[csaa-forum] Everyday Multiculturalism Conference - Call for Papers

[Selvaraj Velayutham]

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 selvaraj.velayutham at scmp.mq.edu.au 

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