CfP: Asian Regional Studies: Languages, Art, Folklore & Cultural Identity21.2.2026 {en}

GALDA VERLAG is an independent, non-profit academic publisher specializing in Asian Studies. Financed through our international bookselling operations (import/export), we operate free from commercial pressures, allowing us to prioritize academic quality and the promotion of Asian scholarship in Western academic libraries and global research communities.

EDITORIAL PHILOSOPHY: We believe that understanding Asia requires deep engagement with the continent’s extraordinary cultural and linguistic diversity — its regional particularities, living traditions, artistic expressions, and indigenous knowledge systems. Too often, Asian Studies scholarship privileges metropolitan centers and dominant narratives, overlooking the rich tapestry of local cultures, minority languages, folk traditions, and regional art forms. Our publishing program seeks to counter this by providing a platform for regionally-grounded, culturally-informed scholarship that brings local voices and traditions to international academic audiences.

AREAS OF INTEREST:

Languages & Oral Traditions:

• Documentation and analysis of indigenous and minority languages
• Endangered languages and revitalization efforts
• Oral history and narrative traditions
• Linguistic anthropology and sociolinguistics
• Translation studies and multilingual literary cultures
• Script traditions and the history of writing systems

Art, Visual Culture & Material Heritage:

• Regional and folk art traditions
• Textile arts, ceramics, metalwork, and craftsmanship
• Sacred art, temple architecture, and religious iconography
• Contemporary art rooted in traditional aesthetics
• Museum studies and cultural heritage preservation
• Performance arts: theater, dance, puppetry, and ritual performance

Folklore, Mythology & Popular Culture:

• Regional folklore and mythological traditions
• Folk music, song, and oral poetry
• Festivals, rituals, and ceremonial practices
• Folkloristic approaches to everyday life
• Popular religion and spiritual traditions
• The interplay between folklore and modern cultural production

Regional & Local Studies:

• Community histories and micro-regional developments
• Urban and rural social transformations
• Cross-border cultural exchanges and regional interactions
• Understudied regions and marginalized communities
• Diaspora cultures and transnational identities

Cultural Memory & Identity:

• Memory projects and heritage preservation
• Cultural practices and expressive traditions
• Identity formation in regional and ethnic contexts
• Religion, spirituality, and local belief systems
• Intangible cultural heritage documentation

Customary & Traditional Law:

• Indigenous legal systems and practices
• Customary law in colonial and postcolonial contexts
• Legal pluralism and hybrid legal orders
• Traditional governance and authority structures

Social & Economic History:

• Labor, migration, and trade networks
• Gender, family, and social organization
• Environmental history and land use
• Economic systems and regional development

Colonial & Postcolonial History:

• Regional experiences of colonialism and imperialism
• Resistance movements and decolonization
• Postcolonial state formation and local politics
• Contemporary social and political developments

GEOGRAPHIC EMPHASIS: While we welcome proposals from all Asian regions, we have particular interest in:

• Central Asia (Silk Road cultures, Turkic and Persian traditions)
• South Asia (regional cultures beyond metropolitan centers)
• Southeast Asia (mainland and maritime traditions)
• East Asia (local and minority cultures)
• The Caucasus and Western Asia
• Understudied or marginalized cultural regions across the continent

WE ARE SEEKING:

Doctoral Dissertations:

• Recently defended dissertations
• Dissertations in final revision
• Revised dissertations adapted for broader academic audiences

Monographs:

• Original research by early-career scholars
• Major works by established scholars
• Comparative regional studies

Edited Volumes & Collaborative Works:

• Thematic collections with multiple contributors
• Conference proceedings of high academic quality
• Research outputs from collaborative projects
• Multi-author studies from research teams

Festschriften:

• Volumes honoring distinguished Asian scholars
• Contributions celebrating scholarly careers and impact

PUBLICATION DETAILS:

Book Series: „Asian Studies – Regional Perspectives“

Languages: We publish in English. We also consider manuscripts in French or other European languages on a case-by-case basis.

Format: High-quality print editions and digital/ebook formats

Distribution: Our international bookselling network ensures placement in major Western academic libraries, research institutions, and specialized bookshops worldwide. International cataloguing & WorldCat visibility.

WHAT WE OFFER AUTHORS:

✓ No publication fees or author charges

✓ Professional editorial support throughout the process

✓ International promotion and marketing

✓ Representation at Asian Studies conferences

✓ Long-term commitment to keeping works in print ✓ Ethical publishing practices

✓ Passion for books

 

OUR COMMITMENT:

As an independent publisher supported by our bookselling operations, we are not driven by profit margins or commercial trends. This allows us to:

• Take risks on important but unmarketable scholarship
• Support early-career scholars and emerging voices
• Publish works on understudied regions, languages, and traditions
• Champion research on endangered cultural practices and minority cultures
• Maintain high editorial standards without commercial compromise

We are committed to making Asian regional scholarship — especially work on languages, art, folklore, and cultural identity — visible and accessible to global academic audiences while respecting the intellectual contributions and rights of Asian scholars.

SUBMISSION PROCESS:

Please send your manuscript OR a brief proposal (3–5 pages) including:

1. Project abstract (short) explaining:
   • Research questions and arguments
   • Contribution to scholarship
   • Regional focus and methodology
   • Intended audience
2. Sample chapter (preferably introduction or substantive chapter)
3. Estimated completion date (for works in progress)
4. Any special considerations (e.g., image rights, multimedia elements)

We welcome preliminary inquiries and are happy to discuss potential projects informally before formal submission. If you are unsure whether your project fits our scope, please contact us.

TIMELINE: We aim to provide initial feedback within 2–3 weeks of submission.

CONTACT: Michael Galda,  GALDA VERLAG,  Email: michael.galda[at]galda.com,  Website: www.galda-verlag.de

DEADLINE: This is an open, rolling call. We accept and review submissions throughout the year.

Source: Independent Publisher Seeks Manuscripts on Asian Languages, Folklore & Cultural Studies, H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 US.