CONF./CFP- Int'l Seminar on Globalisation and Eurasia, JNU, New Delhi, Nov 2008
Posted by: Ajay Patnaik <patnaik.ajay@gmail.com>
International Seminar
on
Globalisation and Eurasia
Centre for Russian & Central Asian Studies,
School of International Studies,
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Concept Note
Globalisation has introduced new opportunities for integration into
world markets, access to new technologies and population mobility.
Eased flow of goods, people, ideas and capital can create new
prosperity. However, the purpose of the seminar is to discuss how far
the benefits of reforms are evenly spread among various sections of
the population. Have different elements of globalisation, namely, the
economic, political, cultural, technological have adversely impacted
vast areas of the newly independent countries of Eurasia? It is this
concern that led analysts like Jan Pieterse to argue that
"globalisation generates so much anxiety, insecurity and resistance".
Mary Kaldor argues that globalisation generates schisms and the
excluded often take recourse to a parallel globalised war economy that
flourishes with new wars. She argues that states in Africa and Asia
have to cope with the disillusion of hopes generated by independence,
the failure of the developing project to overcome poverty and
inequality, the insecurity of rapid urbanisation and the break-up of
traditional rural communities, as well as the impact of structural
adjustment policies of stabilisation, liberalisation and deregulation.
The social and cultural dimensions of globalisation merit further
attention from the point of view of studying conflict in the context
of globalisation. The link between globalisation and conflict can
ultimately be posited only in the context of the empirical case
studies and their findings. One of the issues of this seminar is to
deliberate on if and how globalisation has caused or exacerbated
social disharmony and conflict by transforming the spatial
organisation of social relations and transactions.
There is also a perspective that argues that globalisation and
market-oriented reforms would lead to greater prosperity for an ever
increasing number. There are positive economic indicators in terms of
GDP growth and FDI in some Eurasian countries. However, these do not
necessarily translate into improved living conditions. Is it because
of economic mismanagement, lack of transparency and widespread
corruption, where by a small group of entrepreneurs and government
officials increasingly benefit from economic expansion, leaving the
rest of the society behind? Or, the reforms are structurally flawed
and would necessarily give rise to social inequalities?
Post-Socialist economic reforms in Eurasia have several facets. Of
particular relevance are those aspects of reforms that have direct
bearing on state capabilities and distributive policies. Transition
from a centrally planned economy to a market-oriented one has so far
been complex. The consequent policy and institutional reforms have
been wide-ranging, and affect output, income and employment in
different ways. The impact on the social sector and the living
standard of the population in general needs to be studied.
Can social inequities adversely affect political stability? For
example, is there a correlation between the 'coloured revolutions' and
the popular discontent resulting from the reforms? Economic hardship
and social discontent often correlate and Eurasia is no exception.
Demographic and economic pressures, regional schisms, corruption and
organised crime, and a range of social challenges that affect the
health and well-being of the population are stresses that could set
off future unrest.
Can poverty and human insecurity be linked to state's failure in its
redistributive function and its inability to ensure a certain level of
social well being of the population? This seminar will study liberal
reform policies and their implementation, as impacting upon regions,
ethnic groups and society as a whole in Eurasia. The principal aim is
to delineate the local contexts for the implementation of sustainable
development strategies. Social and cultural dimension of
post-Socialist changes will be discussed in the context of a range of
economic and political transformations - economic development,
democratisation, role of the state and ruling elite, human security,
to name but a few. The proposition that links changing alignment of
state with society in the context of globalisation to human
security/insecurity and social harmony/disharmony will be scrutinised
in this seminar.
The role of external agencies, state and non-state is an important
ingredient in the process of globalisation. The instrumentalities like
free market, trade liberalisation and foreign investments are intended
to integrate Eurasian countries with the global economy. At the same
time, it appears from the selective use of democracy and human rights
standards, military engagements and promotion of friendly regimes that
the priority is geopolitical influence, control of resources and their
transportation routes in Eurasia. This seminar would discuss the
strategic environment in Eurasia and issues related to security,
stability and inter-state relations in Eurasia. The involvement of
external powers and their relations with different Eurasian countries
would form an important theme of the seminar.
For the purpose of this seminar, Eurasia would include only the former
Soviet republics. The participants are expected to discuss issues in
the context of globalisation process in Eurasia. Papers are expected
to cover themes like economic policies, industry, agriculture and
services, trade and commerce, social sector, human development issues,
cultural dimensions of globalisation, gender and religious issues,
state and ruling elite, political system, democratisation process,
strategic and security issues, inter-state relations, and other related themes.
Schedule of the Seminar:
The seminar would be held for three days, from 10-12 November 2008.
Those willing to participate are requested to send their abstracts by
1 August 2008. The selected participants would be informed of their
status by 15 August 2008. The final date of submission of complete
draft of the paper is 15 September 2008. English would be the only
language medium for the Seminar.
Funds:
All the seminar participants would be provided accommodation, food and
local transportation including travel from the Delhi airport/railway
station by the Seminar Organisers. Indian participants would be paid
travel allowances as per the university rules.
Correspondence:
Prof. Ajay Patnaik
Director, Russian & Central Asian Area Studies Programme
School of International studies
Jawaharlal Nehru Unviersity
E-mail: patnaik.ajay@gmail.com
akpatnaik@mail.jnu.ac.in
Tel: 91+11+26704367/26704365 (off.)
91+11+26741322 (res.); 9811588100 (mob)
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