A new journal devoted to the histories, literatures and languages of Ireland and Scotland has been launched.
The AHRC Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Aberdeen has published the first edition of the Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies.
The inaugural issue focuses on the theme of cultural exchange between Ireland and Scotland from the Middle Ages to the contemporary world.
It ranges from the Irish content of John Barbour's The Bruce, composed in the 1370s and among the earliest Scottish literature, to contemporary debates in postcolonial theory.
Director of the Centre, Professor Cairns Craig, said the journal would consolidate international recognition of the importance of Irish and Scottish studies as an area of academic research.
"The Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies is the only journal devoted to scholarly work in the languages, history, literature and cultures of both countries," said Professor Craig.
"Instead of being test cases for how 'modernity' began, Ireland and Scotland are now, perhaps, test cases for how small, apparently marginal countries can have a profound impact on world development.
"And for how," he added, "in the contemporary world, small nations, with very substantial diasporas that continue to identify themselves with their homelands, should manage the processes of European political integration and economic globalization These are the issues which future issues of the Journal will aim to address."
The second issue, on Irish and Scottish diasporas, will be published to coincide with a major conference on Nations: Diasporas: Identities to be held in Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand from March 27-29, 2008.
This conference, jointly sponsored by Aberdeen's AHRC Centre and the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at Victoria University, will also be the launch event of a new International Consortium for Irish and Scottish Studies, whose second conference will take place in Toronto in 2010.
The Consortium will link together centres of excellence in Irish and Scottish studies in North America, Europe and Australasia, to support the future development of the kind of comparative research which has been pioneered by Aberdeen's AHRC Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies.
The new journal will appear twice yearly, in autumn and spring. It invites contributions on any aspect of Irish, Scottish or Irish and Scottish culture. Submissions should be sent to the Editor at RIISS, Humanity Manse, 19 College Bounds, Aberdeen AB24 3UG or email href="mailto:ahrcciss@abdn.ac.uk">ahrcciss@abdn.ac.uk</a></p>
For more information visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/riiss/issjournal.shtml
Or to find out more about the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) visit http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/