Fw: Society for Socialist Studies Call for Papers Annual Meetings 2002

----- Original Message -----
From: Joanne Naiman <jnaiman@ryerson.ca>
To: <PSN@csf.colorado.edu>
Sent: Thursday, November 22, 2001 1:13 PM
Subject: FW: Society for Socialist Studies Call for Papers Annual Meetings
2002


> Dear PSNers,
>
> Once a year, academics from across Canada get together for a series of
> meetings held under the umbrella of the Congress of Humanities and
> Social Sciences. This includes the Canadian Sociology and Anthropology
> Association and the Canadian Political Science Association, and sessions
> run over a period of about 10 days. This year the Congress meets in
> Toronto.
>
> Our organization, the Society for Socialist Studies, is made up of a
> number of academics from across the country from a broad spectrum of
> left perspectives. Our main function is to meet on an annual basis at
> the Congress. We also put out a newsletter/refereed journal. Some of our
> sessions are run jointly with other Associations.
>
> We invite any of you who might be interested to join us this year in
> Toronto. Because we cross many boundaries (of discipline, political
> orientation etc.), we are almost always pretty interesting, and we are
> often among the most popular sessions at the Congress.
>
> We will also be organizing a party this year (usually held in the past
> but not in recent years), so we can also get together in a less formal
> environment.
>
> Below are listed sessions that are seeking participants. We invite you
> to join us. We normally expect participants to become members of the
> SSS, which you can do for a small fee. Please contact the session
> organizers directly.
>
> Joanne Naiman
> Ryerson University
> Toronto
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: June Madeley [mailto:madelejm@hotmail.com]
> > Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2001 11:19 AM
> > Subject: Society for Socialist Studies Revised Call for Papers Annual
> > Meetings 2002
> >
> >
> > *With additional sessions at the bottom and some corrections*
> >
> >
> > Society for Socialist Studies Meetings  Congress 2002
> > University of Toronto / Ryerson Polytechnic University
> > Toronto, Ontario      Wednesday, May 29th to Saturday, June 1st
> >
> > The Programme Committee in Toronto has received a large
> > number of session
> > proposals (see the list below). We invite you to contact the
> > respective
> > coordinators if you want to present a paper or serve as a discussant.
> > Moreover, if you have a paper for presentation but cannot
> > find a session for
> > it, please contact:
> >
> > Programme Office, Society for Socialist Studies
> > c/o Joanne Naiman
> > Dept. of Sociology
> > Ryerson University
> > 350 Victoria Street,
> > Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3
> > http://home.oise.utoronto.ca/~sss/
> >
> >
> > When submitting paper proposals, please use the following sequence:
> >
> > Session Title:
> > Session Coordinator:
> > Insitutional Affiliation (if applicable):
> > Email Address
> > Mailing Address:
> > Fax:
> > Phone:
> > Description of your paper/presentation: (100 words please)
> >
> >
> > We encourage you to submit by email. Please complete the
> > information and
> > submit it to the session coordinator, as outlined above, by
> > 15, January
> > 2002.
> >
> > The annual Congress can only succeed if all participants formally
> > register. The Society for Socialist Studies executive has approved a
> > proposal making registration for the Congress itself and for
> > the Socialist
> > Studies sessions mandatory for all speakers. In cases of financial
> > difficulty, an application can be made to have these costs
> > reimbursed by the
> > Society from the Stanley Ryerson Travel Fund; please contact
> > the national
> > office in that case.
> >
> > Proposals may be submitted to the following sessions:
> >
> >
> > Black Cat, White Cat: Economic Liberalization in China - The
> > Development of
> > "Socialism with Chinese Characteristics" or a Chinese
> > Market-Based Economy?
> >
> > Session Coordinator:  Diane Meaghan
> > Liberal Studies Division
> > Seneca College
> > Diane.Meaghan@senecac.on.ca
> > 1750 Finch Avenue East
> > Toronto, Ontario M2J 2X5
> > Canada
> > Phone: 416-491-5050 ext. 6178
> > Fax: 416-491-5762
> >
> > It has been argued that recent economic transitions in China that
> > attracted foreign capital, advanced technology and developed private
> > enterprises have promoted pragmatic changes which encourage commercial
> > activities and consumption particularly in Special Economic
> > Zones.  The
> > claim is that the reform of trade and industrial policies and the
> > introduction of commercial banks and stock markets were
> > undertaken within a
> > socialist ethos to reduce fiscal deficits and to make improvements in
> > productivity, employment and income.  Other scholars of China
> > observe that
> > the new post Marxist paradigm that decentralized economic
> > decision-making
> > has facilitated processes of flexible accumulation and
> > heightened divisions
> > divisions of labour associated with global capitalist forces.  This
> > discourse suggests that state macro-level restructuring of
> > the political
> > economy has led to the adoption of a dual-track economic
> > system, fiscal
> > responsibility (caizheng  baogan), deregulation of the welfare state
> > together with the introduction of high prices and accelerated
> > rates of
> > unemployment.  In assessing the complexity of change, this panel will
> > explore issues including the transformation of the labour force, the
> > presence of crime and corruption, cultural and environmental
> > alternations,
> > disparities based on income, region and gender as well as the
> > development of
> > political freedom and human rights.
> >
> >
> > New Directions?  Contemporary Marxian Theory and Its Critics
> > (Co-sponsored with Canadian Political Science Association)
> >
> > Session Coordinator:  Sean Saraka
> > Dept. of Political Science, York University
> > saraka@yorku.ca
> > Mailing Address:  1123-388 Richmond St. West,
> > Toronto, ON M5V 3P1
> > Phone:  (416) 260-1682
> >
> > These panels are intended to provide an opportunity for
> > junior scholars to
> > engage in close (but also wide-ranging and
> > interdisciplinary) discussion on
> > new directions in Marxian social theory including, but not
> > limited to, new
> > work in methodology, dialectics and the theory of value;
> > class, race, gender
> > and cultural studies; twentieth century Marxisms such as
> > those of Gramsci
> > and the Frankfurt School; and the dialogue between Marxism and
> > postcontemporary philosophy.  Critical perspectives are also
> > encouraged.
> > Senior scholars will be invited to comment on panels and
> > contribute to the
> > discussion.
> >
> >
> > Global Market Economy and the Restructuring of Postsecondary
> > Education:
> > Critical Perspectives and Pragmatic Solutions
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Diane Meaghan
> > Liberal Studies Division
> > Seneca College
> > Diane.Meaghan@senecac.on.ca
> > 1750 Finch Avenue East
> > Toronto, Ontario M2J 2X5
> > Canada
> > Fax: 416-491-5762
> > Phone: 416-491-5050 ext. 6178
> >
> > A neo-liberal agenda has increasingly encouraged a closer proximity
> > between institutions of higher learning and the marketplace.
> > This panel will
> > examine the impact of a pedagogical commodity discourse with
> > an emphasis on
> > productivity, accountability, vocationalism and privatization that is
> > transforming policies and practices within colleges and
> > universities. The
> > increasing use of technologically mediated learning, the ways
> > in which
> > intellectual property regimes are impacting the production
> > and transmission
> > of knowledge, the expansion of administrative governance into
> > teaching
> > learning processes, the reconfiquration of academic labour and the
> > rationalization of resources (through the utilization of a
> > two- tiered
> > faculty complement, public-private partnerships and
> > deregulated tuition)
> > will be some of the issues explored. Of particular importance
> > will be a
> > discussion of strategies to address the defense of quality public
> > education, professional autonomy, equity and democratic
> > ideals within these
> > institutions.
> >
> >
> >
> > Roundtable: Left Reconfigurations
> > (Co-sponsored with Canadian Political Science Association)
> >
> > Session Coordinator:  Abigail B. Bakan
> > Department of Political Studies, Queen¹s University
> > Kingston, Ontario
> > K7L 3N6
> > bakana@qsilver.queensu.ca
> > FAX: 613-533-6848; 416-469-5930
> > Tel.: 613-533-6239; 416-466-5230
> >
> > Since the Seattle protests against the World Trade
> > Organization summit at
> > the end of 1999, a new mood of resistance against the
> > neo-liberal free trade
> > agenda swept the world. Canada saw a significant expression
> > of this new mood
> > during the Quebec City Summit of the Americas in April of
> > 2001. The tragic
> > events of September 11 in the US, and the outbreak of the war against
> > Afghanistan, have again compelled new reconfigurations.
> > Formerly accepted
> > expressions of political dissent now operate in a climate of
> > suspected
> > terrorism. A newly reconfigured left, still in flux and
> > seeking forms of
> > expression, suddenly encountered a new climate of heightened security.
> >
> > The dramatic reconfigurations of the left in the last two
> > years cannot be
> > underestimated.  New questions, new alliances, and new forms
> > of resistance
> > have arisen. This round table discussion is designed to
> > provide an arena to
> > take stock of some of these changes and consider the
> > prospects for a broad,
> > united left response.
> >
> > The specific questions to be considered on this round table
> > are as follows.
> > In the context of the current political climate: What are the
> > links between
> > the movement against corporate globalization and the movement against
> > Canada¹s participation in the war in Afghanistan? What are
> > the lessons of
> > social movements against racism, sexism, homophobia and other
> > forms of
> > oppression for the left? What can we expect the role of the
> > NDP to be in the
> > new period?  How central is the working class in general, and
> > the labour
> > movement in particular, to a successful left project? And
> > finally, what are
> > the implications of the new security climate for the left?
> >
> >
> >
> > Analysing "Health Research"
> >
> > Session Coordinator:  Marie Campbell
> > Studies in Policy and Practice in Health and Social Services,
> > HSD, University of Victoria,
> > Email Address:
> > mariecam@uvic.ca
> > PO Box 1700, STN CSC,
> > HSD, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2
> > Fax: 250-721-7067
> > Phone: 250-721-8203
> >
> > As the agencies responsible for public funding of health research in
> > Canada  have been re-structured, new processes have replaced
> > previous ways
> > of  managing this sector. How is it working? Are Canadians
> > getting their
> > money's worth? Presumably, social scientists can make a
> > contribution through
> > systematic analysis of the processes through which
> > authoritative knowledge
> > about health and health care is generated. Depending on
> > submissions, the
> > session will be structured as a presentation of research papers or a
> > roundtable discussion of invited presentations. Research papers or
> > presentations are invited that critically address the
> > following or related
> > questions: "how is health research conceptualized and
> > organized in Canada
> > and how is that organization consequential?" "How does the
> > current funding
> > of health research structure its themes and its conduct, for
> > better or
> > worse?" "What are the processes through which a direction for
> > health care
> > policy and practice is supported by health research"?
> >
> >
> > Good Work in the New Millennium
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Greg McElligott
> > Labour Studies, McMaster University
> > mcellig@mcmaster.ca
> > Labour Studies Programme,
> > McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, Ont., L8S 4M4
> > Fax:  (905) 528-1228
> > Phone:  (905) 525-9140 x24810
> >
> > The left has struggled for years to improve working conditions in a
> > capitalist economy, and to expand access to jobs that seem
> > good in this
> > context. At various points unions, social movements,
> > political parties, and
> > many forms of direct action have served these ends. Which of
> > these are still
> > relevant to the struggle for good work in the new millennium?
> >  Given the
> > increasing fragmentation of both work and the left, does it
> > still make sense
> > to talk about  "good work" in generic terms?  If so, what
> > needs to go into
> > that definition? Does the left still have a persuasive vision
> > of good work
> > beyond capitalism?
> >
> >
> > Anarchism Today: Toward a Dialogue on the Left
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Regina Cochrane
> > Faculty of Communication and Culture
> > (Women's Studies)
> > University of Calgary
> > rcochran@ucalgary.ca
> > Mailing Address: Faculty of Communication and Culture
> > Social Sciences Building
> > University of Calgary
> > 2500 University Drive NW
> > Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
> > fax: 403-210-8138 (office)
> > phone: 403-210-9434 (office)
> >
> > Given the contemporary decline of social democracy and state
> > socialism,
> > there have been  calls to renew the socialist tradition. The
> > prominent role
> > played  by anarchists in recent anti-globalization protests
> > suggests that
> > anarchism  might have something to contribute to this
> > project. Yet most
> > socialists know  virtually nothing about anarchism and/or hold
> > ideologically-distorted views  of the political stances it
> > encompasses. What
> > are the differences between  individualist, communist, and
> > syndicalist
> > anarchisms and how do these
> > differences play themselves out in an era of globalized
> > capitalism? Are
> > there  links between anarchism and postmodernism? What is the
> > relevance of
> > anarchism  to ecological and feminist politics? What is
> > appeal of anarchism
> > to youth  protesting against globalization?
> >
> >
> > Hospitality or Inhospitality? Labour in the Hospitality Industry
> > (co-sponsored with Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association)
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Ross Klein,
> > Social Work, Memorial
> > rklein@mun.ca
> > School of Social Work, Memorial University,
> > St. John's, NF
> > A1C 5S7
> >
> > Papers are invited which look at any facet of workers or of
> > the  labour
> > movement in the hospitality industry (e.g., food service, hotels and
> > resorts, cruises, tour operators, etc). The goal of the
> > session is to bring
> > together different perspectives on research and thinking
> > about labour in the
> > industry and to generate discussion about the future.  The
> > exact parameters
> > of hospitality will be defined by the papers.  Papers may include
> > ethnographies, field studies, historical studies, case
> > studies, and any
> > other appropriate mediums for conveying knowledge about the
> > topic.  There
> > are plans for an edited volume based on the papers in this session.
> >
> >
> > Orthodoxy and Social Radicalism in Canadian Jewish History
> >
> > Session Coordinators: Jesse Vorst, Economics & Labour
> > Studies, Manitoba.
> > vorst2@ms.umanitoba.ca University College, University of Manitoba,
> > Winnipeg
> > R3T 2M8.
> > Fax: 204-261-0021.
> > Phone 204-474-9119.
> > Ira Robinson, Religion, Concordia. robinso@vax2.concordia.ca
> > Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Boulevard, West,
> > Montreal,  QC
> > H3G 1M8
> > Tel. 514-848-2074
> > Fax 514-848-4541.
> >
> > This session will analyse relations between two constituencies in the
> > Jewish community: "Right" as defined by religious orthodoxy" and
> > "Left" in terms of social-political views. These definitions
> > are, by their
> > very nature, not comparable. Indeed, examples exist of shared
> > interests  of
> > the two communities, e.g., the struggle for kosher slaughter
> > in Canada  and
> > calls for progressive social policies in various
> > jurisdictions. Papers are
> > invited on historical, religious, political, social  and
> > economic aspects of
> > such cases.  NOTE: This session will be held during the ACJS
> > meetings at the
> > Congress:  May 26-27; however, it is a joint session of SSS and ACJS.
> >
> >
> > What is Happening to Socialist Feminism?
> > (To be cosponsored with Canadian Women's Studies Association and
> > Environmental Studies Association of Canada)
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Regina Cochrane
> > Faculty of Communication and Culture (Women's
> > Studies)University of Calgary
> > rcochran@ucalgary.ca
> > Faculty of Communication and Culture
> > Social Sciences Building, Room 301
> > University of Calgary
> > 2500 University Drive NW
> > Calgary, AB T2N 0A4
> > fax: 403-210-8138 (office)
> > phone: 403-220-7774 (office)
> >
> > Socialist feminism's synthesis of "radical" feminism with socialism
> > seems to be coming undone. Many socialist feminists have become
> > postmodernists or postmodern "materialists." Others,
> > especially socialist
> > ecofeminists, are drifting into cultural feminism. Some are
> > calling for a
> > move from socialist to Marxist feminism. Is socialist
> > feminism necessarily
> > "totalistic"  and "essentialist"?  Does postmodern feminism
> > really defend
> > "difference"  and eschew grounding politics in "nature"? Is
> > postmodern
> > materialist feminism a coherent project?  Is postmodern
> > feminism anarchist?
> > Is cultural  feminism the "feminist" feminism? Is it
> > "radical"? Can the
> > domination of  women and nonhuman nature be adequately
> > addressed by Marxist
> > feminism? How is
> > the shift to postmodernism in theory affecting feminist
> > practice, political
> > engagements, and research?
> >
> >
> > Political Evil and Deep Politics
> >
> > Session Coordinator: David MacGregor
> > King's College, University of Western Ontario
> > mcgregor@uwo.ca
> > Mailing Address 28 Gwynne Avenue, Toronto, M6K 2C3
> > Fax: 416-538-4381
> > Phone:416-538-2817
> >
> >
> > September 11 initiated a new era in which political evil, the
> > calculated
> > infliction of pain and suffering on innocents in order to impose an
> > unqualified power of truth, now dominates the world stage.
> > This unique and
> > highly complex "event," in Badiou's terminology, requires
> > radical innovation
> > in the socialist outlook.  For example, standard critiques of
> > US domination,
> > while partially correct, fail to address circumstances in
> > which innocent
> > citizens of the imperium, and their liberal institutions,
> > themselves are at
> > great risk. Moreover, such structural critiques also overlook
> > deep politics,
> > the chaotic
> > meshing of theology and geopolitics, drug trafficking, covert
> > operations,
> > and high level political corruption that expresses itself,
> > among other
> > guises, as "blowback."
> >
> >
> > Teachers on the Borderlands:  The Ideological, Material, and Cultural
> > Formation or Disruption of Teachers and Their Work joint session with
> > SOCINET
> >
> > Session Coordinator:  Rick Hesch
> > rhesch@shaw.ca
> > Mailing Address:  109 Buxton Road, Winnipeg, MB R3T 0H1
> > Phone: (204) 477-0767
> >
> > This session will present papers which address the ways in
> > which teachers
> > negotiate the intersections of social class, race, gender, sexual
> > orientation, disability, sovereignty/globalization,
> > neo-liberalism/democracy and so on.  Therefore, papers
> > related to feminist
> > pedagogy, anti-racism education, critical teachers' work,
> > anti-imperialism
> > amongst teachers, teachers' unions' resistance to
> > globalization, etc., are
> > invited.
> >
> >
> > Knowledge in the Global Economy
> > (so-sponsored with Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association)
> >
> > Session Coodinator: Claire Polster
> > Department of Sociology and Social Studies,
> > University of Regina
> > claire.polster@uregina.ca
> > Department of Sociology and Social Studies, University of Regina,
> > Regina, S.K., S4S 0A2
> > Fax: 306 585 4815
> > Phone: 306 585 4815
> >
> > This session aims to explore ways in which the production,
> > distribution,
> > and/or uses of knoweldge are being transformed in and for the global,
> > knowledge-based economy. It aims also to assess the
> > implications of these
> > changes and to consider alternative approaches to and agendas
> > for knowledge
> > production and use in the contemporary period. Papers on a
> > wide variety of
> > topics, including changes in the nature and/or production of
> > national and
> > international "knowledge policy", transformations within and
> > /or between
> > public and private knowledge institutions, and efforts to protect or
> > revitalize local or indigenous knowledges, are welcome.
> >
> >
> > Roundtable:  Part-Time Sociologists in Universities
> > (Co-sponsored with Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association)
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Vappu Tyyskä
> > Department of Sociology
> > Ryerson University
> > 350 Victoria St.
> > Toronto, ON M5B 2K3
> > Phone: (416) 979-5000, ext. 6208
> > Fax: (416) 979-5273
> > vtyyska@acs.ryerson.ca
> >
> > The increasing use of part-time and casual academic workers
> > in Canadian
> > universities has become the object of growing concern, but of
> > relatively
> > little action.  Short papers and/or experiential and
> > analytical accounts are
> > invited that address the broad range of inequities in the social
> > organization of academic labour.  Participants are encouraged
> > to address
> > issues of hiring, the reproduction of a part-time academic
> > labour force,
> > access to research funding, issues related to senior vs.
> > junior faculty, and
> > the inequities related to the gender, race, or ethnicity of
> > the part-time
> > work force.  Empirical studies related to the wages and
> > working conditions
> > of part-time workers in Canadian universities are especially welcome,
> > including qualitative and experiential accounts by
> > part-time and sessional workers in sociology departments.
> > This roundtable
> > is intended as another step toward bringing the issues and
> > interests of
> > part-time and casual academic workers to the attention of
> > professional
> > associations and university administration. (Please send
> > submissions by
> > e-mail if at all possible).
> >
> >
> > Boundaries:  Socialism, Class Consciousness and National Identity
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Roni Gechtman
> > Joint Program in History and Judaic Studies,
> > New York University.
> > rsg5414@nyu.edu
> > Mailing Address: 6411 South Street, Apt. 5, Halifax, Nova
> > Scotia B3H 1V1
> > Phone: (902) 429-7684
> >
> > The focus of this panel will be the analysis of, and possible
> > solutions to,
> > historical and current problems having to do with the
> > existence of several
> > nationalities within the same state, seen from a socialist or Marxist
> > perspective.  Although the "national question" was widely debated by
> > left-to-centre theorists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth
> > centuries, it seems that more recently the main voices
> > dominating public and
> > academic discourse on this question are those of liberal thinkers and
> > committed nationalists.  The panel invites papers from
> > different disciplines
> > that deal with the tensions, contradictions, and possible means to
> > reconcile, the intrinsic conflict between a national identity
> > on the one
> > hand and a politics based on internationalist class
> > solidarity on the other.
> > Papers that bring a historical perspective to the topic are
> > particularly
> > encouraged.
> >
> >
> > Work, Employment and Globalization
> >
> > Session Co-ordinator:   Stephen McBride
> > mcbridea@sfu.ca
> > Political Science,
> > Simon Fraser University
> > Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
> > Fax: 604-291-4786
> > Phone:  604-291-3729
> >
> > A recent discussion paper from the International Labour
> > Office opens with
> > the comment: "The central global challenge at the start of
> > the 21st century
> > is to secure decent work for people everywhere in conditions
> > of equity,
> > security, and human dignity and thus draw out of poverty the
> > 1.2 billion who
> > are living below the poverty line."  Papers invited on any
> > aspect of the
> > connection between globalization and the employment crisis
> > that continues to
> > characterize the world economy, but focusing particularly on
> > unemployment,
> > underemployment and labour market/social exclusion.
> >
> >
> > Media Matters: the Politics of Mass Media
> >
> > Session coordinator: June M. Madeley
> > jmadeley@mta.ca
> > Dept of Sociology,
> > Mount Allison University
> > 144 Main Street  Sackville, N.B. Canada E4L 1A7
> > Fax: 506 364 2625
> > Phone: 506 364 2285
> >
> > Papers in this session will use a critical perspective to explore the
> > relationship(s) between media and everyday life. Of
> > particular interest are
> > studies which analyse the politics of race, gender, class and
> > mass media
> > from a socialist perspective . Please submit proposals with a
> > focus on any
> > type of mass media: magazines, video games, television, film,
> > newspapers,
> > music, radio broadcasting, etc.
> >
> >
> > Opportunities for a New Left Economics
> >
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Ellen Russell
> > erussell@econs.umass.edu
> > Room 528
> > Department of Economics
> > University of Massachusetts at Amherst
> > 20 Jackson Street, Northampton Mass. 01060
> > Fax: 413-545-2924
> > Phone: 413-584-5463
> >
> > This panel provides an occasion for leftists to take stock of
> > the current
> > moment in capitalism.   Speakers will analyze the developments and
> > controversies in the present economic context with an emphasis on the
> > contradictions inherent in contemporary trends and the strategic
> > opportunities that these contradictions present for the left.
> >
> >
> > Opportunities for the Left: Globalization and Internationalization
> > (Co-sponsored with Canadian Political Science Association and
> > Progressive
> > Economics Forum)
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Ellen Russell
> > erussell@econs.umass.edu
> > Room 528
> > Department of Economics
> > University of Massachusetts at Amherst
> > University of Massachusetts at Amherst
> > 20 Jackson Street, Northampton Mass. 01060
> > Fax: 413-545-2924
> > Phone: 413-584-5463
> >
> > This panel will continue the theme of examining the
> > contemporary economic
> > context for strategic opportunities for the left.  Panelists
> > will focus on
> > issues of trade, development and finance in the context of
> > contemporary
> > globalization, and will discuss the ways in which a left
> > economic agenda can
> > respond to the contradictions inherent in globalization.
> >
> >
> > Running the World Differently:  Sketches for a Democratic and
> > Egalitarian
> > Economy
> >
> > Session Coordinator:  SSS programme committee
> > c/o: sss@oise.utoronto.ca
> >
> > If working people and progressive groups were handed the controls to
> > economic and social life tomorrow, would we know how to do things any
> > differently?  How could we democratically design and administer
> > high-quality services, and deliver them efficiently?  Can we envision
> > determining investment, production, employment and public
> > consumption on the
> > basis of broad popular involvement and control?  How to make the
> > reproduction of economic and social life ecological and
> > efficient, while
> > 'building-in' the full and democratic development of the
> > capacities of each
> > and all?  How might we take advantage of people's existing
> > proficiencies and
> > add skills for democratic governance, and what plans exist
> > for confronting
> > the internal conflicts and external capitalist constraints
> > challenging a
> > democratic reorganization of economic life?  This session
> > will examine ideas
> > for organizing our world in democratic socialist ways, that
> > the left could
> > begin to put on the agenda today.  Recipes for socialism are
> > best left to
> > the cookshops of the future, but shouldn't we pick up a few
> > ingredients
> > ahead of time?
> >
> >
> > Academic Strikes and Public Opinion
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Jesse Vorst
> > Economics & Labour Studies, Manitoba
> > vorst2@ms.umanitoba.ca
> > University College, University of Manitoba,
> > Winnipeg
> > R3T 2M8.
> > Fax: 204-261-0021.
> > Phone: 204-474-9119
> >
> > Canadian media are, on the whole, hostile to the union
> > movement. Strikes
> > tend to be reported from the viewpoint of management and of the
> > inconvenienced public. Strikes by academics, moreover, are
> > seen as breaches
> > of faith with the student population and with society at
> > large which already
> >   "coughs-up exhorbitant salaries" for people who are
> > portrayed as doing a
> > minimum of work for their pay.  Academics tend to have a hard time
> > explaining such concepts as  life-time
> > income, self-governing academic units, and tenure. Thus,
> > public support is
> > difficult to obtain. This session looks at recent strikes by
> > academics at
> > Canadian and American universities and addresses the question how the
> > importance of an adequately supported (salary & working conditions)
> > professoriat can be conveyed to a sceptical public. The
> > mobilisation of  the
> > student body on the side of teaching faculty will also be addressed.
> >
> >
> > The Increased Appropriation of University Funding by Central
> > Administrations
> >
> > Session Coordinator: Jesse Vorst
> > Economics & Labour Studies, Manitoba
> > vorst2@ms.umanitoba.ca University College, University of Manitoba,
> > Winnipeg
> > R3T 2M8.
> > Fax: 204-261-0021.
> > Phone 204-474-9119.
> >
> > The past two decades have seen an accelerated process of
> > centralisation of
> > power at Canadian universities. Along with administrative control,
> > non-faculty  staff are increasing their claims on the funds
> > generated by the
> > taxpayer, by the students and, in some instances, by funding
> > agencies. The
> > thus appropriated funds are used for two purposes: (a) the
> > building of
> > vastly expanded central bureaucracies and (b) the allocation
> > of funds to
> > politically attractive (rather than academically desirable)
> > programmes and
> > projects.  This session provide evidence from Canadian and American
> > universities and debates the question how this process
> > affects the quality
> > of teaching and research at our institutions.
> >
> >
> >
> > Intellectual Property Rights and High-Tech Capitalism
> >
> > Session Coordinator:  Derek Hyrnyshyn
> > derekh@yorku.ca
> > Political Science Dept.
> > York University
> > 4700 Keele St.
> > Toronto, ON.
> > M3J 1P3
> >
> > As more and more value is assigned by our economy to cultural and
> > informational goods, in the form of intellectual property rights,
> > important  conflicts arise over how those goods are produced,
> > reproduced,
> > and  distributed. Technological advances in a variety of
> > fields - including
> > computer networking, genetic engineering, and others - have
> > raised important
> > questions about the nature of intellectual property, and its
> > political -
> > economic characteristics. Papers are invited that examine any
> > aspect of
> > intellectual property rights in contemporary capitalism.
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> > This message has gone out to members of the Society for
> > Socialist Studies,
> > previous conference presenters and those who have expressed
> > an interest in
> > recieving our occasional e-mail updates. If you wish to be
> > deleted from this
> > list or update your e-mail contact info please reply to
> > madelejm@hotmail.com.
> >
> > If you have changed your coordinates (institutional
> > affiliation, address
> > etc.) or have inquiries regarding your membership status contact the
> > National Office: vorst2@Ms.UManitoba.CA You can also visit
> > the Society's web
> > site at:
> >
> > http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~socwrk/sss.html
> >
> > For inquiries regarding the Annual Conference (learneds) contact the
> > Programme Committee at sss@oise.utoronto.ca  The Programme
> > Committee also
> > has a web site at: http://home.oise.utoronto.ca/~sss/
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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