CALL FOR PAPERS, YOUNG SCHOLARS’ CONFERENCE- Navigating Diversity in Europe and India May 17 & 18, 2023  

CALL FOR PAPERS

YOUNG SCHOLARS’ CONFERENCE

Navigating Diversity in Europe and India

May 17 & 18, 2023

Organised by

Jean Monnet Chair on

‘Democracy, Diversity and European Identity in the European Union’

Centre for European Studies,

School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

The prominence of the subject area of diversity, particularly when it comes to democracy, has witnessed a significant augmentation in recent years. With the growing recognition of the importance of diversity in society, researchers have comprehensively analysed the ways in which diversity can contribute to as well as test the foundations of democratic institutions. In the past decade, several events have highlighted the ongoing struggles for diversity and the rise of far-right political movements across the globe. These developments have sparked broad-ranging academic discussions about the role of diversity in democratic societies and how it can be fostered or examined in the face of persistent inequalities and societal divides. This conference on Navigating Diversity in Europe and India seeks to engage with this topic critically, examining the ways in which diversity intersects with democracy and identifying the challenges that lie ahead.

Both India and Europe have a long history of diversity, shaped by various political, social, and economic factors. The European Union, in particular, reflected a unique model of accommodating diversity from national, cultural and linguistic forms since its inception. After it expanded to include countries from Central and Eastern Europe, the scope for adaptation grew. However, the corresponding challenges to diversity have evolved in newer ways with the emergence of renewed nationalist vigour, populism, and the inflow of refugees. Likewise, India, with its diverse population and history of partition, has an intricate social structure marked by a legacy of caste-based prejudice, communal strife, and secessionist movements.

Europe has undergone significant demographic changes over its modern history due to migration, which has led to an increasingly diverse population. While in many parts of Europe diversity is sought to be fostered, it also poses significant challenges for societies and governments. The recent rise of far-right political parties across Europe, coupled with strong anti-immigrant sentiments, underscores the potential threats to diversity in the region. Moreover, the pandemic highlighted underlying fault lines within the EU as member states varied in their responses and the ability to grapple with the post-pandemic scenarios across the social, political and economic spheres. The pandemic has also made evident the susceptibility of migrant labourers, who have been disproportionately impacted by the situation. In this context, it is important to examine the historical roots of diversity in Europe, its current challenges, and its implications for the future.

The European Union is currently grappling with a range of complex issues and challenges, many of which centre around diversity. One such challenge is the rise of nationalism and populism, which has fuelled anti-immigrant and anti-minority sentiment across the region. This has contributed to the growth of far-right political parties and exacerbated societal divisions. For decades, India has been facing the challenge of navigating diversity, given its heterogeneous population. Civil society actors have played an essential role in addressing diversity-related challenges. For instance, in the EU, civil society organisations have been actively advocating for the rights of immigrants and minorities, while in India, they have been working towards fostering inter-communal harmony and addressing underlying causes of conflicts.

Assertive subnational identities pose an additional challenge for diversity management in Europe and India. Globalisation with greater cultural exchange adds further complexity. While it opens avenues for cross-cultural understanding it also causes fissures and grounds for ‘othering’. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the pre-existing divisions within countries and communities in both the EU and India. While some have shown greater resilience in managing the crisis, others have struggled. This provides a research opportunity to investigate the factors that have influenced the different responses to the pandemic. This conference invites papers that will provide a comprehensive overview of diversity in the EU and in India, with a particular focus on its contemporary challenges and their potential impact on European and Indian societies.

The conference invites abstract from young scholars for original unpublished papers which respond but are not limited to the following subthemes in the context of Europe/EU and India:

• Globalization and Diversity
• Nationalism and Populism in Europe and India
• Managing Diversity: Policy and Implementation
• Subnational Identities, Border Questions and Autonomy Movements
• Gender and Sexual Minorities
• Civil Society and Diversity Issues
• Diversity in the context of Environment and Climate

Papers will be selected on the basis of abstracts (a maximum of 250 words with up to six keywords) to be submitted latest by April 14, 2023, to ceusconference2021@gmail.com. The conference committee will review all submitted abstracts and communicate their decisions regarding the acceptance of proposed papers by April 18, 2023. If a paper is accepted, authors will be required to submit their full paper by May 10, 2023. For any queries, please reach out to the Organising Team at ceusconference2021@gmail.com.

Prof. Bhaswati Sarkar

Co-ordinator

CES/SIS