Call for Book Seminar Proposals

The World Anthropological Union (WAU) Congress 2025 invites scholars, practitioners, and activists from around the world to submit book seminar proposals for this landmark event, which will take place in Antigua, Guatemala, from November 3–8, 2025. This congress seeks to provide an inclusive and dynamic platform for exploring critical global challenges and redefining our collective understandings of humanity through engaging discussions of recent publications in anthropology and related fields.

Book Seminar Objectives

Book seminars offer an opportunity to showcase and critically engage with recent books that have made significant contributions to anthropological research, theory, or practice. These seminars are designed to provide authors with constructive feedback, foster rich academic discussion, and connect their work to broader debates within the field.

We kindly encourage authors to consider donating a copy of their book to the library of the Centro de Investigaciones Regionales de Mesoamérica (CIRMA), a prestigious local and regional research institute based in La Antigua, Guatemala. CIRMA hosts one of the best social sciences libraries in the country, and your donation will enrich their collection and provide access to a wide variety of anthropological knowledge for those who consult their resources. To learn more about CIRMA, please visit their website: https://cirma.org.gt. CIRMA is one of the Guatemalan institutions that supports and collaborates with the WAU 2025 Congress.

Submission Guidelines

  1. Eligibility:

– Books published within the last two years (2023–2025) are eligible for submission.

– Both single-author and edited volumes are welcome.

  1. Seminar Structure:

– Each seminar will feature a discussion of the book, including its main contributions and relevance to anthropological research.

– Seminars will be 90 minutes, with time allocated for in-depth discussion and audience interaction.

  1. Format:

All book seminars will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation.

  1. Proposal Requirements:
    Proposals should include the following information:

– Title: Full title of the book.

– Chapter: Specify which chapter will be shared, alongside the introduction, if applicable.

– Abstract: A concise description of the book, including its central arguments and contribution to anthropology.

– Keywords: Three to five keywords summarizing the book’s main themes.

– City and Country of Publication: Specify the location where the book was published.

– Publishing Company: Name of the publisher.

– Publication Year: Year the book was published.

– Image of the Book Cover: A high-resolution image of the book’s cover.


Outcomes and Impact

Book seminar organizers will have the opportunity to submit a summary or report of their discussion to be included in the WAU 2025 Congress repository, which will serve as the official congress proceedings. These submissions will be assigned permanent identifiers and metadata, ensuring long-term accessibility and scholarly recognition. Detailed guidelines for submitting the final versions of reports will be provided closer to the Congress date. This allows organizers to contribute to the lasting academic impact of the congress and ensures their work is accessible to the broader academic community.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and fostering rich, engaging discussions that advance the field of anthropology and beyond.