Call for papers

The Construction of ‘Us’ and ‘Them’:
Discourses on populism and nationalism

University of Helsinki, 7-8 September 2007

A key
theme in politics, which translates to many fields of study, is
identification * or disidentification. ‘Us’ and the sometimes equally
relevant ‘them’ are articulated at various levels from the family circle,
to the neighbourhood, local identifications, sub-cultural groups,
political parties and social movements, and further to the level of
nationhood and beyond. These may overlap or draw from each other in the
process of their articulation. One of the cases in contemporary Europe,
are the overlapping identifications with the EU, nation, region and the
locality. They may also deal with populism, exclusion and minorities.

A useful tool for recognising and understanding the logics operating in
these processes is discourse theory. The key note speaker at the
conference is professor Ernesto Laclau - an author of, most recently, On
Populist Reason (2005), and also Hegemony and Socialist Strategy; Towards
a Radical Democratic Politics (Verso: London, 1985, with
Chantal Mouffe), New Reflections on Revolutions of Our Time (1990), and
Emancipation( s) (1996). Laclau’s discourse theory have made major
contributions in the field of politics, but also history, literary
studies and sociology, as well as area studies. This is his first visit
to Finland.

The conference seeks to discover different cases, logics and phenomena in
the construction of ‘us’ and ‘them’. Papers addressing nationhood and
populism are particularly sought for, but other ‘we’ groups may also be
studied, with focus on either empirical or theoretical problems - or a
combination of both.

The aim of the conference is to allow a truly interdisciplinary forum for
the study of these questions. The conference language is English.
Abstracts for presentations (ca. 150 words) should be emailed to the
conference organiser by 15 March 2007.

The conference is organised by Emilia Palonen on behalf of the Academy of
Finland funded research
project Nations and Their Others: The Finns and the Hungarians since
1900, led by Heino Nyyssönen. It is supported by the Aleksanteri
Institute, the Department of Government and the Collegium Helsinki at the
University of Helsinki.

Contact:
Dr. Emilia Palonen,
University of Helsinki
emilia.palonen@ helsinki. fi
emiliapalonen@ yahoo.co. uk
(please use both addresses)
Tel. +358 40 5077198

Conference: Beyond the Nation?: Critical Reflections on Nations and Nationalism in Uncertain Times
School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy
Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland
12-14 September 2007
(Pre-conference Workshop, 10-12 September 2007)
Deadline for submission of title/abstract: 1 March 2007
Paper acceptance notification 2 April 2007
Registration Deadline: 14 May 2007

Few ideas have proved more alluring and yet controversial than nationhood and nationalism. Celebrated by some as the source of political value and a key organizational principle, decried by others as treacherous and intellectually moribund, the nation and its attendant ideologies have endured despite the momentous upheavals of the 20th century. But in an age of increasing globalization and political fragmentation, does the nation have the relevance it once had? Are we, in short, finally moving into a post-national era? A major interdisciplinary conference, “Beyond the Nation? Critical Reflections on Nations and Nationalism in Uncertain Times” will explore the nation and nationalism as realities and ideals in the early 21st century. Its goal is to bring together leading international researchers and thinkers from the fields of nationalism studies, ethnic conflict studies, multiculturalism, comparative politics, European studies, international relations/theory, political history, political theory/philosophy, social history/theory, and law to critically interrogate the role and viability of nationalism in our time.

The conference will take place in Queen’s University Belfast’s central campus and run over a three day period, from Wednesday 12th to Friday 14th September inclusive. It will be comprised of three strands, each strand taking the form of a workshop devoted to a particular sub-theme(s) or discipline(s). There will be a number of plenary and keynote speeches, as well as social events on each of the evenings, including Friday 14th September.

The conference is open to those who intend to present papers and those who simply want to attend the various workshops. If you would like to give a paper, please submit a title and abstract (150-300 words) to the appropriate workshop convenor. For further details about the conference please visit:
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPoliticsInternationalStudiesandPhilosophy/NewsandEvents/BeyondTheNationConference2007/#d.en.51488

http://geostudycenter.blogspot.com/

Jean Monnet International Summer Seminars, Rome and Bozen, Italy,
18th June – 13th July 2007

“INTEGRATING EUROPE IN A CHANGING WORLD”

In order to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Rome Treaty, the traditional Jean Monnet Chair International Summer Seminar, which has by now reached its 4th edition, doubles!!! The University of Rome Tor Vergata, in collaboration with the Free University of Bozen, proposes 3 intellectually stimulating Seminars dedicated to the exploration of the changing “nature of the European beast” in an ever-changing world. They all propose an innovative and stimulating teaching method with over 10 different speakers every week!

Seminar 1 will take place from the 18th to the 22nd of June in Rome and will focused on the Decision-Making, Negotiations and Lobbying in the European Union. The lectures will alternate with theoretical background with roundtables with practitioners – decision-makers, MEPs, EU officials, lobbyists, etc and will end with the simulation of a co-decision. This Seminar will therefore be an exciting hands-on course focusing on the complex EU decision-making procedures under Pillar I and the way it can be influenced by both internal and external actors.

Seminar 2 will take place from the 25th to the 30th of June in Bozen and will devote its attention to the Economic and Monetary Constitution of the European Union. The lectures will focus on the implications of the principle of free movements of goods in the evolution of the EU. The changing nature of national barriers, the European Monetary Union and the adoption of the Euro and their implication both for the internal market and the trade relationships with third countries are just a few of the issues tackled with during this Seminar.

Seminar 3 will take place from the 2nd to the 13th of July in Rome and it is our traditional and highly-prestigious Summer Seminar dedicated to the domestic and external dimensions of Integrating Europe in a Changing World. The first week will be dedicated to the EU domestic integration, with particular focus on the impact of the 2004 and 2007 enlargements and the status of the Treaty for a European Constitution in the process of “widening and deepening” Europe. The second week will be dedicated to the impact of the EU in the world; particular focus will be put on the changing nature of the transatlantic relations and the impact of the recent US
legislative elections in their current evolution, on the role of the EU in the Middle East peace process and the rise of Asia as an undeniably important actor in the world affairs.

The Seminar is organized in collaboration with the Center for American Studies, it is financed by the European Commission in Brussels and goes under the patronage of prestigious local and international institutions such as the Italian Parliament or the Lazio region and Municipality.

The Opening Lecture will be given by the Vice President of the European Convention and the former Prime Minister of Italy, Prof. Giuliano Amato. Other esteemed speakers – coming from all over the world - will include Prof. Andrew Moravcsik (Princeton University);
Amy Verdun (Jean Monnet Chair at the University of Victoria, Canada);
Leopoldo Nuti (University Rome 3);
Stefano Grassi (Secretariat General of the European Commission);
Martin Holland (National Centre for Research on Europe in New Zealand);
Prof. Geoffrey Miller (New York University, Stuyvesant P. Comfort Professor of Law);
Prof. Jean-Victor Louis (Emeritus Professor, Université Libre de Bruxelles);
Philomena Murray (Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence of Melbourne, Australia);
Charis Xirouchakis (Head of the Public Relations of the Council of EU Ministers) and many other international faculty, diplomats, academicians, journalists, EU officials, etc.

The Summer Seminars addresses primarily graduate and PhD students, young professionals. Exceptionally skilled senior undergraduates can be accepted on an individual base. It will be a highly intensive and selective programme, according to the tradition of the Rome Summer Seminars, held under the umbrella of the Jean Monnet Chair.

The teaching body will be composed of an unique mix of top international Policy Makers, Diplomats and Academicians, from both Europe and US and there will be over 10 different speakers each week! The participants will have the opportunity to obtain ECTS/US Credits: Summer Seminars 1 and 2 will award 4 ECTS/2 US credits each, whereas Seminar 3 will give 8 ECTS/4 US credits to its participants. Additional credits (up to 4 ECTS/4 US credits) can be gained by writing a paper on a topic assigned by the Jean Monnet Chair.

The tuition fee is of 900€ per week (i.e. 1800€ for the Summer Seminar 3). Students attending more than one course will be entitled to a 20% discounts. Some scholarships are available and awarded on the basis of merit and need. Room and board are not included in the tuition fee. Organizers may assist students in these issues.

The deadlines for applications are the 31st of March 2007 (for grant requests) and 30th April 2006 (for full-tuition paying students). Acceptance will be notified within one month after the deadline.

Applicants shall provide: the filled in Application Form, a personal statement of purpose, a letter of recommendation, a Curriculum Vitae, a copy of diplomas or a transcripts of grades. Applications by email are warmly advised.

For further information, please visit our website at www.ue.uniroma2. it or contact us at eu.summer.school@ uniroma2. it.

WORLD ASSEMBLY OF YOUTH

STATEMENT ON WORLD AIDS DAY

1 DECEMBER 2006

Today is World AIDS Day – an occasion to commemorate the challenges posed by a pandemic that has had a devastating effect on mankind, in particular the youth.

More than half of the 60 million people who have been infected by HIV in the past 20 years have been young people aged between 15 and 24. Twelve million young people are today living with HIV/AIDS, and 6,000 more infected every day: that is 250 infected every hour.

On this revered occasion, we would like to call upon all stakeholders, partners, governments and youth organisations to reflect on the recommendations made by the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) at its 14th General Assembly (Windhoek, 2005):

Youth and Policy

1. National Youth Councils (NYCs) need to be involved throughout the development process of any policy affecting youth and HIV/AIDS

2. Create an enabling environment for appropriate laws and polices by promoting policy dialogue for HIV/STI prevention and care at all levels to mobilize resources, ensure ownership and sustainability, and promote a rights-based approach

3. Foster the participation of all youth in HIV/AIDS policy development and programmes, including those with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS

4. Work closely with a single-coordinating National AIDS Council and promote the decentralization of AIDS councils down to the local levels

5. NYCs need to be autonomous to prevent overly strong influence from their ministries to enhance their prominence at regional and international levels

6. Establish Youth Parliaments in countries where they do not exists to create a platform of consultation among lawmakers and youth

Gender Dimensions

7. Mainstream gender dimensions into all aspects of STIs and HIV/AIDS interventions, including: educational attainment, elimination of gender-based violence/coercive sex, empowerment of women and girls to exercise rights, empowerment to negotiate condom use, elimination of harmful traditional practices and all forms of stigma and discrimination, redefinition of stereotypical gender roles, and increased positive involvement of men and boys

Prevention

8. Prevention must remain the key strategy in combating HIV/AIDS. Preventive-educatio n consisting of raising awareness, developing knowledge and skills to reduce infections, access to care, support and counseling, and empowering decision-makers from national to community levels

Multi-Sectoral Approach

9. Employ a multi-sectoral program approach as the roots of the HIV/AIDS epidemic are complex, reflecting cultural, economic, legal, and gender-based challenges

10. Policies and programmes must address the underbelly of the HIV/AIDS epidemic by simultaneously focusing on gender, culture, poverty, and human rights to eliminate the vulnerability barriers surrounding HIV/AIDS

11. Respect cultural dimensions of HIV/AIDS while addressing harmful practices, and supporting adherence to the internationally endorsed principles of human rights

Community Mobilization

12. Results-based programmes targeting behaviour change should be founded on evidence-based socio-cultural research of culture, attitudes, and practices of all beneficiaries reflecting young people, and the community leaders who are the custodians of cultural norms and practices

13. Engage community and its traditional, religious and cultural leaders in programme design to encourage ownership, acceptability, utilization and sustainability

14. Family-unit must be targeted in HIV prevention programming as the first agent of socialization among young people

Sexual and Reproductive Health

15. Capacity development for professionals, service providers, teachers and other members of the school community, as well as peer educators and parents to address youth sexual and reproductive health needs

16. Utilize Sexual and Reproductive Health programmes as entry point for HIV/AIDS initiatives (i.e. maternal health, family planning, and STI management) to provide HIV prevention counseling, HIV voluntary counseling and testing, male and female condoms, STI management, and antiretroviral drugs

17. Comprehensive condom programming to improve availability, access and use of both male and female condoms for dual protection;

18. Development of skills for prevention and management of STIs and counseling

19. Advocacy for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV (VCT) care and support;

M&E

20. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plan must be integrated into any NYC-lead programme on HIV/AIDS, and NYCs should strive to provide monitoring assistance to government-driven HIV/AIDS programmes among young people

Knowledge Sharing

21. Adopt culture of information- sharing and cross-fertilization of good practices between countries at all levels

22. Networking between regional NYCs should be systemized

23. Networking with community associations and institutions playing critical roles in defining social norms

24. Take initiative to train ourselves as youth leaders to understand and enhance the role of young people in moving youth platform forward

25. Promote and package awareness and advocacy initiatives that build on the positive socio-cultural values and norms in communities to address the adolescent/youth SRH needs and concerns

Resources

26. Investment of modest resources to combat HIV/AIDS now will prevent high economic and human costs in the future

27. Programme design must ensure that maximum resources allocated through National Youth Councils are reaching intended beneficiaries

28. Advocate for government support towards research and development of nationally produced ARV’s, and lobby for access to free and/or subsidized ARVs

29. Advocate for non-politicalizatio n of the Global Fund to ensure funds are provided fairly and to countries with limited resources and worst affected by HIV/AIDS

30. Create and maintain partnership with governments, Donors, UN agencies, Breton Woods Institutions (BWI), regional and sub-regional institutions and others to mobilize resources, materials and technical assistance for HIV/AIDS programming

Actions for World Assembly of Youth

31. Establish a WAYAIDS Fund through the Secretariat to coordinate, catalyze and mobilize funds for NYC-managed HIV/AIDS Programmes

32. Utilize the central WAYAIDS Fund to expand strategic alliances with national governments, NGOs, bi/multi-lateral donors, private sector, media, FBOs, CBOs, PLWAS

33. WAY ExCo and NYCs should better reflect gender equity in its membership

34. WAY should define and practice a consistent classification of “youth” to ensure suitable participation, and that program and policy is addressing intended beneficiaries.

Let us rise to meet the HIV/AIDS Challenge!