[csaa-forum] National Social Cohesion Conference - call for papers

[Selvaraj Velayutham]

CALL FOR PAPERS

National Social Cohesion Conference
“Integration & Citizenship: The future of Australian
Multiculturalism”

29-30 June 2007
Macquarie University, Sydney Australia 

As a framework for living with cultural diversity the ideal of
multiculturalism has come under increasing attack in recent years both
in Australia and overseas. In the last two years a subtle shift in
policy has begun to take place involving a greater emphasis on notions
such as integration and social cohesion. In Australia this shift in
debate has been driven by policy trends in places such as the
Netherlands and the United Kingdom. However notions such as social
cohesion, citizenship, and integration remain ill-defined and there is
yet to be a serious debate in this country about what they might mean in
the Australian context, and indeed, whether our so far successful model
of multiculturalism needs to be renovated at all. 

This shift in debate comes at a time of increased concern in some
circles over the ability of certain ethnic communities, especially
Muslims, to integrate into Australian society. Despite Australia’s
reputation as a nation committed to the notion of a ‘fair go’, such
criticisms often verge on racism such that Australian Federal Police
Commissioner Mick Keelty felt the need to say, “You hear more and more
stories of treatment of the Islamic community that really is substandard
by members of our own wider community….If we are not careful we risk
raising a generation of Australians who will have a bias against
Islam.” 

This conference seeks to set a national platform to explore how to work
towards a socially cohesive society in the context of contemporary
realities and challenges. The issues of integration and citizenship
within the current and future framework of Australian Multiculturalism
will be examined. Abstracts addressing the broad theme of the conference
or any of the following focus areas are invited for submission: 

●	‘Social Cohesion’: what should it mean in Australia?
●	Is ‘integration’ just a new word for assimilation, or
something more inclusive of diversity?
●	Where to now for multiculturalism?
●	The Australian values debate.
●	The new Citizenship Test.
●	Are there double standards in these debates; higher expectations
for some to demonstrate they are ‘good citizens’?
●	Has multiculturalism led to communities leading ‘parallel
lives’ or is the picture more complex? 
●	Building bridges across difference while valuing diversity.
●	The ‘civic’ contribution of migrant communities to
Australia.
●	Citizenship as an identity, as a legal status, or as a set of
everyday practices? 
●	Dynamics of Integration and its management.
●	Everyday Integration.
●	Perspectives on multiculturalism from diverse Muslims.
●	Social Inclusion and Muslim women’s dress-code.
●	New Racisms, new stereotypes.
●	The impacts and consequences of Islamophobia, racism and
marginalisation.
●	Marginalised youth & anti-social behaviour.


Abstracts of 300 words & short bio by 15 April 2007 to: 
crsi.conference at scmp.mq.edu.au 
All media and presenter enquiries should also be sent to that address.


CONFERENCE WEBSITE: www.crsi.mq.edu.au 

Convened by:
Affinity Intercultural Foundation
Centre for Research on Social Inclusion, Macquarie University
University of Western Sydney
University of Technology Sydney