International Conference - Immigration, Toleration, and Nationalism

Theme: Immigration, Toleration, and Nationalism
Type: International Conference
Institution: Moral and Social Philosophy, University of Helsinki Philosophical Society of Finland Jean Beer Blumenfeld Center for Ethics, Georgia State University
Location: Helsinki (Finland)
Date: 30.–31.5.2013
Deadline: 20.12.2012

Individuals increasingly move across state borders to take upresidence in a new country, while many more desire to do so butcannot due to political, financial, cultural, or other obstacles. Itis not surprising, then, that questions about the ethical andpolitical dimensions of immigration have recently come to the fore inpolitical philosophy and theory. These questions raise importantchallenges to prevailing conceptions of group identity, politicalauthority, and cultural difference.

This conference will consider these and related issues, which areincreasingly urgent as different cultures and nations come intouneasy contact.

Possible topic areas include:

• Interpretations and implications of toleration in ethics and political philosophy
• Connections among the concepts of respect, recognition, and toleration
• Competing conceptions of 'culture' or 'nation'
• The clash between religious and secular (including political) values
• The clash between individual and group values
• Explorations of various accounts of human rights including, e.g., African, Arab, Asian or western human rights charters
• Whether states have rights to exclude prospective immigrants for nationalist or any other reasons
• The assimilation responsibilities, if any, of immigrants
• 21st century demographic shifts and their impact on states' rights
• Justice within nations, justice between nations and the (im)possibility of global justice
• The structure, scope, or content of any right to immigrate
• The challenges of refugees or guest workers

Keynote speakers:

• David Miller - Professor of Political Theory, University of Oxford and Official Fellow in Social and Political Theory, Nuffield College, Oxford: "Neutrality, Toleration, and the Cultural Claims of Immigrants"
• Samuel Scheffler - Professor of Philosophy and Law, New York University: "Immigration and Justice

Submitting a proposal:

1. Prepare an extended abstract as an attachment in MS Word or a .pdf (500-750 words, including select bibliography). The abstract should be suitable for blind review.
2. Include in the body of the email relevant contact information: the author(s), department(s) and affiliation(s), mailing address(es), email address(es); and phone number(s).
3. Email the abstract and contact information Claire Murata Kooy at <kkooy@gsu.edu> by 20 December 2012.

Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by late January, 2013.Completed papers are due April 30th, 2013.

Registration, accommodation, and schedule information will be postedin early 2013.

Contact with any queries:

Timo Airaksinen
Moral and Social Philosophy
University of Helsinki
Helsinki, Finland
Tel. +358 50 4154913
Email: timo.airaksinen@helsinki.fi

Andrew I. Cohen
Department of Philosophy
Jean Beer Blumenfeld Center for Ethics
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA, USA
Tel. +1 404 413-6111
Email: aicohen@gsu.edu

Conference website:

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwcfe/14177.html