[URBANTH-L]Everyday Multiculturalism Conference - Call for Papers

[Amanda Wise]

Everyday Multiculturalism

A two day Conference
28th and 29th September 2006
Centre for Research on Social Inclusion, Macquarie University
and the ARC Cultural Research Network


CALL FOR PAPERS

While research on Australian multiculturalism and racism is well developed
in Australia, qualitative research into everyday modes of lived
multiculturalism, remains fairly limited. This two day conference seeks to
bring together researchers exploring everyday experiences of cultural
diversity and difference. 

The conference will be divided into two parts:

1) Everyday Multiculturalism - Open theme
Day one will be an open themed day on Everyday Multiculturalism. Papers in
this section will engage with the quotidian dimensions of living with
diversity. Quotidian diversity has variously been described as
togetherness-in-difference (Ang 2000), and inhabiting difference (Hage
1998). We take the term to mean those perspectives on cultural diversity
which recognise the embodied or inhabited nature of living with cultural
difference. We are particularly interested in papers that focus on the
intersections and relationships between cultural groups, rather than
research taking a single ethnic group as a focus. Papers may explore the
interconnections between the everyday and larger discourses; everyday
interconnections, affinities, and solidarities, and everyday disjunctures,
discomforts, and racisms. Papers may explore modes of living with and across
difference in suburbia or regional Australia such as through food,
neighbouring, shopping or sport, or issues such as multicultural
place-sharing, and battles over place identity and belonging. Papers which
take an embodied approach, such as through frameworks such as affect or
Bourdieu's habitus are also particularly welcome. 

2) Cronulla and the Everyday Politics of Cultural Difference in Suburbia
Day two papers will present a collection of new work reflecting on the
Cronulla riots - the causes, the riots themselves, and their ramifications.
The Cronulla riots caught many commentators by surprise. Some commentators
argued that the riots were a symptom of everyday tensions, others argued
that Cronulla represents a failure of multiculturalism, while still others
argued that it was a result of a decade of dog-whistle politics in
Australia. Racism, ethnocentrism and other forms of prejudice are often born
out of everyday encounters with difference intertwined with national and
global politics and discourses. The aim of this day will be to offer an
opportunity to scholars to present works-in-progress around the Cronulla
issue.

We invite proposals from any discipline that engage with any aspect of
everyday multiculturalism with a special focus on those employing grounded
methodologies such as fieldwork, interviews, focus groups and ethnographic
participant observation.

Registration details, keynotes, and conference info will be announced
shortly.
Please submit abstracts of 250 words or less with a short biographical
paragraph by 30th June 2006 to  <mailto:selvaraj.velayutham at scmp.mq.edu.au>
selvaraj.velayutham at scmp.mq.edu.au 

Convenors: Dr Amanda Wise and Dr Selvaraj Velayutham
Centre for Research on Social Inclusion, Macquarie University
Enquiries:  <mailto:selvaraj.velayutham at scmp.mq.edu.au>
selvaraj.velayutham at scmp.mq.edu.au or  <mailto:amanda.wise at scmp.mq.edu.au>
amanda.wise at scmp.mq.edu.au 
Website:  <http://www.crsi.mq.edu.au/> www.crsi.mq.edu.au 

 

Dr. Selvaraj Velayutham
ARC Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Centre for Research on Social Inclusion
Building E7A 706
Macquarie University NSW 2109 
Australia 
Tel: 9850-4426