Conference explores policy and diversity

Policy inAction: Diversity, Politics and Policy Dynamics in the Contemporary Period is the theme of an inaugural graduate conference, organized by Concordia’s Political Science Graduate Student Association (PSGSA) and the Department of Political Science.

The one-day event, to be held on Friday, April 20, aims to promote academic discussions among graduate students from various disciplines regarding, “the complex relationships among class, ethnic, racial, national and/or gendered difference and policy stasis or change in contemporary politics.”

Students from humanities and social sciences were invited to submit abstracts of their research papers. The PSGSA and conference committee are currently reviewing papers and will select those that best fit with conference’s themes.

“The goal of this year’s conference is to give students the opportunity to present their research, especially on topics related to diversity and policy-making,” says Yesica Macias, the main organizer and PSGSA vice-president, conference. “We wanted to create an academic event where we could all share discussion about these topics.”

Submissions have been received from outside the province and from as far away as Taiwan. “It’s going to be a very diverse crowd, with people coming from different places,” Macias says. 

The guest speakers include Political Science Professor Daniel Salée from Concordia’s School of Community and Public Affairs. His opening address is entitled Democracy, Citizenship and the Accommodation of Ethnocultural Difference: Are We Up to the Challenge?

Antoine Bilodeau, an associate professor with the Department of Political Science, will close the conference with his presentation entitled Migrating Gender Inequalities? Immigrant Women’s Participation in Political Survey Research.

The event also features discussions on various sub-themes, including:

• Indigenous politics/the politics of “indigeneity”
• Immigration and settlement politics
• Feminism and gender
• Ethnic and racial studies
• Civil war and international intervention
• Transnational identities and communities
• Nationalism
• Class and socio-economic inequality

The conference is interdisciplinary and open to students, faculty, and anyone else interested in learning more on policy-making and diversity.

When:  Friday, April 20, 2012, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reception to follow.
Where:  Rooms H-760 and H-762, Henry F. Hall Building (1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.), Sir Geroge Williams Campus

Third-year journalism student Lesley De Marinis is an intern with Concordia’s University Communications Services (UCS). If you are interested in being an intern with UCS, please submit an application before March 23, 2012, to Karen McCarthy, Director of Internal Communications, at karen.mccarthy@concordia.ca.

Related Links:
•  Political Science Graduate Student Association (PSGSA)
•  Department of Political Science
•  Event listing on the Faculty of Arts and Science website