If the struggle for Independence drew strength from an emergent national identity and a desire for greater self-determination, and if the wars of Independence forged new avenues for upward mobility in the Americas, then what accounts for the divergent trajectories of social exclusion between the North and the South, between countries that share similar institutional legacies, and perhaps even within countries themselves (e.g. Quebec; the US South)? To what extent can the differences in social exclusion be attributed to the nature and evolution of institutions that were inherited and retained from Colonial and pre-Colonial times, or to the new, liberal, Constitutions? To what extent was Constitutional intent for a more inclusive, participatory, citizenship thwarted by political and economic power structures that saw to a far more selective rather than universal application of rights?

Submissions are invited for the following panels:

PART 1: INHERITED INSTITUTIONS
Agenda: What institutional blueprint did the British, French, Portuguese and Spanish empires leave for the formulation of the social contract in the Americas? How inclusive/exclusive were their societies at this time? How inclusive/exclusive were the Pre-Columbian societies, and how did these structures evolve with the arrival of the colonists?
Panel 1: Papers invited on Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Pre-Columbian societies

PART 2: HISTORICAL ROOTS OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Agenda: In which ways did the new constitutions mark a significant break from the Colonial powers? To what extent did they articulate a ‘new’ social contract? What scope was there for upward mobility, for whom, and how permanent? What were the new social priorities, and how well reflected were they in public expenditure and budgets?
Panel 2: Papers invited on Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela
Panel 3: Papers invited on Cuba, Central America, Dominican Republic, Haiti
Panel 4: Papers invited on Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru

PART 3: THE US AND CANADA AS POINTS FOR CONTRAST
Panel 5: Papers invited on the United States and Canada

The Conference will take place in London at the Institute for the Study of the Americas on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 June 2010 (dates to be confirmed).

Please send a title, an abstract of 150 words and a 3-5 page summary of the proposed paper to Ame.Berges@sas.ac.uk no later than Friday 8 January 2010. Those whose papers are selected will be notified by Friday 22 January, 2010 and are expected to provide a completed draft of the paper no later than Sunday 30 May, 2010. Papers will be circulated in advance, and presentations will be limited to 20 minutes each to allow plenty of time for discussion. Research students wishing to attend should submit a title, abstract, and paper proposal, and obtain a letter of recommendation from their supervisor.

The Institute regrets that it is unable to cover the cost of travel, although we hope to make some bursaries available to help research students attend the conference. However, accommodation in London will be provided by the Institute.