Author: Tommaso Vitale Date: To: ML movimenti Bicocca Subject: [movimenti.bicocca] Development and Social Movements in the
Countries of the South
> > The Africa/Asia/Latin America Scholarly Collaborative Program
>
> APISA - CLACSO - CODESRIA International Workshop
>
> Theme: Development and Social Movements in the Countries of the
> South:
> Successes, Dilemmas and Challenges
>
> Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19-20 November, 2007
>
> Call for Applications
>
>
>
> The Asian Political and International Studies Association (APISA),
> the Latin
> American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) and the Council for the
> Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) are
> pleased to
> announce the Africa/Asia/Latin America scholarly collaborative
> initiative
> encompassing joint research, training, publishing and dissemination
> activities by researchers drawn from across the global South, and
> to call
> for applications for participation in the South-South workshops
> they are
> organising within the framework of the initiative. The theme that
> has been
> selected for the third workshop being hosted under the auspices of
> CLACSO
> is: Development and Social Movements in the countries of the South:
> successes, dilemmas and challenges. The workshop will take place
> in Rio de
> Janerio, Brazil, from 19 to 20 November, 2007.
>
>
>
> Within the ambit of the APISA-CLACSO-CODESRIA collaboration, a
> series of
> activities and programmes has been scheduled for implementation
> over the
> period to the end of 2007, among them three annual workshops. The
> workshops
> are designed to serve as a research forum for the generation of
> fresh and
> original comparative insights on the diverse problems and
> challenges facing
> the countries of the South. In doing so, it is hoped also that the
> workshops
> will contribute to the revival and consolidation of inter-regional
> networking among Southern researchers, foster a culture of Southern
> scholarly cross-referencing, and contribute to a type of theory-
> building
> that is more closely attuned to the shared historical contexts and
> experiences of the countries and peoples of the South. The
> workshops are
> rotated among the three continents where the lead collaborating
> institutions
> are located, namely, Africa, Asia and Latin America. This way,
> participants
> in the workshops who are also drawn from all three continents are
> exposed to
> the socio-historical contexts of other regions of the South as an
> input
> towards the broadening of their analytical perspectives and the
> improvement
> of the overall quality of their scientific engagements. The inaugural
> workshop was held on the Asian continent, with Kuala Lumpur,
> Malaysia,
> serving as the host city; other workshops have been held in Caracas,
> Venezuela; Pretoria, South Africa; Kampala, Uganda; Bangkok,
> Thailand; and
> San José, Costa Rica.
>
>
>
> 1. THE 2007 WORKSHOP:
>
> For the 2007 session of the South-South international workshop
> that is to
> take in Latin America, it has been decided by APISA, CLACSO and
> CODESRIA to
> host it in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. CLACSO will assume overall
> responsibility
> within the tri-continental partnership for the session. The
> workshop will
> run from 19 to 20 November, 2007. It is a requirement that
> prospective
> laureates should have a demonstrable working knowledge of the English
> language. APISA, CLACSO and CODESRIA will work together with the
> local host
> to facilitate the procurement of entry visas to Brazil for the
> prospective
> participants whose applications are successful. At the end of the
> workshop,
> each participant will be expected to produce a publishable article
> which
> will be considered for inclusion in the book of proceedings that
> will be
> issued.
>
> As a complementary activity, it is expected that the selected
> scholars also
> participate in an open International Seminar on Social Movements,
> to be held
> on 21, 22 and 23 November at the premises of the State University
> of Rio de
> Janeiro (UERJ).
>
> 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION:
>
> Scholars resident in countries of the South and who are pursuing
> active
> academic careers are eligible to apply to participate in the
> workshops. Each
> applicant should have an advanced university education and an
> established
> track record of research and publishing in any of the disciplines
> of the
> social sciences and humanities. Selection for participation will
> be on the
> basis of a competitive process. All together, 12 people will be
> selected for
> participation in the institute on the basis of four each from
> Africa, Asia
> and Latin America. The full participation costs of the selected
> laureates
> will be covered, including their travel costs (economy return air
> tickets),
> accommodation and subsistence.
>
> 3. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
>
> Every researcher wishing to be considered for selection as one of
> the 12
> scholars to be invited to participate in any of the research workshop
> organised within the framework of the APISA-CLACSO-CODESRIA tri-
> continental
> partnership is required to submit an application that will
> comprise the
> following key items of documentation:
>
> a) An outline research proposal, written in English, on the
> subject on which
> s/he would like to work. The topic selected must be related to the
> theme of
> the workshop and should have a demonstrable comparative potential.
> Proposals
> should not exceed 10 pages in length and should have a clearly
> defined
> problematic which can be followed through further research and
> culminate in
> a publishable scientific paper;
>
> b) A covering letter, of one-page, which should indicate the
> motivation of
> the prospective researcher for wanting to participate in the
> workshop and
> explaining how they envisage that they and their institution will
> benefit
> from the programme;
>
> c) An updated Curriculum Vitae complete with the names of the
> professional
> and personal references of the researcher, the scientific
> discipline(s) in
> which s/he is working, the nationality of the applicant, a list of
> recent
> publications, and a summary of the on-going research activities in
> which the
> applicant is involved; and
>
> d) A photocopy of the highest university degree obtained by the
> applicant
> and of the relevant pages of his/her international passport
> containing
> relevant identity data;
>
> 4. APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE
>
> As the international workshop involve the participation of
> researchers from
> Africa, Asia and Latin America, it has been decided that
> applicants resident
> in Africa should submit their applications to CODESRIA, those
> resident in
> Asia to APISA and those resident in Latin America to CLACSO. The full
> contact details for APISA, CLACSO AND CODESRIA are reproduced
> below for the
> attention of all prospective applicants. The deadline for the
> receipt of
> applications is 1 October, 2007. Applications found to be
> incomplete or
> which arrive after the deadline will not be taken into consideration.
>
>
>
> An independent Selection Committee charged with screening all
> applications
> received will meet shortly after the deadline for the receipt of
> applications. Successful applicants will be notified immediately the
> Selection Committee completes it work.
>
>
>
> African applicants should send their applications to:
>
> CODESRIA,
>
> (2007 South-South Research Workshop),
>
> BP 3304, CP 18524, Dakar, SENEGAL
>
> Tel: (221) 825 9822: Fax: (221) 824 1289
>
> E-mail: south.seminar@???
>
> Website: http://www.codesria.org >
> *****
>
> Asian applicants should send their applications to:
>
> APISA,
>
> (2007 South-South Research Workshop)
>
> Strategic Studies and International Relations Program
>
> Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, MALAYSIA
>
> Tel: 603- 89213647; Fax: 603-89213332
>
> E-Mail: secretariat@???
>
> Website: www.apisanet.com >
> *****
>
> Latin American and Caribbean applicants should send their
> applications to:
>
> CLACSO,
>
> (2007 South-South Research Workshop)
>
> Callao 875, 3º (1023) Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
>
> Tel: (54 11) 4811-6588 / 4814-2301; Fax: (54 11) 4812-845
>
> E-mail: programa_sur-sur@???
>
> Website: www.clacso.org >
> **********
>
> Concept Paper
>
> Development and Social Movements in the Countries of the South:
> Successes,
> Dilemmas and Challenges
>
> Since the decade of the 90s, there has been a rapid multiplication
> of social
> movements across the South, a trend which continued into the new
> millennium
> as to become a distinguishing feature of the 21st century. In
> addition to
> traditional unions and civil society and human rights
> organizations, a
> variety of new urban land and rural movements, organizations of
> indigenous
> peoples and feminist groups, among others, emerged both to play a
> major
> socio-political role and to contribute to shifting the frontiers
> of praxis.
> Some of these movements came to fill important spaces in the
> terrain of
> politics, and to assume decisive decision-making functions. Others
> developed
> a major international profile, animating sessions at big
> international
> conferences organized by the United Nations. The fields covered by
> the
> social movements are broad: Environmental issues, sustainable
> development,
> education, health and housing, cultural rights, and the fight against
> discrimination and other forms of intolerance. The new movements have
> enriched the debate of ideas on global change, including
> participation in
> successive World Social Forums organized in different cities of
> the world
> where the struggle for the democratisation of national and
> international
> institutions, among other issues, have been pursued with a view to
> securing
> sustainable human development, reducing inequalities between the
> rich North
> and the poor South, and guaranteeing decent conditions of life and
> livelihood for all.
>
>
>
> Without doubt, the social movements of the South have contributed
> in an
> original way and in no small measure to the ideas' debates and to the
> promotion of concrete interventions for change. Some of them have
> performed
> an important role of solidarity-building and the re-composition of
> the
> social fabric in different local contexts, thereby expanding and
> consolidating their discursive and representative platforms,
> especially in
> those countries where the state has been weakened and/or has
> abdicated its
> responsibilities in crucial social sectors such as education and
> health.
> Although it is true that the social movements of the South rarely
> have a
> trans-national character and - in comparison with the national
> conglomerates
> and multi-national companies that dominate the agro-business
> industry, the
> media and the financial sector - exercise a limited degree of direct
> influence on many states, it is also clear that, in the light of
> recent
> changes, they have built up a capacity for local action and the
> mobilisation
> of international solidarity. In Africa, this has, for instance,
> manifested
> itself in the creation of an international network of associations
> that have
> sought to couple human security and democratic governance. In
> parts of Asia,
> a trans-national network to combat discrimination on the basis of the
> circumstances of birth has emerged to play a frontline role in the
> struggle
> for democracy. And in Latin America, indigenous movements have
> built up
> their influence to fight for cultural rights and land justice. In
> sum, the
> social movements have contributed to the promotion of debate
> around the idea
> of a pluricultural and democratic state that accommodates the
> citizenship of
> all without sidestepping difference.
>
>
>
> The challenges arising from the efflorescence of social movements
> at the
> beginning of the 21st century are many. Sociologists and Political
> Scientists have focused on their defensive role, a role the movements
> assumed on account of the erosion of the social responsibilities
> of the
> state, particularly with regard to education, health and social
> security,
> among others, and the privileging of a socio-economic logic whereby
> individualism prevails against collective ties. But there has also
> been a
> proactive aspect to the interventions of the movements. Such
> proactivity has
> given momentum to the quest for alternative sustainable development
> strategies that are sensitive to the livelihood concerns of the
> populace and
> to the challenges of diversity. One of the central pillars of the
> discourses
> promoted by the social movements and the actions they have taken
> is their
> critique of a monocultural and linear conception of development and
> modernization, a model which has become visible in the new
> extractive-productive models that are generalized in the different
> regions
> of the South. These models are integral to various elements of neo-
> liberal
> globalization that has marginalized a considerable part of the
> humanity and
> fundamental human rights. The social movements have championed social
> demands which not only question the assumptions of neo-liberalism
> but also
> seek to ensure that the quest for integration is subordinated to
> human
> development.
>
>
>
> The workshop on Development and Social Movements in the countries
> of the
> South is designed to focus attention on the plethora of social
> movements
> active in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean with a
> view to
> understanding their processes and impact, as well as their
> discourses on
> sustainable human development. Of particular interest will be
> their role as
> protagonists of a critical perspective that seeks to challenge a
> dominant
> discourse on development and democracy. If the elasticity of the
> concept of
> social movements contributed to the success of their multiple
> objectives,
> there are also numerous challenges which expose them to criticism and
> menaces - open and subtle - from various power interests, state and
> non-state, public and private. Indeed, over the last few years,
> attempts
> have been made in different parts of the South to criminalize
> social protest
> and close public spaces in the name of citizens' security.
> Attempts have
> also been made to militarize territories considered strategic to the
> development of private (monopoly) capital. These efforts at
> containing the
> social movements will be explored at the workshop with emphasis on
> their
> consequences. Workshop participants will also be invited to
> examine the
> extent to which full independence of action is indispensable to
> the capacity
> of the social movements to produce alternative types of politics
> that go
> beyond classical forms of struggle against inequality. Additionally,
> attention will be paid to the conditions under which alternatives
> advanced
> by the social movement produce emancipatory possibilities.
>
>
> -------------------
> Sean Jacobs
> shjacobs@???
> http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/caas/ > http://www.lsa.umich.edu/comm/ >
