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Conference Announcement "Governance and Citizenship in Asia: Paradigms and Practices" International Conference Centre for Governance and Citizenship, Hong Kong Institute of Education Hong Kong (China) 18-19 March 2011 __________________________________________________ Background and Themes The Centre for Governance and Citizenship (CGC) of The Hong Kong Institute of Education invites researchers and practitioners from all parts of the world, especially Asia, to participate in an International Conference on Governance and Citizenship in Asia. Central Question: How is Citizenship related to Governance? Citizenship and participation have emerged as central issues in recent public management debates. They follow, and are a part of, the larger debate on “Good Governance”. However, little systematic effort has been made to define the concepts and delineate the links between the two domains of Governance and Citizenship. It is simply assumed that the concepts, and the values and arrangements they embody, are axiomatic and universal. It is time the two concepts be subjected to closer scrutiny and the relationships between them specified. Some of the questions that need to be addressed in order to make the concepts useful for heuristic and practical purposes include: - What does citizenship mean in a globalized world? - Is the concept of citizenship universal? Or does it vary across societies? Do the concepts developed in Western contexts apply to societies with communitarian outlook? If yes, then what are the specific features of citizenship in such societies? - How is the notion of citizenship related to other essential tenets of Good Governance? - What is the link between democracy and citizenship, and between democracy and governance? Specifically, is citizenship possible without democracy? Can participation in the policy process substitute for democracy? What are the expectations for public participation and engagement in non-Western societies? Asia-specific Themes In the Asian context, governance and citizenship may well be construed differently because of different cultural, administrative and socio-political philosophical traditions. It is important to ground the studies of Asian governance and citizenship in regional institutions, civic virtues and values, as much as in global trends and advocacies. Will the Asian experiences be different from Western counterparts in terms of their nature, scope, direction and pace of development, implying a distinct conception of governance and citizenship? This conference will explore specific themes in governance and citizenship, with special reference to Asia: - Asian Governance: Global Concerns and Domestic Realities - Traditions and Modernity: Asian Traditions and Values - Citizenship and Identity: Economic, Political, Social and Cultural Conditions - Nationality, Cosmopolitanism and Transnationality: Exclusion and Inclusion Logistics and Enquiries 1. Keynote Speeches Internationally renowned scholars are invited as keynote speakers at plenary sessions, including: Professor Ali Farazmand Professor of Public Administration, School of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University, USA Editor in Chief, Public Organization Review, and Editor in Chief, Books series in Governance, Globalization and Public Administration Professor Engin Isin Professor of Politics and International Studies and Full Member, Centre for Citizenship, Identities, Governance Faculty of Social Sciences, The Open University, United Kingdom Chief Editor, Citizenship Studies Professor Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao Director, Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan 2. Conference fee Registration fee (covering the cost of the two-day conference, including conference materials, sandwich lunch, and tea and coffee) will be waived for all Paper Presenters. Conference dinner (on 18 March 2011) will be on a self-paying basis at HKD200 per person. 3. Accommodation All participants (including Paper Presenters) have to pay for their own accommodation. The estimated room rate per night at the conference hotel (to be located in Sha Tin, a district close to the main campus of The Hong Kong Institute of Education) is HKD850. In addition, a limited number of rooms are available at the on-campus Visitors’ Centre. More details will be provided by the Conference Secretariat. 4. Visa Requirement For overseas participants, please refer to the Hong Kong Immigration Department's website and check if you need to apply for a Visit Visa or Entry Permit: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm. 5. Conference Secretariat Enquires can be directed to Ms Lo Oi-yu at email address: [email protected], or Ms Peggy Tang at email address: [email protected]. Conference website: http://www.ied.edu.hk/cgc/view.php?m=767&secid=875 __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
