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Call for Papers "Governance and Democratic Participation Within Linguistic and National Minorities" International Conference Research Chair on Francophonie and Public Policy, University of Ottawa Language and Politics Research Committee, International Political Science Association Ottawa, ON (Canada) 1-3 May 2008 __________________________________________________ Since the 1990s, many have argued that societies have become more fragmented, that we are witnessing the end of a state centered model and of a universalistic conception of citizenship. Others announced the forthcoming of a third way and the possibility of new forms of political representation of citizens, characterized by participation, deliberation and shared governance. These questions have found favourable conditions within debates on the political representation of linguistic and national minorities. Experiences of decentralization, regionalization and devolution have occurred across the Atlantic. Some minorities were also granted particular competencies in sectors such as language, culture and education as well as measures to promote their more direct participation to the governance of public policies. Which conclusions should be drawn from these different experiences? Are they legitimate democratically? Are linguistic and national minorities participating more significantly to the decision process? Have these measures increased their capacity for self-government? What about their impact on the recognition of plurality, such as gender equality within these minorities? Are some means more legitimate than others in promoting governance and democratic participation within linguistic and national minorities? This conference aims to further examine these questions and the issues they raise. It will look at the situation since the 1990s and will extract lessons for future research on the subject of governance and democratic participation within linguistic and national minorities. Proposals from researchers and stakeholders concerned with these issues should be sent before September 30, 2007 (title and summary of 200-300 words, in English or French) to Linda Cardinal: [email protected] Contact: Prof. Linda Cardinal, PhD Research Chair on Francophonie and Public Policy Faculty of Social Sciences School of Political Studies University of Ottawa 75 Laurier Street Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 Canada Fax: +1-613-562-5371 Email: [email protected] __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org
