MULTICULTURALISM AND ITS DISCONTENTS

When:  10 and 11 May 2012
Where: University of Wollongong, Building 24 Room G03
Program: Download the program here 

Discourses of ‘failed multiculturalisms’ have gained prominence in public debate in a number of nations over the last years: from the political rhetoric of Angela Merkel, David Cameron and Nicholas Sarkozy to the ravings of Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, from criticism that multiculturalism enshrines ethnic segregation and undermines social and cultural cohesion to accusations that it trivialises difference and glosses over serious issues of racial conflict and social disadvantage. As academic observers (and sometime participants) in these debates, we find ourselves puzzling over the different meanings attributed to multiculturalism across this large discursive spectrum: how, for example, can multiculturalism ‘fail’ in a country which never had a policy of multiculturalism, as is the case with many countries in Europe? What commonalities, if any, can be discerned between the current criticism of multiculturalism in Europe and debates in nations like Canada, Singapore and Australia where the concept is embedded in government policy and practice?

We would like to invite interested parties to attend a workshop organised by the Institute for Social Transformation Research (ISTR) at the University of Wollongong on 10-11 May 2012, in 24.G03. The workshop will include papers by invited speakers as well as panel discussions.

Keynote speakers include Ghassan Hage, Vijay Mishra, Nikos Papastergiadis, Robbie Goh, Paul Rae and Sneja Gunew.

In addition to these papers there will be Panel Discussions based on specific themes as well as addressing issues related to multiculturalism and anti-multiculturalist discourse within particular national/cultural settings or from a comparative or theoretical perspective.  

If you are unable to attend the whole workshop, you are welcome to attend one of the discussion sessions and participate in the following discussions:

Thursday 10  May:

11:10am – 12:30 - Multiculturalism and Asian Diasporas

2.10 – 3:30pm – Multiculturalism in Europe

Friday 11 May:
10:40am – Midday – Multiculturalism and Literary Production

12:50pm - 2:10pm - Multiculturalism and Indigeneity 

We hope to see you there.  If you have any questions, please email Jenn Phillips