Call for papers
Inter-disciplinary Conference: The Politics of Social Cohesion
Centre for the Study of Equality and Multiculturalism, University of
Copenhagen, 9.9-12.9.2009
The concept of social cohesion is becoming increasingly important in
politics as well as public opinion. In particular, migration and the forms
of ethnocultural diversity to which it gives rise are increasingly
considered causes of conflict and destabilizing factors in contemporary
democratic regimes, in part because such diversity is believed to undermine
important values, including trust and solidarity. The main idea is that
social identities determine attachment to and solidarity with those who
belong to one's group and separation and detachment from those who do not
belong. As a result of this, it is further feared that diversity tends to
undermine social spending and ultimately the welfare state. One aspect of
these developments is that the work of social scientists on social cohesion
is increasingly becoming politicized.
This inter-disciplinary conference aims to address social cohesion and the
political uses to which this concept is put, in particular in relation to
ethnocultural diversity. Important questions include:
* What are the mechanisms through which social or national identities
foster cohesion (e.g. trust and solidarity) and inclusion, and what are the
mechanisms through which they foster conflict and exclusion?
* To what extent does the empirical evidence support various political
claims about the importance of e.g. shared national identities as a
precondition for solidarity and peaceful community life?
* Which kinds of community are (most) conducive to integration and
stability, e.g. is citizenship enough?
* How is immigration related to social cohesion and levels of social
spending?
* Why have social cohesion discourses gained such prominence in
contemporary liberal societies?
* What do normative ideals such as liberty and equality imply with
respect to a) immigration policies that aim at protecting/fostering social
cohesion, and b) what we may legitimately expect from minorities and
majorities with respect to conforming to a shared identity?
* Do multicultural policies undermine social cohesion?
Confirmed speakers include:
Keith Banting, Policy Studies, Queen's University
Nils Holtug, Philosophy, University of Copenhagen
Christian Joppke, Government, American University of Paris
James Jupp, Immigration and Multicultural Studies, Australian National
University
Niels Kærgård, Economics, University of Copenhagen
Yngve Lithman, Sociology, University of Bergen
Andrew Mason, Social Science, University of Southampton
Per Mouritsen, Politics, University of Aarhus
Gert Tinggaard Svendsen, Politics, University of Aarhus
Eric Uslaner, Government and Politics, University of Maryland
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 1. May 2009.
Read more here: http://cesem.ku.dk/calendar/2009/politics_of_social_cohesion/
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Nils Holtug
Director, Centre for the Study of Equality and Multiculturalism
Associate Professor, Ph.D.
Philosophy Section
Department of Media, Cognition and Communication
Njalsgade 80
DK-2300 Copenhagen S
Denmark
email: nhol@hum.ku.dk
phone: +45 35 32 88 81
fax: +45 35 32 88 50
web: http://cesem.ku.dk/
web: http://mef.ku.dk/
