[URBANTH-L] CFP: IMISCOE Cluster B6 Workshop on Ethnic, Cultural, and Religious Diversity

[Angela Jancius]

[x-posted from H-Migration]


Call for Papers
IMISCOE Cluster B6 Workshop on Ethnic, Cultural, and Religious Diversity

University of Amsterdam, Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies (IMES),
Amsterdam, May 26-28, 2005

This 3-in-1 workshop revolves around a set of thematic streams reflecting areas
of developing concern and interest. Each of the three streams (‘Ethnic Diversity
and Urban Public Space’, ‘Ethnic Minority and Immigrants’ Cultural Productions
as Forms of Political Expression’ and ‘Public Religion and Secular Democracy’)
is described below. The workshop will highlight current work, lead to
publications (either as IMISCOE working papers or as special issues of
journals), and form the basis for potential collaborative projects.
We wish to underscore the inter-dependent nature of the stream. We want to
ensure that the workshop does not splinter into discrete groups, but rather wish
to foster the cross-fertilization of ideas, findings and methods. Therefore we
identify common interests in migration and various forms of diversity found
across all three streams. These commonalities may be exemplified through
discourse and practice, policy and politics, and/or spatiality. Each stream will
ideally be comprised of 8-10 paper presenters from both inside and outside the
B6 Cluster and IMISCOE itself; 5-8 papers will then be selected for publication.
We will also convene a pre-workshop meeting with post-grad students as well as
include slots for post-grad presentations within the main workshops.

Stream 1: Ethnic Diversity and Urban Public Space
Convener: Jan Rath, University of Amsterdam While manifestations of cultural and
religious difference—cultural production—are contingent on urban conditions,
urban conditions are constantly changing due to the dynamics of cultural,
religious and other differences. This holds true especially for manifestations
in and of public space, as public space is a key site of encounter.
The objective of Stream 1 is to examine the interrelationship of manifestations
of religious and cultural diversity in and of urban public spaces on the one
hand, and the production and reproduction of social, political and economic
relations on the other. This interrelationship is manifested in: i) Changing
streetscapes (architecture, e.g. parks, religious buildings) and shopping areas
(e.g. ethnic businesses; ethnic precincts); ii) Changing order and action in
public space (festivals and parades; local music scenes; use of public space).

Stream 2: Ethnic Minority and Immigrants’ Cultural Productions as Forms of
Political Expression
Convener: Marco Martiniello, University of Liège This stream examines the extent
to which immigrant and ethnic popular cultural productions (music, literature,
etc.) can be analyzed in terms of political expression and participation,
especially at the city level. Themes include: i) The political relevance of
ethnic minorities and immigrants cultural productions; ii) Culture as a means to
be politically active; and iii) The link between cultural production and
collective identities.

Stream 3: Public Religion and Secular Democracy
Convener: Veit Bader, University of Amsterdam This stream involves comparative
research on institutionalized regimes of governance of religious diversity in
Europe, their impact on organization and mobilization of immigrant minorities
(and vice versa), and on their societal and political incorporation in general
as well as on different varieties of a ‘reformist’ Islam in European countries
in particular. This topic should be combined with a broad normative evaluation
and result in rules of thumb for alternative institutions and policies.

Agenda and Applications
The 3-in-1 workshop will start with a dinner party on Thursday evening, May 26,
2005. The next day begins at 9 AM with a plenary welcome session, followed by a
series of stream meetings held simultaneously. The workshop will be concluded
after another plenary session in which the three themes will be brought together
on Saturday May 28 at 3PM. This allows participants to return home on Saturday
evening.
Funding is available for paper presenters. Those interested are asked to send an
abstract of 500 words max. on the topic, aims and objectives of the paper. After
the deadline of the abstracts (February 15, 2005) the conveners will select the
most interesting proposals and invite the authors to the workshop. Papers must
be circulated up front.

Post-grad pre-workshop meeting
PhD candidates and other post-graduate students are invited to attend the
workshop. We encourage them to present a full-fledged paper, but short research
notes are also welcome.
In addition, PhD candidates who choose to sign up for the pre-workshop meeting
are expected to study a short reading list and to prepare a presentation of
their research plans. During the pre-workshop meeting, which starts on Wednesday
May 25 around noon, students will discuss the literature and each other’s
research plans. Upon successful completion of the post-grad pre-workshop meeting
and the workshop itself, post-graduate candidates earn credits. The Programme is
the equivalent of a 4 European credits module if the following requirements are
fulfilled: i) required readings; ii) active participation in the meetings to a
total of 20 contact hours or more, iii) successful presentation of a research
proposal and/or paper.

For further information contact one of the conveners (and CC to the two others):
Jan Rath, e-mail <mailto:j.c.rath at uva.nl>j.c.rath at uva.nl
Marco Martiniello, e-mail
<mailto:m.martiniello at ulg.ac.be>m.martiniello at ulg.ac.be
Veit Bader, e-mail <mailto:v.m.bader at uva.nl>v.m.bader at uva.nl

Web
<http://users.fmg.uva.nl/jrath/B6workshop.htm>http://users.fmg.uva.nl/jrath/B6workshop.htm

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