[URBANTH-L] CFP: GLOBALIZATION: MIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP AND IDENTITY (Nigeria)

Angela Jancius jancius at ohio.edu
Sat Apr 7 17:12:31 EDT 2007


GLOBALIZATION: MIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP AND IDENTITY
Conference Dates: November 6-9, 2007
Conference Venue:University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Submission of Abstracts:April 30, 2007


Globalization challenges traditional concepts of identity, nationalism, and
democracy. it requires new perspectives on migration, integration,
negotiation, and reaction. Contradictorily, globalization has been linked to
regional integration, conflict, development and starvation, prosperity and
instability.  Aided by advances in technology, globalization has expanded
and accelerated the movement of people, ideas, capital and commodities
worldwide.  Accompanied by unprecedented and dramatic increases in
population, agricultural production, industrialization, and trade, it has
placed severe stress on the natural environment and availability of natural
resources (Global Policy Forum,
http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/cultural/). And while one-half of
income worldwide is now generated by trade among nations, 1.3 billion people
are living on less than one dollar a day and 3 billion people, or half the
population of the world, live on less than two dollars a day (Jean-Bertrand
Aristide, Globalization: A View from Below).
Inequality inhibits growth and undermines good public policy, collective
decision making, and social institutions critical to healthy democratic
societies. While there is a real need for new and improved global rules and
regulatory arrangements to provide for public goods, protect the global
environment, manage global financial risks, and discourage anti-competitive
processes, global rules have tended to reflect the interests of the rich
rather than give voice or votes to poorer countries and people (Center for
Global Development,
http://www.cgdev.org/doc/commentary/birdsall/WIDERlecture_inequality.pdf)

Is globalization synonymous with the spread of liberal democracy and free
market capitalism? Or is it oppressive, exploitive and a variant of
imperialism? Are local communities helpless against global forces or
empowered by new avenues of access? Globalization challenges traditional
concepts of identity, nationalism, and democracy. It requires new
perspectives on migration, integration, negotiation, and reaction.
Contradictorily, globalization has been linked to regional integration and
conflict, development and starvation, prosperity and instability. There is
an upsurge in the struggle for rights and recognition from groups unsettled
by the rapid changes of this new global era. Everywhere, mobility, identity
and citizenship are generating mounting tensions while untracked and
undocumented migrations are often identified with crime and terrorism.

How are peoples' allegiances aligned? With their country, employer, local
ethnic community, religion? How are the newly emerging cross-national and
cross-generational umbilical relationships serving communities back home in
the migrants' place of origin? Why does a simple piece of cloth, wrapped
around a woman's head (the hijab) evoke strongly different views and
emotions? Is the rush to find ever cheaper goods and services advanced at
the expense of decent living wages?  What is meant by fair trade?

Sharp contrasts exist between the economic gains of globalization and the
social and political problems it has engendered. New conceptual frameworks
are needed that recognize the "loosening" trend of globalization but also
acknowledge the "tightening" pressures experiences by those unable or
unwilling to participate. These and other questions shall be addressed by
this conference.  The organizers welcome cutting-edge research and
insights,and deep reflections from a variety of perspectives.

Sub-themes include, but are not limited to, the following:

Conceptual issues on Globalization, migration, citizenship and identity
Migration, forced migration, and Diasporas
Ethnicity and ethnic studies vs. globalism
Race and migration myths and stereotypes
Legal and illegal immigrations
Religion, religious issues, new religious movements
Nationalisms, patriotism, and exclusion
Citizenship: civic; community; group; ethnic; cultural
Borders, borderland studies
International movement of capital and labor
Homelands, migration, diasporas and multiple identities
International organizations and global trade
Gender issues in Globalization, migration, and identity
National language debates: unilingualism, bilingualism, or multilingualism
Policy issues: national, regional, international
Conflict, civil wars / genocide
Issues in modern economic migrations within nations
Business and economic issues in globalization
Cultural relations/practices
Governments, leadership and governance

Submission of Abstracts

Interested participants are requested to send an abstract of less than 250
words describing the focus of their papers or panel, the central argument
and the methodology employed. If proposing a panel, please submit the title
and abstract for each paper along with the names and institutional
affiliation of panelists. Whether a paper or a panel, all proposals must
have personal information such as name, institutional affiliation, position
or title, contact phone numbers and/or e-mail address.

Abstracts may be submitted in hard copy or electronically. If the latter,
please save your document in Word or RTF format and send as an e-mail
attachment. In the subject line, please type "Globalization Conference."
Abstracts may be sent to the conference organizer by post or e-mail at the
addresses below.  The language of the conference will be English. Accepted
papers will be considered for publication in the Journal of Global
Initiatives after presentation at the conference.

Acceptance of Papers: Those whose papers are accepted will be notified by
May 30, 2007.
Preliminary Programme and other details will become available by September
30, 2007.

Partners:
Department of History, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Institute for Global Initiatives, Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA
Southeast World History Association, USA

Conference Contacts:

(1) Dr. Olutayo Charles Adesina, Department of History, Faculty of Arts,
University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.Phone: 234-8023151255
(Mobile);234-2-7518427 (Office)  Emails: uihistoryconference at yahoo.com,
olutayo27 at yahoo.com
(2)Ms. Maggie Scott, Institute for Global Initiatives, Kennesaw State Univ.,
Georgia, USA, GA 30144  Email: vbonill1 at kennesaw.edu

Visit the website at
http://www.kennesaw.edu/globalinstitute/globalizationconf.html



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