CALL FOR PAPERS

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 

THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL RELATIONS: RETHINKING PREJUDICE AND TOGTHERNESS IN TIMES OF CRISIS

21-23rd May 2014, Cutler’s Hall, Sheffield, UK

In the 1990s J.K. Galbraith suggested that contemporary western societies were characterised by a ‘contented majority’ – who were economically successful and secure had little in common with, or concern for, excluded minorities. In the 21st century Jock Young (2007) argues that this culture of contentment is a myth. He points out that the rapid social and economic change that has characterised the recent past has made the world seem a less reliable or secure place for majority as well as minority communities. The global demand for flexible labour and the impact of the global financial crisis have reverberated through the employment structure creating chronic job insecurity even amongst the professional middle class. 

This economic insecurity has been exacerbated by a process of individualisation in which individuals now have greater choice about how to live their lives than previous generations but are also increasingly held responsible for managing the social risks that ensue from this freedom. At the same time, de-traditionalisation and a growing awareness of the pluralism of values has meant old institutions of family, community, and religion no longer offer the same levels of security/certainty. The pressures of these economic and social transformations are knocking onto communities as well - with population change, mobility and economic/social uncertainty all creating insecurities over the competition for resources and rights between social groups.  As a consequence there is a risk that social responsibility, trust and social cohesion may become casualties with the consequent (re)emergence of a heightened intolerance of difference; the desire for stricter (real and symbolic) boundaries between self and other; and the increasing scapegoating/demonization of certain groups in society producing new patterns and forms of prejudice (evidenced for example by an increase in support for far right and extremist parties across Europe) - despite the development of equality legislation.

In this context a number of scholars have begun to argue that we need to rediscover a broader framework of social solidarity, recognising that the insecurities of the risk society demand an ‘ethic of care’ for those unlike ourselves. Yet, while there is growing evidence that the growing proximity of difference is producing positive encounters which have been celebrated as cosmopolitanism the question of how such everyday interactions predicated on acts of care or kindness for 'others' can be scaled up to achieve wider social change and a truly progressive society remains unanswered.

We therefore invite papers from any discipline or geographical context that critically engage with the future of social relations to stimulate further debate about the changing nature of prejudice and intolerance in the 21st century and to identify new strategies for developing inclusive societies and creating togetherness. 

Confirmed Speakers and Panellists
To be confirmed

Themes
Potential topics for submissions might include, but are not limited to: 
•	Prejudice and discrimination in all its forms (e.g. Islamaphobia, racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, disablism, ageism etc.);
•	Xenophobia;
•	Tolerance and/or Intolerance; 
•	Insecurity/security
•	Emotions (e.g. fear, hurt, anger, compassion, love)
•	Violence or conflict;
•	Stigma & demonisation
•	Normalcy/normativity;
•	Political correctness;
•	Resilience;
•	Mobility – and its consequences (e.g. immigration; transnationalism)
•	Boundaries;
•	Encounters;
•	Contact zones;
•	Good relations;
•	Togetherness;
•	Ethics of care
•	Equality;
•	(In)justice;
•	Interculturalism;
•	Social cohesion;
•	Social solidarity;
•	Social responsibility;
•	Inclusive societies

Submission of Abstracts 
The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 16 December 2013. Abstracts of up to 300 words should be emailed to [log in to unmask] Abstracts should include a title, the presenter(s) institutional affiliation(s) and contact details. Authors of accepted abstracts will be notified in the week commencing  20 January 2014. 

Accommodation and Registration
Sheffield has a great range of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets.  Delegates will have the opportunity to make on-line reservations at best rates, on a selection of hotels that are being reserved for use by the conference delegates.   Details of the hotels and booking process will be available on the conference registration pages.  Registration will open on 01 February 2014. The conference registration fee is £120, with a reduced rate of £60 for postgraduates.

About the Venue
The Cutler’s Hall is a conference venue in a historical building (home of the company of cutlers) which has been important in the story of Sheffield. It is located in the Centre of the City and in walking distance or a short taxi/tram ride from the railway station. 

The City of Sheffield is easy to explore, and includes interesting attractions including art galleries (e.g. the Millenium Gallery), the Crucible Theatre, the Botanic Gardens and museums dedicated to the cities industrial heritage. Sheffield is also less than 20 miles from the Peak District National Park and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. For more information about Sheffield see www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/tourist-information and the surrounding attractions in the Yorkshire countryside see http://www.yorkshire.com/

Sheffield is close to a number of airports (approximately 1 to 1.5 hours) including: Manchester Airport, Doncaster/Sheffield Airport, East Midlands Airport and Leeds Airport.

Organised by:
This conference is organised on behalf of the European Research Council funded project – Living with Difference: making communities out of strangers in an era of supermobility and superdiversity led by Professor Gill Valentine, with colleagues Ulrike van Vieten, Catherine Harris, Lucy Jackson, Aneta Piekut and Lucy Mayblin. For more information about the research programme please visit the Living with Difference website http://livedifference.group.shef.ac.uk/

If you require further information about the conference or have any queries please contact either: Gill Valentine – [log in to unmask]; Cristina Molina-Hall ([log in to unmask]) or  Ulrike Vieten ([log in to unmask])