Here - Society for Socialist Studies

SocietyforSocialistStudies
CongressoftheHumanitiesandSocialSciences
May.30–June.2,2017,RyersonUniversity
http://www.socialiststudies.ca
CallforPapers
UpdatedJanuary16,2017
Theme:
LiberationHereandNow:ContinuityandChangeinSocialistStudiesat50
YearsandBeyond
ThethemeofCongress2017oftheSocialSciencesandHumanitiesis‘FromFar&
Wide:TheNext150’.TakingplaceintheDishwithOneSpoonterritory,basedona
treatybetweentheAnishinaabegandHaudenosaunee,Congress2017atRyerson
Universityreferencesthe150thanniversaryofCanada’sconfederation.Wetherefore
particularlyinviteanalysisthisyearthatcriticallyreflectsonwhatisaffirmedand
whosestrugglesareerasedincelebrationsofCanadaasanation.Asasettler
colonialprojectfoundedonIndigenousdispossession,genocidalpolicies,and
systemicracism,theCanadianstatehascontinuedtoadvancepoliciesandpractices
consistentwiththeintertwinedlogicsofcolonialism,capitalism,whitesupremacy,
andheteropatriarchy.Canada's"dominion"includesthisinternalimperialismand
dispossession,contributingtoresourceextractionthatnowthreatenshuman
survivalworldwide.Atthesametime,Canadaoftenactsatcapital'sbehestinthe
globalSouth,engaginginaneo-imperialprojectthatextendsandreproduces
relationsofexploitationandalienationaroundtheglobe.
WecalluponparticipantstotroubleProjectCanadafundamentally,to
celebratepastandfutureresistancesandsolidarities,andtoengageindialogueon
howtogettoadecolonizedpraxisandcollectiveliberationhereandnow.Aspartof
thisdialogue,weremainopenasalwaystosessions,papers,androundtablesonthe
fullrangeofsocialistinquiry.Wenotehereotherimportantanniversariesin2017,
suchas150yearsofthepublicationofMarx’sCapitaland100yearssincewomen’s
enfranchisementinCanada.Thisconferenceisalsoanimportantopportunityto
reflectontheSocietyforSocialistStudiesatits50thanniversary.HowhasSocialist
Studieshelpedusknowandchangetheworld?Andwhatconversationsand
transformationsneedtohappeninthenext50years?
JoinusinTorontofromMay30thtoJune2ndforfourdaysofwide-rangingand
engagedanalysisanddialogue.Featuredamongmanyothereventsandhighlights
willbeourKeynoteAddress,whichthisyearwilltaketheformofa3-minuteminilecturepaneltitled“Socialism:HistoricallyandToday”.Weighinginonsocialism’s
legacyandcurrentconditionwillbethefollowingscholars:CliffAtleoJr.
(Kam’ayaam/Chachim’multhni),IsabelleAltamirano-Jimanez,HimaniBannerji,
WilliamK.Carroll,AzizChoudry,KenCollier,MarjorieGriffinCohen,GlenCoulthard,
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Grace-EdwardGalabuzi,GaryKinsman,MegLuxton,DorothySmith,andSandra
Rein.
Ifyouwishtosubmitaproposalforapaper,pleasegotoourconferencewebsite
byclickingHERE.Afterclickingthe‘submitanabstract’icon,youwillfirstbeasked
toregisterwithausernameandpassword(ofyourcreation).Then,choosethe
‘conferencetrack’(i.e.,session)bestsuitedtoyourpaper.Theconferencetracks
correspondtothesessionslistedbelow.Ifyourpaperdoesnotseemtofitinto
anyofthelistedsessions,choosethetrack,'GeneralPaper',andwewilltrytofinda
placeforit,eitherinexistingsessionproposalsorinsessionscomposedof
individuallysubmittedpaperslikeyourown.Papertitlesandabstracts
(maximumof100words)shouldbesubmittedbyTuesday,January31,2017.
Thefollowingsessionsarecurrentlyacceptingpapers.Wehopetoseeyouatthe
endofMay!
JamieLawson
SSS2017ProgrammeChair
[email protected]
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AUGMENTINGTHELEFT:CONFRONTINGNEWCAPITALFORMATIONSAND
THERISEOFTHERIGHT
Organizers:AdamKingsmith,YorkUniversity,[email protected];
RobertLatham,YorkUniversity,[email protected]; JulianvonBargen,YorkUniversity,[email protected]
TheelectionofDonaldTrumpisonlythemostrecentexampleofadiscernible
globalturntotheRightacrosstheAmericas,Europe,andAsia.Thisturncomesata
particularlyproblematictime,aspeoplearoundtheworldfacedeepening
environmental,economic,andsocialcrises-withtheturnitselfperhapsbeingpart
ofawidercrisisofpoliticallegitimacy.
OnceagainthefarLeft-anchoredintheMarxiantradition-facesachanging
politicalterrainonwhichitmightrepositionandreorganizeitself-aterrainwithan
amplifiedsetoflongstandingchallengesinvolvingissuesofrace,gender,the
environment,technology,migration,indigeneity,coloniality,culture,andthemedia.
ItishardlyclearhowtheradicalLeftmighteffectivelyadjustitstrajectorytobegin
confrontingsuchissues-aLeftthathasfacedroadblocksandseemsparticularly
fragmentedatthistime.
Itisimportantonceagaintoexamineandtheorizetherelationshipbetween
theissueslistedabove(andtheforcesassociatedwiththem)andwhatistakentobe
coreMarxistconcernswithclass,classconflict,work,relationsofproductionand
reproduction:toconsider,again,onwhattermsandhowaugmentingtheLeftinthe
currentsocio-politicalmomentmightbebeneficial.
Therehavebeenlotsofvectorsofaugmentationacross20thcentury.These
pasteffortsmustbebuiltuponinorderto:a)confrontsquarelythetensions
associatedwithaugmentingor“stretching”Marxismratherthanassumingthem
awaywithclaimsaboutnecessaryhierarchiesofforcesorsomecomfortable
“horizontality”oroneversionof“postism”oranother;andb)situatethe
augmentationprocessandtheoreticalterraininthecurrentsocio-politicalmoment,
withattentiontothepossibilitiesoforganizationforradicalsocialtransformation.
Howmightonereconsiderthefollowing:thewaystheMarxianheritagecan
bedrawnontonavigatethedivisionswithintheLeftandchallengetheriseofan
increasinglyethno-nationalistandauthoritarianRight;connectionsamong
economic(relationsandforcesofproduction),political,andculturalfactors;
connectionsperhapsbestunderstoodasmoebiusstripsratherthanbounded
structures;andunderstandingsofsuchformsaspoliticalconsciousness,identity,
ideology,andinstitutions,astheyrelate,forexample,totheforcesofproduction
andlogicsofclassthathavebeensoimportanttoMarxiananalysissincethe
beginningofcriticaltheory?
CITIESONINDIGENOUSLANDS:SETTLERCOLONIALISM,DISPOSSESSIONAND
RESISTANCE
Organizer:JulieTomiak,RyersonUniversity,[email protected]
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Thissessioninvitespapersthatdiscussvariousformsofdispossession,
displacementandviolenceasintegralandongoingprocessesoftheproductionof
urbanspaceinwhatisnowknownasCanada.Morespecifically,thediscussionwill
focusonhowconceptualizationsoftherighttothecity,propertyandscaleneedto
bereframedtoaccountforthefactthatallcitiesacrossTurtleIslandareon
Indigenouslands.Whatdoesthismeaninrelationtodifferentideas,practicesand
thepoliticaleconomyofcitiesandregions?Possibletopicsinclude,butarenot
limitedto,urbanspacesof/asracistandhetero-patriarchalviolence,policingofcity
spaces,gentrification,homelessness,reclamationsofspace,trans/urbansolidarities
andstrugglesagainsttheforcesofsettlercapitalism.
CORPORATEPOWER,FOSSILCAPITAL,CLIMATECRISIS
Organizers:WilliamCarroll,UniversityofVictoria,[email protected];
ShannonDaub,CanadianCentreforPolicyAlternatives:BCChapter,
[email protected]
Thissessionexplorestheintersectionsbetween(a)networks,structuresand
practicesofcapitalistclasspower(andresistancetoit),ascentredinlarge
corporations;(b)thepoliticaleconomyoffossilcapitalasawayoflifethathas
reachedglobalscale;and(c)theacceleratingclimatecrisis,whoseurgencyseemsto
bematchedbyitsintractabilityatleastwithinthestricturesofcapitalism
itself.Papersshouldaddressallthreeoftheseconcerns,butcanfocusonanyofa
rangeofpowermodalities,includingthefollowing:corporatenetworksandelites,
corporateownershipandcontrol,thefinancingoffossilcapital,corporatesocial
responsibilitydiscourses,thinktanksandcorporateadvocacy,businessactivism
andlobbying,softdenialismandgreencapitalism,carbonenergycommoditychains,
land-basedresistance,just-transitioninitiativesandthedivestmentmovement.
CULTURE,POLITICSANDLIBERATION
Organizer:ScottForsyth,YorkUniversity,[email protected]
Thissessionwillexplorethemesontherelationshipofpoliticsandcultureandthe
wayscultureplaysaroleinstrugglesforliberation.Opentohistoricaldiscussionsof
culturalpracticesinimportantpoliticalmovementsandstruggles,includingculture
intheorganizationsandinstitutionsoftheLeft–parties,unions,local,national,
global.Considerationsofcontemporarydebatesandquestions:Whatisradicalart
now?Whatisthedominatingpowerofcontemporaryculturalindustriesnow?What
arekeydevelopmentsinMarxistaesthetics?Keychangesinpopularcultureandthe
corporateorganizationofcommercialmedia,nationallyandglobally.Significanceof
newmediatechnologiesandpotentiallynewcommunitiesofresistanceinsocial
media.Howwillculturebesignificantinconflictwiththeriseoftheradicalright?
Opentoarangeofsubjectsandsocialistperspectives.
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DÉCOLONISERLAPRODUCTIONSCIENTIFIQUEENSCIENCESSOCIALES:
PERSPECTIVESFÉMINISTES-INTERSECTIONNELLES/DECOLONISING
KNOWLEDGEPRODUCTIONINTHESOCIALSCIENCES:INTERSECTIONAL
FEMINISTPERSPECTIVES
Organizer:ChamindraWeerawardhana,Queen’sUniversityBelfast,
[email protected]
[ScrolldownfortheEnglishversion]
Cepanelapourbutdedévelopperundialogueàlafoistransversalet
interdisciplinairesurlathématiquedeladécolonisationauseindessciences
sociales.L’enseignementetlarechercheensciencessociales,pourlaplupart,
s’inspirentdesapprochesméthodologiquesetdesépistémologieseuro-centriques,
cequiestdeplusenplusremisenquestiondanscertainscontextes(parex.les
recherchessurlescommunautésnativesdel’îledelaTortue,etauseinde
l’universitéafricaine-notammentenAfriqueduSud).Dequois’agit-illorsqu’on
parlededécoloniserl’université,l’enseignementetlarecherche,etcommentpeutonconceptualiserlesliensétroitsentre«décolonisation»et«féminismes
intersectionnels»?Ils’agitd’unsujetquisuscitedevifsdébats,etquiexige
impérativementdesprocessusde«désapprentissage»etderéapprentissage,qui
comprendlaremiseenquestiondecertainesapprochesbienancréesdansnos
méthodologiesdelarecherche.C’estunethématiquequinouspousseàposerdes
questionscritiquesnonseulementsurl’enseignementetsurlaproduction
scientifique,maiségalementsurlaquestiondela«représentation»auseindenos
universités.
Leprésentpanelcomporteraittroisobjectifsprincipaux–a)mettreenplaceun
panelbilinguedédiéàlathématiquedeladécolonisation,faisantlepointsurles
débatscontemporains(quisetiennentplusquesouventenlangueanglaise)etb)
mettreenlumièrel’importanced’uneperspectiveféministe-intersectionnelledans
toutediscussionàproposdeladécolonisation,etc)créeruneplateformedédiéeaux
démographiestrèspeureprésentéesdanslesstructuresuniversitaires.
Toutenaccueillantdesperspectivesvariées,nousinvitonsenparticulierdes
interventions(enfrançaisouenanglais)portantsurlesthématiquessuivantes:
• La«décolonisation»encequiconcernelajusticeauxpremierspeuplesde
l’îledelaTortue
• Décolonisationetle.sféminisme.s–notammentdanslecadrede
l’enseignementetlarechercheuniversitaireensciencessociales
• {Perspectives«décolonnisantes»àproposde}Ladispensedes
enseignementsuniversitairesetlagestiondelarechercheuniversitairesur
lesétudesdites«indigènes»(anglais«IndigenousStudies»),les
perspectivescomparéesserontlesbienvenues.
• Lesenjeuxqu’affrontentlesmouvementsquiexigentla«décolonisation»de
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l’université(notammentparrapportàdescasspécifiques,ycompris
l’universitécanadienne,sud-africaine,etlesétablissementsuniversitaires
despaysjadiscolonisésetàprésent«néo-colonisés»),décolonisationetla
questiondela«représentation».
Encestempsderéflexionsurlesfaitsatrocesd’unlourdpassé,surdescommissions
devéritéetsurlesdébatsàproposdela«réconciliation»,celavadesoiquenous
invitionsenplushauteprioritédespropositionsdecommunicationdelapartdes
universitairesisssu.e.sdespremierspeuplesdelapartiedel’îledelaTortueque
l’onnomme«Canada»(dérivédu«kanata»del’iroquoienaubordde
Kaniatarowanenneh,quiveutdire«village»).Nousaccueillonsenparticulierdes
propositionsdelapartd’enseignantes-chercheuresetdespersonnesbi-spirituelles.
Enoutre,lespropositionsdelapartd’enseignantes-chercheures(cisettrans)
racisées,trèspeureprésentéesdanslemondedel’enseignementsupérieuretdela
recherche,serontégalementprioritaires.
Pourtoutrenseignementcomplémentaire,veuilleznouscontacterparcourriel,
[email protected]@gmail.com.
…
Thispanelisintendedatdevelopingacross-cuttinginterdisciplinarydialogueon
thethemeofdecolonizingthesocialsciences.Toaverylargeextent,teachingand
researchinpoliticalscienceinspiresfromandiscentreduponEurocentric
epistemologiesandmethodologies,whichisincreasinglyputintoquestioninsome
areasinthesocialsciences(forexample,inthefieldofFirstPeoples’/Indigenous
StudiesinTurtleIsland,andinsomeAfricanseatsoflearning,especiallyinSouth
Africa).Whatdowereallyimplywhenevokingthetopicof‘decolonizingthe
university,teachingandresearch,andhowcanweidentifyandconceptualiseclose
interconnectivitiesbetweendecolonizingandintersectionalfeminism/s?Theseare
areasofacademicpreoccupationmarkedbylivelydebates,andanincitementto
activelyengageinprocessesof“unlearning”and“relearning”,whichinvolves
puttingintoquestionapproachesandmethodologiesthataredeeplyingrainedin
academiccircles.Itisatopicareathatnotonlyencouragesustoraisecritical
questionsnotonlyonteachingandknowledgeproductionperse,butalsoonthe
questionof‘representation’inuniversitystructures.
Panelobjectives:
a)Puttingtogetherabilingualplatformdevotedtothethemeofdecolonizing,which
reviewsandtakesstockofcontemporarydebates,and
b)Highlightthevitalimportanceofanintersectionalfeministperspectiveinany
discussionondecolonizing,and
c)Tocreateaplatformdevotedprimarilytoindividualsandgroupswhoare
scarcelyrepresentedinuniversityhierarchies.
Whilethepanelwelcomesavarietyofperspectives,participantsareespecially
encouragedtoexplorethefollowingaxesofreflection:
• DecolonizingandjusticetowardstheFirstPeoplesofTurtleIsland
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•
•
•
DecolonizingandFeminisms–especiallyinthecontextofuniversityteaching
andresearchinthesocialsciences
{Decolonizingperspectiveswithregardto}teachingandresearchinthefield
widelyreferredtoas‘Indigenous’Studies’.Comparativeperspectivesare
especiallywelcome.
Challengesfacingmovementsthatstruggleto‘decolonize’theuniversity
(especiallyintheCanadianandSouthAfricancontexts,aswellasinthe
globalSouth/s,whichhavesufferedwesterncolonizationandcontinueto
sufferfrompresent-day‘neo-colonizing’drives.
Atatimeofreflectiononpastatrocities,ontruthcommissionsanddebateson
‘reconciliation’,itisimperativethatweinvite,withtheutmostpriority,paper
proposalsfromscholars(ofalllevels)whoarefromtheFirstCommunitiesofthe
partofTurtleIslandweknowas‘Canada’(fortherecord,awordthatderivesfrom
Kaniatarowanenneh-Iroquoian‘kanata’(meaning,village/settlement).Weextenda
specialwelcometotwo-spiritedandgender-pluralscholars.Thepanelalsowarmly
welcomesproposalsfrom[transandcis]womenofcolour,whoarescarcely
representedinuniversityteachingandresearch-relatedpositions.
Foranyfurtherquestionsorinformation,pleasecontactusat
[email protected]@gmail.com.
GENOCIDEANDMASSDEATHS:INTIMATEEXPRESSIONSOFLOSSASMODESOF
UNIVERSALGRIEF
Organizers:SimaAprahamian,SimonedeBeauvoirInstitute,ConcordiaUniversity,
[email protected];
KarinDoerr,SimonedeBeauvoirInstitute,MIGSConcordiaUniversity,
[email protected]
Inthefaceofcontinuedglobalviolence,manycontemporarygroupsseekafocuson
theirownparticularhistoryofgriefandinjustice.Astheydoso,theyarelookingfor
modelsofrecountingandcommemorating.Theyfindtheseinparticularinthe
responsestoandresearchoftheArmeniangenocideandtheHolocaust.
Nevertheless,inthenameofhistoricalcontinuationandtransmittingoftheearly
genocidesandothermassdeathsofthepast,weneedtokeeptheminour
consciousnesslestthehistoricalknowledgefallsintooblivion.
Sincethescholarshipoftheseearliercatastrophesisvastandmultifaceted,itmight
beusefultotakeamorepersonalizedapproach.Thisistosay,insteadoffocusingon
theimmensityoftheevildeedsandtheresultingsufferingofthelargenumberof
victimized,webringthecalamitiescloser.Theattentionwillbeonthehumanlevel,
thatistosay,ononepersonandthelossofonewhowassosorelymissed.
Theproposedsessioncallsforpapersthatspecificallyexaminepersonaland
intimateexpressionsoflossandgriefinthecontextofGenocideandmassdeaths
fromafeministandsocialistperspective.
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INSTITUTIONALETHNOGRAPHY:UNDERSTANDINGTHE‘WORK’OF
COLLECTIVELIBERATION
Organizer:DebbieDergousoff,UniversityofBritishColumbia,
[email protected]
Institutionalethnography(IE)wasdevelopedbyDorothySmithasamethodof
inquiryforinvestigatingsocialprocessesthatcoordinatetheworkdonebyactual
peopleinlocalsitestomeettherequirementsandspecificationsofinstitutional
practicesandprofessionaldiscoursesdevelopedelsewhere.IEdoesnotview
institutionalmodesofactionassingularformsofsocialorganization,butrather,as
functionalinterrelatedcircuits.Thishasparticularimplicationsforinvestigating
sitesofandpotentialforcollectiveliberation.Thissessionwelcomespapersthat
openupfordiscussionhowresearchershaveusedinstitutionalethnographyto
examineandunderstandhowworkpracticesorganizeorprecludepossibilitiesfor
eitherorboth'thecollective'andliberation.
STARTREKLEFT:CLASSANALYSISOFSTARTREKORIMAGINATIVEWORKIN
FILMORLITERATURE
Organizer:MervynNicholson,ThompsonRiversUniversity,[email protected]
CansocialistslearnfromStarTrek?TheSocialistStudiesSocietyisnottheonly
thingturning50.StarTrekbeganappearingin1966,andbecameanentertainment
andculturalphenomenonfollowingthatappearance,continuingtounfoldinnew
formsandseriesovertheyearsandneverlosingitspopularity.Whatdoesclass
analysistellusaboutthisincrediblypopularandinfluentialTVshow(andmovie
series)?Whatdoesclassanalysisrevealaboutotherworksofimaginationinfilmor
inwrittentexts?
THEMEXICANCRISESANDNORTHAMERICAINTHENAFTAANDTRUMPERA
Organizer:RichardRoman,UniversityofToronto,[email protected]
ThispanelwillexplorethedeepeningcrisesofMexicoandofMexicanworkersin
theUnitedStateswhereracismtowardsMexicansandthethreatofmass
deportationofimmigrantshasbecomethebattlecryoftheincomingTrump
government.TheinterplaybetweenMexico’smultiplecrisesandtheTrumpattack
onMexicoandMexicanscreatesavolatilesituation.Thispanelwelcomespapers
thatdealwithanykeyaspectoftheMexicancrisisand/orthecrisisofMexicans
withintheU.S.andmostespeciallytherelationshipbetweenthetwo.
NEWPERSPECTIVESONTHEHISTORYOFTHEJEWISHLABOURMOVEMENT:
ONEHUNDREDANDTWENTYYEARSOFSOCIALISTINTERNATIONALIST
ACTIVISM
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Organizer:RoniGechtman,MountSaintVincentUniversity,
[email protected]
Ontheone-hundred-and-twentiethanniversaryoftheJewishLabourBundandthe
one-hundredthanniversaryoftheFebruaryandOctoberRussianRevolutions,this
panelwillbringtogetheragroupofinternationalscholarstoshowcasenew
perspectivesonthehistoryoftheYiddish-speakinglabourmovementandreassess
itsroleininternationalsocialistpoliticsandinJewishandEastEuropeansocial
life.FoundedinCzaristRussiainOctober1897,theJewishLabourBundwas
instrumentalintheestablishmentoftheRussianSocialDemocraticWorkers’Party
(thepartythatwouldlatersplitintoMensheviksandBolsheviks).TheBundactively
participatedinthe1917RevolutionsuntilitwasliquidatedbytherulingBolsheviks
duringtheRussianCivilWar.Itthenbecameamassmovementininterwar
Poland.TheBundconsistentlyfavouredinternationalistcommitmenttoworkingclassrevolutionaryactivismovernationalistdemands;its‘national’programwas
restrictedtodefendingtherightsofJewishworkersintheplaceswherethey
lived.AftertheexterminationofitsEastEuropeanconstituencyduringthe
Holocaust,theBund’ssurvivorsscatteredanddevelopedatrulytransnational
movement.Itspoliticalinfluence,however,diminishedindirectproportiontothe
strengtheningofitsmainpoliticalrivals:communismandZionism.Politicaldefeat
andgenocidealmosterasedtheJewishlabourmovementfrombothJewishand
labourhistoriographyformanydecades.Morerecently,therehasbeena
resurgenceofscholarlyinterestintheBund,asanewgenerationofscholarsis
finding,initsunwaveringcommitmenttobothinternationalistrevolutionary
socialismanddemocracy,itsprogramofnational-culturalautonomy(asan
alternativetonationalism)anditsintransigentstruggleagainstclassoppression
andfascisminalltheirforms,lessonsthatarerelevanttothedilemmasofthe
present.
PHYSICALCULTUREWITHINSOCIALISTTHEORIESANDMOVEMENTS
Organizer:SamuelMartinClevenger,UniversityofMaryland,[email protected]
Thedevelopmentoftheoriesandparadigmsstudyingthecentralityofthebodyand
physicalcultureaffordssocialistthinkers,activists,andtheoristswithuseful
analyticalinsightfor,amongotherthings,rethinkingtheconceptionandalienation
ofhumanbeingsas“productiveworkers”andprovidingmorenuanced
understandingsofthebodyasanideologicalandmaterialinstrumentwithin
processesandrelationsofpower.Thissessionwelcomespapersthatfurtherthis
imperativeandfocusontheroleofthebody,embodiment,andpracticesofphysical
culturewithinsocialisttheoriesandmovements,andtheirsignificancewithin
historicalandcontemporarypoliticalcontexts.
RECLAIMINGALTERNATIVEANDGRASSROOTHISTORIES
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Organizers:KirstenKozolanka,CarletonUniversity,[email protected];
UlliDiemer,Connexions,[email protected]
Thispanelfocusesonalternativeandgrassrootsmediaandothernon-mainstream
perspectivesandartifactsthataremissingorincompleteinourhistory,aswellas
theimportanceofreclaimingourradicalpastthrougharchivingasanagentof
change.Thestateofarchivingsuchmediaandartifactsisexamined,aswellasits
complexityanditsfuture:whereisourradicalhistoryandwhatlessonscouldand
mustitteachus?
REVOLUTIONWASRIGHTAROUNDTHECORNER:THENEWLEFT,MARXISM,
CULTUREANDPARTY
Organizer:ScottForsyth,YorkUniversity,[email protected]
AnexplorationoftheNewLeftintheCanadian1960sand1970swithfocusonthe
micro-partiesthatformedandgrewforadecade.Seekingdiscussionofdebatesin
Marxismandworldsocialism,conceptionsofpartyandorganization,approachesto
cultureandcounter-culture,strategies,successesandfailures.
ROJAVAREVOLUTIONINSYRIA:DECOLONIZATION,NATIONALLIBERATION
ANDDEMOCRATICSELF-RULE
Organizers:BehnamAmini,YorkUniversity,[email protected];
GulayKilicaslan,YorkUniversity,[email protected];
SardarSaadi,UniversityofToronto,[email protected]
Sincethe2011uprisingsintheMiddleEast,themajorityKurdishpopulatedareasof
northernSyria,i.e.Rojava,havebeenexperiencingenormoussocialandpolitical
transformationsoftenreferredtoas‘Rojavarevolution.’Struckbyalonghistoryof
colonizationandimperialistinterventionsaswellasauthoritarianismofsecularand
religiousmodernstates,peopleinRojavahavebeendevelopingademocratic
alternativetotheoppressiveandexclusivemodernnation-statesystem.Theideaof
‘democraticconfederalism’,developedbyAbdullahOcalan,hasbeencentralto
Rojavarevolution.Itrejectsthecreationofanewnation-stateasasolutiontothe
plightsofoppressedandcolonizednations,andadvocatestheformationof
confederatestructuresofdemocraticself-rulethroughpeople’sassembliesand
communeswhichchallengetheruleofcapitalandpatriarchy,andcelebratethecoexistenceofethnicities,religionsandlanguages.Thispanelintendstoreflectupon
variousaspectsoftheRojavarevolutioninSyria.
SELF-EMANCIPATION,SOCIALMOVEMENTSANDDEMOCRACY–RETHINKING
THERUSSIANREVOLUTION
Organizer:PaulKellogg,AthabascaUniversity,[email protected]
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TherevolutionaryupheavalsinRussiain1917,createdaframeforthetheoryand
practiceofleftpoliticswhich,forseveralgenerations,structuredtheactivityof
thousands.Formany,theRussianRevolutionwasamodel,becausewebelieveditto
embodythepoliticsofself-emancipation–articulatedintheRulesoftheFirst
Internationalas,“theemancipationoftheworkingclassesmustbeconqueredbythe
workingclassesthemselves.”Thispanel–onthecentenaryoftheRussian
Revolution–willinterrogatethisbelief.Whatweretheactualrelationshipsbetween
thepoliticsofself-emancipationandthepoliticsoftheRussianRevolutionaries?
Whatweretheactualagentsofchangeintherevolutionaryyearsopenedby1917?
Howdoweproperlyevaluatetheactivitiesoftherevolutionariesofthaterafrom
thestandpointofthepoliticsofself-emancipation?Whatarethelessonsfromthis
thatmightbeimportantfortheNewLeftsofthe21stcentury?
SEX/GENDERLIBERATIONANDSOCIALISM:KEYDEBATES
Organizer:AlanDavidSears,RysersonUniversity,[email protected]
The‘sexualrevolution’sincethe1950shaspointedoutthelimitationsofstruggles
forfreedomintherealmsofgenderandsexualitythatleavecorestructuresof
oppressionandexploitationintact.Practicesofsexualityandgenderaregrounded
infundamentalrelationsofclass,colonialism,disability/ability,andracialization.
Theemergenceoftheconceptsofhomonormativity,homonationalismand
transliberalismmarksthedevelopmentofformsoflesbian,gay,bisexual,transand
queer(LGBTQ)existencewithintheboundsofthesedominantrelations.
Thenextwaveofsexualrevolutionfacesthechallengeoftransformingthese
fundamentalpowerrelationsaspartofabroaderstruggleforfreedom.The
developmentofthisnextgenerationofstrugglearoundsex/genderliberation
requiresustoworkthroughimportantdebatesabouttherelationshipbetween
gender,sexuality,race,classandcolonialism.Thesessionaddressesdebatesabout
thestrengthsandweaknessesofsocialisttheoriesandpracticesinaddressingthese
debatesandprovidingstrategiesforsex/genderliberation.
THESTATEOFTHEPRIVATIZATIONDEBATEINCANADA,EH?
Organizer:SusanSpronk,UniversityofOttawa,[email protected]
WiththerecentannouncementoftheLiberalGovernmentoftheprivate
infrastructurebank,theprivatizationdebateisasrelevantasever.Privateservices
indiversesectorsasdiverseasroads,hospitals,education,electricity,drinking
waterandsanitationhaveproventobemoreexpensiveandofpoorquality,
particularlyfromanequityperspective.Asaresult,manygovernmentsaroundthe
worldarenowreversingprivatecontractsinatrendknownasremunicipalization
orcontracting-in(insteadofcontractingout).TheCanadiangovernment,
unfortunately,seemstobebuckingthistrend,promotingpublic-private
partnershipstofundfederalinfrastructure.Thispanelinvitescontributionsthat
reflectonthestateofthedebateonprivatizationandalternativesinCanadaand
beyond.Papersthatpresenttheoreticalwork,comparativeworkand/orcase
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studiesareencouraged.Paperswillbeconsideredforapotentialthemedissuetobe
publishedinStudiesinPoliticalEconomy.
STRATEGIESTORESISTCORPORATIZATIONINCANADA'SUNIVERSITIES
Organizer:ClairePolster,UniversityofRegina,[email protected]
AlthoughthecorporatizationofCanadianuniversitieshasbecomeanestablished
topicofdiscussionandanalysisattheannualmeetingsoftheCSAandotherlearned
societies,relativelylittleattentionhasbeenpaidtothequestionofhowtoresistthis
harmfulprocess.Thisroundtablesessionaimstofillthisgapbyfocusingexclusively
onstrategiesandtacticstochallengecorporatization.Tothisend,panelistsare
invitedtosharetheirexperienceswithpastorongoingeffortstoresistone(or
more)corporatizingpolicyorinitiativeintheirowninstitution,andtodistillfrom
themlessonsthatcanbeappliedinotheruniversities.Panelistsmayalsopresent
proposalstoresistuniversitycorporatizationthatareinspiredbyvarioussocial
theories/thinkers,socialmovements,and/ortheirownactivismoutsideof
academia,providedthattheyareconcreteandviableinthecurrentCanadian
universitycontext.Contributorswillhave5-10minuteseachtopresenttheirwork.
Followingthis,ampleopportunitywillbeprovidedforallthoseinattendanceto
collectivelydiscussanddebatestrategiesandtacticsforconfrontingcorporatization
inwaysthatrestoreandstrengthenthepublicservingfocusofCanadianhigher
education.
SUBJECTIVITYANDIDENTITYINSETTLERCOLONIALCANADA
Organizer:ElenaChou,YorkUniversity,[email protected]
AlthoughdiversityisoftendepictedasacherishedCanadianvalueand
multiculturalismasemblematicofourcollectiveCanadianidentity,Canadianstate
policiesandculturalpracticeshavehadvaryingeffectsonthesenseofselfandthe
identity-makingpracticesofCanadians.Thispanelinvitespaperswhichexplorethe
waysinwhichsubjectivityandidentityhavebeenshapedbyandconstructedin
dialecticalrelationwiththesettlercolonialcapitalisthistory,policiesandideologies
oftheCanadianstateoverthepast150years.Topicsmayfocuson,butarenot
limitedtoracializationand‘Othering’practices,indigeneity,intersectionswithother
categorizations/identities(race,gender/sexuality,class,ability,citizenship/status,
etc.),whitesupremacy,im/migrationand/orcitizenshippractices,ruraland/or
urbangeographies,Canadiannationalidentity/ies,Canadianmulticultural
discoursesandpolicies,Canadianculture/sandculturalpractices(art,music,
fashion,sports,leisureactivities,etc.),socialmovements,andneoliberalor
conservativeideology/politicalmovements.
WALTERBENJAMIN,REVISITED
Organizer:AndrewThompson,[email protected]
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Sincethe1968SchockenBookspublicationofWalterBenjamin'sIlluminations,
English-languageaudienceshavegeneratedanextensivesecondaryliterature
comprisedofexegeses,biographicalsketches,andculturalcommentaryrelatedto
BenjaminandBenjaminianthemes.However,upuntilthispoint,theseengagements
havetakenplaceoutsideofthecontextofovertfascistascent.Asaresult,manyof
theexplicitoperationalandstrategicdimensionsofBenjamin'scontributionsto
anti-fasciststrugglehavebeenoverlookedinthesecondaryliterature.Inthispanel,
presenterswillconsiderBenjaminfromthestandpointoftheconcretestrategic
contributionsthathisworkmightmaketoourcurrentfightagainstfascisminthe
UnitedStatesandbeyond.
WOMENINREVOLUTION
Organizer:SandraRein,UniversityofAlberta,[email protected]
Althoughweknowthatwomenhavebeenkeyrevolutionariesthroughouthistory
andthatwomen'sparticipationinrevolutionisanecessityforsuccess,thereisboth
alost"history"ofwomeninrevolutionarymovementsandanundertheorizationof
womenintheprojectionoffuturerevolutionarymovements.Thispanelinvitesa
rethinkingofwomeninrevolution,askingtobothrevisitthethinkingand
participationofhistoricalwomenrevolutionariesandtotheorizewhatrolegender
(andothersubjectivities)mustnecessarilyplayinprojectingnewrevolutionary
movementsandmeaningfulalternativestocapitalism.
150YEARSOFCANADAANDCAPITAL:VOLUME1
Organizer:AdamBelton,UniversityofAlberta,[email protected]
ThisyearnotonlymarksCanada’s150yearsofconfederation,butalsomarksthe
150thanniversaryofthefirstpublicationofMarx’sCapital:Volume1.Withinthis
monumentalwork,webenefitfromthemasterfulinterconnectionofhisformative
concepts–includingcommodities,labour-power,surplus-value,andcapitalist
accumulation–intoasocio-historicallygroundeddevelopmentaltheory.This
sessioninvitessubmissionsrelatingtoconcepts,themes,andideascrystallizedin
thisgroundbreakingvolumeofMarx’smagnumopus.Ofparticularinterestare
contributionsthatconnectCapitaltoCanadiansocietytoillustratehowMarx“got
thisright,butgotthatwrong”,andcelebratethe150yearsofdiscussionaboutthe
critiqueamassedinCapital:Volume1.
INTERDISCIPLINARYFEMINISTSESSIONSATCONGRESS2017/APPELÀ
PROPOSITIONSDECOMMUNICATIONS:SESSIONSFÉMINISTES
INTERDISCIPLINAIRESAUCONGRÈS2017
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Membersoftheassociationsco-sponsoringthesetwointerdisciplinaryfeminist
sessionsatCongressarecirculatingthiscallforpaperstotheirmembers.Proposals
mayONLYbemadeontheCanadianSociologicalAssociation(CSA-SCS)website,
butmembersofotherco-sponsoringassociationsmayproposepaperstothese
sessionswithoutbe(com)ingmembersofCSA-SCS.Deadlineforproposals:Jan27,
2017.
/Lesmembresdesassociationsquico-marrainentcesdeuxsessionsféministes
interdisciplinairesauCongrèstransmettentcetteinvitationàleursmembres.Des
propositionspeuventêtresoumisesSEUELEMENTsurlesitewebdelaSociété
canadiennedesociologie.Toutefoislesmembresdesautresassociationsquicomarrainentpeuventproposerdescommunicationspourcessessionssansêtreou
devenirmembredeCSA-SCS.Datelimitepourlespropositions:27jan,2017.
SESSION1:WORKINGINAHOSTILEENVIRONMENT:INTERDISCIPLINARY
FEMINISTANALYSES/TRAVAILLERDANSUNENVIRONNEMENTHOSTILE:
ANALYSESINTERDISCIPLINAIRESETFÉMINISTES
Thissessioninvitesfeministanalysesthatexamineexperiencesofworkingina
hostile,morespecificallyananti-feminist,environment.Theanalysesmaybe
experientiallybased,withinparticularacademicunitsand/oruniversities,orthey
maybebasedonresearchthathasbeendoneaboutenvironmentswhicharehostile
towomen,particularlytofeminists.Analyseswhichareactionorientedare
welcome:howtocopewithandhopefullyalterthehostileenvironment,including
resistancetoneo-liberalizationprocessesthataretransforminguniversities.There
willbeopportunityforinterdisciplinary(andinteruniversity)discussionamong
presentersandwiththeparticipatingaudienceabouttheseissues.
/Danscettesessiononinvitedesanalysesféministesquiexaminentdes
expériencesdetravaillerdansunenvironnementhostile,qui,plusprécisémentest
unenvironnementantiféministe.Lesanalysespeuventêtrebaséessurlevécuau
seind’unitésacadémiqueset/oudesuniversitésprécises,ouilspeuventdécoulerde
larecherchequiaétéentreprisesurdesenvironnementsquisonthostilesaux
femmes,plusparticulièrementauxféministes.Desanalysesquivisentdel’action
sontlesbienvenues:commentcomposeravec,et,onl’espèrebien,modifier,
l’environnementhostile,ycomprisenrésistantdesprocessusnéolibérauxqui
transformentnosuniversités.Ilyauralapossibilitédediscussion-
interdisciplinaire(etinteruniversitaire)parmilesintervenant(e)setavecl’auditoire
-autourdecesproblématiques.
SESSION2:INTERDISCIPLINARYFEMINISTSTRATEGIESTHATRESIST
OPPOSITIONTOSOCIALLYENGAGEDRESEARCHANDINCLUSIVENESSIN
PEDAGOGY/DESSTRATÉGIESINTERDISCIPLINAIRESETFÉMINISTESQUI
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VISENTÀRÉSISTERÀL’OPPOSITIONÀL’ENGAGEMENTSOCIALENRECHERCHE
ETÀL’INCLUSIVITÉENPÉDAGOGIE
Thissessioninvitesanalysesoffeministstrategiesofresistanceontwofronts:those
thatresistoppositiontothesocialengagementandsocialchangeorientationsthat
characterizemuchresearchdonebyfeminists;andalsoresistancetothemicroaggressionthatmaybedirectedtopedagogywhichintegratesanintersectional
analysisofgender,race/ethnicity,class,orientation,ability,citizenshipstatus(and
otheraxesofsocialpositionoridentity).Presentersareinvitedtoreflectcritically
onthesephenomena.Discussion,bothamongthepresentersandwiththeaudience
willbeanimportantcomponentofthissession.
/Danscettesessiononinvitedesanalysesdedeuxvoletsdestratégiesféministesde
résistance–larésistanceàl’oppositionàl’engagementsocialetauxorientations
visantlechangementsocial,approchesquicaractérisentbeaucoupderecherche
entreprisepardesféministes;etaussilarésistanceàl’agressiond'ordremicrooùon
opposelapédagogiequiintègreuneanalyseintersectionnelledegenre,race/ethnie,
classe,orientation,capacité,citoyenneté(etd’autresaxesdepositionsocialeou
identité).Oninviteuneréflexioncritiqueàcessujets.Ladiscussion–entre
intervenant(e)setavecl’auditoire–seraunvoletimportantdecettesession.
Tosubmitaproposaltoeitherofthesesessions:/Pourprésenterune
propositionpourl’uneoul’autredecessessions:
Gotohttp://www.csa-scs.ca/submissions-Youwillfirstbeaskedtoregister,witha
usernameandpassword(ofyourcreation).Onthenextscreengotoauthorand
clickon‘newsubmission’.Onthenextscreenfollowinstructionsfor‘startinga
submission’.Youarefirstaskedtoidentifythe‘conferencetrack’forthesubmission
–thisisthesessionname(allarelistedalphabeticallybysessiontitleinthedropdownmenu).Thencontinueon,followingtheinstructions.
/Allezàhttp://www.csa-scs.ca/submissions:Saufpourvotreinscription,toutesles
instructionssontenanglaisetenfrançais.Dansl’inscription(enanglais),onvous
demanded’aborddevousinscrire,avecunnometunmotdepassequevous
choisissez.Ensuiteallezà‘author’etcliquezsur‘newsubmission’.Ensuite,suivez
lesinstructions,enfrançais,pour‘Startinganewsubmission’.Onvousdemande
d’abordd’identifierle‘conferencetrack’pourlaproposition–ilfautchoisirlenom
delasession(toutessontdanslalistedumenu,enordrealphabétiqueselonletitre
delasession,enanglais).Ensuitecontinuez,selonlesdirectives.Votrerésuméet
votreprésentationéventuellepeuventêtreenfrançais.
Co-SponsoringAssociations/Associationsquico-marrainentcessessions:
CanadianAssociationforSocialWorkEducation/Associationcanadiennepourla
formationentravailsocial(CASWE/ACFTS)
CanadianAssociationfortheStudyofWomenandEducation(CASWE-ACÉFÉ)
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CanadianCommitteeonWomen’sHistory/Comitécanadiendel’histoiredes
femmes(CCWH/CCHF)CanadianResearchInstitutefortheAdvancementof
Women/Institutcanadienderecherchesurlesfemmes(CRIAW/ICREF)
CanadianPoliticalScienceAssociation(CPSA-ACSP)
CanadianSociologyAssociation/SociétéCanadiennedesociologie(CSA/SCS)
SocietyforSocialistStudies–Sociétépourétudessocialistes(SSS-SES)
Women’sandGenderStudiesRecherchesFéministes(WGSRF)
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