[BigBlether] Neoliberal Scotland? Conference call

[Jamie Heckert]

Conference seeking activist participation. Might be of interest.

Jamie

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Neoliberal Scotland? Conference call
Date: 	Thu, 8 Dec 2005 18:06:15 +0000
From: 	David Miller <davidmiller at STRATH.AC.UK>
Reply-To: 	The BSAs Scottish Study Group 
<SCOTTISH-STUDY-GROUP at JISCMAIL.AC.UK>
To: 	SCOTTISH-STUDY-GROUP at JISCMAIL.AC.UK





      _CALL FOR PAPERS

      _

*Neoliberal Scotland?: Rethinking Scotland in the global context

*Department of Geography & Sociology, University of Strathclyde
Glasgow, 21st to 22nd May 2006.

2006 marks seven years since the creation of the Scottish parliament. 
With the Œseven year itch¹ in mind we suggest that the time is ripe for 
beginning a period of critical reflection. The devolution settlement 
seemingly not only represented the Œsettled will¹ of the Scottish people 
but was also the central mechanism through which 'Scottish solutions' 
for 'Scottish problems' were to be delivered.

To encourage a period of critical reflection, the University of 
Strathclyde¹s Department of Geography and Sociology will be hosting a 
major conference, that is intended to help open up a serious debate 
about the impact of devolution on real lives.

Whilst we would welcome a broad range of views and approaches, it is 
recognised that there has been a distinct lack of critical appraisal of 
the rhetoric of de-centralised decision making in relation to the 
reality brought about by an increasingly pervasive underpinning 
neo-liberal ideology. Thus it is intended to explore through debate and 
theoretical and empirical analysis key aspects of Scottish life in a 
holistic way.

It is intended that the conference be informed by the following themes:

… Neo-Liberal Scotland.
… Contemporary Inequalities
… Re­thinking the Œnew¹ Scotland
… Facing up to Neo-Liberalism in Scotland

Among the questions that face us are:

… Is Scotland distinctive or merely a local outpost of neo-liberal 
globalisation?
… Has social democracy survived in Scotland or is neoliberalism in the 
ascendant?
… What mechanisms are being used to embed market processes in the public 
sector?
… Can environmental justice be achieved in Scotland?
… How can privatisation and marketisation of public services be resisted?
… Is sectarianism the same as racism? Does it persist?
… How does Scotland respond to asylum and migration; What should be done?

We would therefore especially welcome contributions in the following areas:

… Privatisation, Partnerships and Profit in the Public Sector
… Corporate Power and the Scottish Ruling Class
… The Corporate Take-Over of Education
… Neo-Liberalism in Practice ­Is Scotland Different?
… Nationalism and Marketisation
… Globalisation and Scotland
… Public Sector ŒReform¹ and 'Modernisation'
… Health Inequalities and Uncertainties
… Resistance/Social Movements
… Environmental justice/sustainability
… Land use
… Poverty/Exclusion
… Criminalisation of Communities
… Neoliberal (in)justice
… Working Class Life in the Œnew¹ Scotland
… Class and power
… Asylum and Migration
… Racism and sectarianism
… One Scotland/Many Cultures?
… Regeneration/Renaissance
… Public Space and the Market
… Scottish Political Culture
… Democracy in Scotland/ Neo-Liberal Networks

A keynote lecture will be given by Leslie Sklair (visiting Professor at 
the University of Strathclyde) on Global Capitalism. We also plan to 
feature debates on understanding and changing Scotland between high 
profile commentators with opposing views (to be confirmed)

*How can you participate?
*We welcome submission of abstracts, proposals for panels, workshops, 
debates and fringe events. We will do our best facilitate these. We 
especially welcome proposals from social movements and others engaged in 
research and/or action on neo-liberalism in Scotland.

*Who can participate?
*The conference is open to all those concerned about understanding and 
changing Scotland. Contributions are welcome form all social science and 
humanities disciplines and from social movements, trades unions, 
activist groups, non governmental organisations and political parties.

It is expected that a key feature of the last day will be discussion and 
debate on how the challenges of neo-liberalism in Scotland can be met. 
In this respect, we would especially encourage the participation of 
activists and grassroots members of political parties and social 
movements. To that end we will ensure that they are able to attend at a 
discounted rate.

To register an initial interest and/or to submit an abstract of around 
*200 words* please email Tricia McCafferty at the address below. Further 
details will be posted on the department¹s website 
(_http://gs.strath.ac.uk_) as they become available or can be obtained 
getting in touch via the details below.


*Costs
*It is our intention to try to keep the cost of participation to a 
minimum. Although the cost has not been finalised yet, we would expect 
that the cost would be in the region of the following:
*Academic, Trade Union & NGO delegates - *£120 (two days inc. lunch)
*Institutionally Supported Students - *£75 (two days inc. lunch)
*Students, Low waged, Activists etc. *- £20 per day (inc. lunch).
*In addition, we intend to award a small number of bursaries to 
facilitate attendance. This is especially (though not exclusively) for 
those wishing to present a paper or facilitate a workshop. Applications 
should be made in writing at any time between 1st January 2006 & 1st 
April 2006.

Abstract submission deadline
*The deadline for the submission of an abstract is 31 January 2006. 
Authors of those papers selected for presentation will be informed by 20 
February 2006.

*Interim Conference Committee
*Christine Cooper, Accounting, University of Strathclyde
Neil Davidson, University of Strathclyde
Andrew Johnson, Education, University of Strathclyde
Patricia McCafferty, Geography and Sociology, University of Strathclyde
David Miller, Geography and Sociology, University of Strathclyde
Phil Taylor, HRM, University of Stirling
Andrew Watterson - University of Stirling
Geoff Whittam, University of Paisley
Dave Whyte, Criminology, University of Stirling

*Supporters
*The conference is supported by the Scottish Left Review, Scottish 
Social Policy Network, the Public Interest Research network, The Network 
of Activist Scholars in Politics and International Relations (NASPIR) 
and the British Sociological Association, Scottish Study Group. 
Endorsement has been sought from the STUC/STURN and the Association of 
Teachers of the Social Sciences.

Groups and organisations wishing to be involved should contact the 
organisers at the details given below.

Tricia McCafferty ­ _patricia.mccafferty at strath.ac.uk_ Tel- 0141 548 
5787; 07778501381
David Miller ­ _davidmiller at strath.ac.uk

_