CONFERENCE

THE CLASS BETWEEN: FIRST CALL FOR CONFERENCE PAPERS

UPDATE: This conference has now been postponed until late 2004.

Venue: The University of Wollongong
Hosted by: CAPSTRANS (Centre for Asia Pacific Social Transformation Studies) and ISSCI (Institute for Social Change and Critical Inquiry), University of Wollongong

Convenors: Dr Tim Scrase (CAPSTRANS/Sociology), Professor Andrew Wells (Dean, Faculty of Arts), Dr Ruchira Ganguly-Scrase (CAPSTRANS).

This conference aims to explore and interrogate the emerging middle classes in Asia—their reformation, prospects, and influences (political, cultural and social) in an increasingly globalised and economically liberalised world. Scholars with expertise in political-economy, anthropology, sociology and modern history of Asia are invited to attend. We especially welcome proposals and papers that are based on original, empirical research and are up-to-date. Younger scholars (enrolled in, or recently completed, PhDs) are especially encouraged to attend.

The conference will be concerned with 4 central themes:

• to delineate and articulate the concept of the “middle class” in light of contemporary political-economic circumstances;
• to explore the range of social influences that the middle classes exert in areas like education, in terms of consumption, and in politics;
• to analyse the various responses of the middle classes to changing economic and social circumstances emanating from globalization;
• to compare and contrast research from a range of Asian societies and localities.

This will be a refereed conference. Abstracts (Paper title; Your name; Position & contact details; 150-200 words abstract) are to be submitted to Dr Tim Scrase by email by 20 October 2003. The conference refereeing committee will evaluate your abstract within 2 weeks of receiving it. Once approved, written papers are to be submitted by 31 December to allow time for the refereeing process. Fully refereed (and edited) papers will then be published in the conference proceedings in February.

Abstracts (other enquiries) to: Dr Tim Scrase.