des Arts et Métiers (Paris, France), provide particular insights into the international characteristics and practices of museums.

Legal Actions for Future Generations - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

At present, legal definitions of justice take account of a wide spectrum of concepts operating as juridical tools to protect future generations. Environmental justice, climate justice and protection of the Commons figure alongside new ways of conceiving justice itself, which must evolve in order to fit our changing world. It cannot be denied that we live in an era of wide-ranging transformation both in Law and Human Rights. In 1993, the now famous Oposa vs Factoran case in the Philippine Supreme Court created a precedent for future generations law and paved the way for legal action on behalf of future generations. This legal action also set a global precedent, in the sense that it heralds a new era in legal action throughout the world. Is it possible to take legal action on behalf of future generations? If so, on what legal bases could this occur? What scientific or legal fields have already been successfully used in this regard? Are there any other bases upon which such legal action could be taken? Mass disputes and litigation on behalf of Humankind in defense of the planet’s future are invoking future generations in constantly increasing numbers.

Medecine et sante dans les campagnes - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

Diaspora, Food and Identity - Maureen Duru - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

This book examines the connection between food and identity in the Nigerian diaspora community in Belgium. Encounters between people from different cultures do not lead to a simple adaptation of the diet, but usually give rise to some kind of fusion of new and indigenous food habits. The author questions the relationship between what Nigerian migrants in the diaspora eat, their self-perception and how they engage with outsiders. Starting with a historical introduction about the country, this study examines what aspects of the Nigerian food culture is retained and what has changed. This is reflected by the dynamics in the Nigerian homes, especially the gender roles. The new generation of Nigerians, who see Belgium as home, also hang on to a Nigerian diet that remains not only an important part of who they are, but is also used in the creation of cultural boundaries and group identities. However, the influence of the new environment is very present because each diaspora community, wherever and whenever, must adapt. Skills such as language and social norms are indeed necessary to survive in the new environment. Yet, food plays a prominent role: on the one hand, it contributes to the affirmation of Nigerian feelings, and on the other hand, food serves as a means of communication with the host country.

Italian Yearbook of Human Rights 2020 - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

The Italian Yearbook of Human Rights 2020 , marking the 10th edition of this publication, offers an up-to-date overview of the measures Italy has taken to adapt its legislation and policies to international human rights law and to comply with commitments voluntarily assumed by the Italian Government at the international level on the subject of fundamental rights. It surveys the most significant activities of national and local Italian actors at the domestic and international levels, including civil society organisations and universities. It also dedicates space to recommendations made by international monitoring bodies within the framework of the United Nations, OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the European Union. Finally, the Yearbook provides a selection of international and national case-law that casts light on Italy''s position vis-à-vis internationally recognised human rights. "Italy and Human Rights in 2019: Back on Track?" is the title of the 2020 Yearbook introduction. The in-depth analysis on a human rights theme offered in this edition concerns Italy’s behaviour in the context of the Third Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council. As in the previous years, the Italian Agenda of Human Rights 2020 updates on the legislative, infrastructural and policy-making fronts where action is required to strengthen the Italian human rights system.

Research and teaching at the intersection - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

The studies included in this volume describe the process embedded in learning to write in Language Arts, as well as in teaching it and assessing it, focusing on the metalinguistic activity triggered in this process. Because of the latter, they also examine students’ grammar concepts and the process of learning and teaching grammar. These four objectives are included in the overarching objective of elaborating a theoretical frame that accounts for metalinguistic activity as a social and cognitive activity oriented towards the learning of language use. A qualitative, descriptive, and interpretative perspective is adopted, based on case study and action-research; also, the tenets of sociocultural psychology, contributions from cognitive psychology and functional linguistics, and pedagogic studies concerned with peer and small group interaction in dealing with classroom complexity. The chapters result from the necessary collaboration between researchers and teachers, who contribute their specific knowledge both to the design as well as to the monitoring and analysis of the results of the different projects. We believe that the interest of the book lies precisely in this diversity. This book highlights "the remarkable epistemological, theoretical and methodological coherence of the research program in language teaching conducted by GREAL research group over the past three decades." (Jean-Paul Bronckart, from the "Foreword").

Italian Yearbook of Human Rights 2019 - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

The Italian Yearbook of Human Rights 2019 offers an up-to-date overview of the measures Italy has taken to adapt its legislation and policies to international human rights law and to comply with commitments voluntarily assumed by the Italian Government at the international level on the subject of fundamental rights. The 2019 Yearbook surveys the most significant activities of national and local Italian actors at the domestic and international levels, including civil society organisations and universities. It also dedicates space to recommendations made by international monitoring bodies within the framework of the United Nations, OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the European Union. Finally, the Yearbook provides a selection of international and national case-law that casts light on Italy''s position vis-à-vis internationally recognised human rights. "Italy and Human Rights in 2018: Does Omission Follow Inaction?" is the title of the 2019 Yearbook introduction. The in-depth analysis on a human rights theme offered in this edition regards the implementation of the National Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings (2016–2018). As in the previous years, the Italian Agenda of Human Rights 2019 updates on the legislative, infrastructural and policy-making fronts where action is required to strengthen the Italian human rights system.

Africa and Europe: a Shared Future - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

The contributions collected in this volume are linked by a common thread: the development of Africa is a problem that must be faced and solved by the peoples of the continent, with the aim of consolidating democracy and guaranteeing a future of growth and progressive improvement in the quality of life. However, Europe has a role and a responsibility in this process: after having imposed on Africa the model of the bureaucratic and centralized national state, Europe today can represent a model of integration, on the economic field and, in perspective, on the political terrain. Beyond this, Europe must offer a partnership with the African Union to start a Green New Deal for Europe and Africa together, with the allocation of financial resources, but also technology transfers and infrastructure creation. But in this partnership for growth the initiative must be entrusted to African countries, as was the case for Europe in the case of the Marshall Plan. Europe must impose as a sole condition that their plan be drawn up in common and placed in the perspective of strengthening the process of economic and political integration already started on the Continent.

Italian Yearbook of Human Rights 2019 - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

The Italian Yearbook of Human Rights 2019 offers an up-to-date overview of the measures Italy has taken to adapt its legislation and policies to international human rights law and to comply with commitments voluntarily assumed by the Italian Government at the international level on the subject of fundamental rights. The 2019 Yearbook surveys the most significant activities of national and local Italian actors at the domestic and international levels, including civil society organisations and universities. It also dedicates space to recommendations made by international monitoring bodies within the framework of the United Nations, OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the European Union. Finally, the Yearbook provides a selection of international and national case-law that casts light on Italy''s position vis-à-vis internationally recognised human rights. "Italy and Human Rights in 2018: Does Omission Follow Inaction?" is the title of the 2019 Yearbook introduction. The in-depth analysis on a human rights theme offered in this edition regards the implementation of the National Action Plan against Trafficking in Human Beings (2016–2018). As in the previous years, the Italian Agenda of Human Rights 2019 updates on the legislative, infrastructural and policy-making fronts where action is required to strengthen the Italian human rights system.

Erasure and Recollection: Memories of Racial Passing - - Bog - PIE - Peter Lang - Plusbog.dk

Many recent studies of racial passing have emphasized the continuing, almost haunting power of racial segregation even in the post-segregation period in the US, or in the post-apartheid period in South Africa. This "present-ness" of racial passing, the fact that it has not really become " passé ," is noticeable in the great number of testimonies which have been published in the 2000s and 2010s by descendants of individuals who passed for white in the English-speaking world. The sheer number of publications suggest a continuing interest in the kind of relation to the personal and national past which is at stake in the long-delayed revelation of cases of racial passing. This interest in family memoirs or in fictional works re-tracing the erasure of some relative’s racial identity is by no means limited to the United States: for instance, Zoë Wicomb in South Africa or Zadie Smith in the UK both use the passing novel to unravel the complex situation of mixed-race subjects in relation to their family past and to a national past marked by a history of racial inequality. Yet, the vast majority of critical approaches to racial passing have so far remained largely focused on the United States and its specific history of race relations. The objective of this volume is twofold: it aims at shedding light on the way texts or films show the work of individual memory and collective recollection as they grapple with a racially divided past, struggling with its legacy or playing with its stereotypes. Our second objective has been to explore the great variety in the forms taken by racial passing depending on the context, which in turn leads to differences in the ways it is remembered. Focusing on how a previously erased racial identity may resurface in the present has enabled us to extend the scope of our study to other countries than the United States, so that this volume hopes to propose some new, transnational directions in the study of racial passing.