Challenging globalization: new perspectives, alternative visions, emerging agendas

The annual conference of the Global Studies Association, September 2nd -4th 2009

Hosted by: The Centre for Global and Transnational Politics, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX

Keynote speakers:

* Faisal Devji (New School, New York)

* Stuart Elden (University of Durham)

* Jonathan Friedman (Lund University)

* Robert Holton (Trinity College, Dublin)

* Ronnie D. Lipschutz (University of California, Santa Cruz)

* Walter D. Mignolo (Duke University)

The nature and dynamics of globalization have been at the centre of social science debates over the past two decades or so. Such debates have generated an enormously rich multidisciplinary literature and global studies has asserted itself as a key area of social science research. In recent years, the beginnings of a 'backlash' can be discerned and the expansion of global studies has been slowed and subject to sustained critique. As David Held has pointed out critics argue that 'globalization is no longer a useful description of social reality, not does it provide a cogent explanation of social forces shaping our world ... the world is witnessing the demise of globalization'. Is the study of globalization on the wane, or can global studies overcome the challenges? This year's GSA conference provides an opportunity to explore critical approaches to globalization and the challenges to global studies represented by a variety of perspectives, including but not limited to cosmopolitanism, transnational studies, and resurgent nationalisms, and importantly also offers an opportunity for global studies scholars to challenge the sceptics and assert the enduring relevance of globalization to an understanding of the world.

The conference organizers invite proposals for papers which address themes of relevance to the conference topic, including:

* alternative/multiple modernities and globalization

* anti-globalization: bottom-up challenges?

* the rise of the global non-West

* teaching globalization: challenging students

* global fragments/fragmented globalizations

* the challenge of Transnational Studies

* my global self: globalization and subjectivity

* the limits of globalization theory

*one world/multiple worlds

* globalization in one country

* the challenge of cosmopolitanism

* rethinking global/local relations

* towards a more critical global studies

Proposals for papers should take the form of a 300 word abstract and may be submitted on any aspect of the conference theme.

The organizers will allocate papers to an appropriate panel. The deadline for submission of abstracts is April 30 2009.

Costs

Full registration £265

(inc. accommodation for 2 nights on campus, meals, registration fee)

Full registration plus GSA annual membership £275

Full registration plus GSA annual membership and free GSA annual journal subscription £ 300

Existing GSA members £225

Day delegate rate £90 (or £45 per day)

Day delegate rate plus GSA annual membership £100

Day delegate rate plus annual membership and free GSA annual journal subscription £125

Existing GSA members Day delegate rate £81

Student rate £225 (full registration)

Other rates on application

For further information please contact the conference organizer Chris Rumford chris.rumford@rhul.ac.uk

Further details of the conference can be found at: http://cgtp.rhul.ac.uk/gsa-annual-conference-2-4-sept/

And www.globalstudiesassociation.org

www.chrisrumford.org.uk