We are looking for papers for a combined conference panel/book
project provisionally entitled "Refugees in the Emerging Global
Order: Changing Perceptions and International Responses." We
plan to have three panels at the International Studies
Association in Toronto, March 22-26, 1997. In addition, however,
we plan to compile the books in an edited volume and hope to have
at least one workshop in addition the ISA presentations to
present and critique the papers of presenters.
Project Overview
Over the past two decades the number of refugees worldwide has
increased dramatically. Concurrent with this, perceptions of the
refugee crisis and reactions to refugees have changed. This
project will examine three different dimensions of the changed
refugee environment. First, it will look at changing perceptions
of refugees, partially situated within broader discourses related
to immigration. That is, it will examine the extent to which
refugees are increasingly being constructed as threats --
politically, culturally and economically, as well as from
broadened perspectives of security. This is related both to
geopolitical factors and domestic neoliberal economic
retrenchment.
The second dimension of this issue is related to changing
responses to refugee crisis. This involves, on the one hand,
looking at international intervention in refugee crisis, and
other reactions such as interdiction, non-entree policies and
alliance strategies. On the other hand, domestic policies in the
North have become more salient in dealing with refugee crises as
more refugees (although still a minority) and other immigrants
are able to make their way to the developed world, and states
increasingly view this as a question of security. Thus, the
connection between domestic policies and international action
will also be addressed.
The third dimension involves examining structures for greater
cooperation among states, regional and international governmental
organizations, and NGOs. Thus, the role of regional collective
arrangements, such as NATO, the WEU, and OSCE, will be
readdressed, as they will have to be concerned with matters that
have generally been considered outside their original objectives,
such as refugee crises. It is also important to examine the
adequacy of the UNHCR and the IOM in dealing with this question.
They need a long-term vision which combines both universal norms
and practical politics, one that goes beyond immediate concerns
for the plight of refugees. Furthermore, this section will
address the role played by NGOs. As the role of the state is
reappraised and alternatives are sought to solve problems, NGOs
have emerged as one of a number of critical not for profit
actors, private in form but public in purpose.
Panel/Book Structure
The panels and sections of the book will correspond to the three
dimensions discussed above, and will include some or all of the
subjects listed below.
We are also interested in other related topics.
Panel/Section 1: Changing Perceptions of Refugees
-the construction of refugees as threats
-societal and cultural factors
Panel/Section 2: Changing Responses to Refugee Crises
-international intervention in refugee crises
-interdiction, non-entree, and alliance strategies
-globalization and domestic-international linkages
Panel/Section 3: The Role of International Governmental and
Nongovernmental Organizations
-security organizations
-UNHCR/IOM
-NGOs
-coordinating international responses
Proposals
Proposals should include a 250 word abstract and all contact
information, including affiliation and e-mail address. The
deadline for paper proposals is June 1, 1996. Please send
proposals to either of the individuals below:
Kurt Mills
Centre for Refugee Studies
York University
North York, Ontario
Canada M3J 1P3
Phone: (416) 736-5663
Fax: (416) 736-5837
e-mail: kmills@yorku.ca
Nazare Albuquerque Abell
Centre for International and Strategic Studies
York University
North York, Ontario
Canada M3J 1P3
Phone: (416) 736-5156
Fax: (416) 736-5752
e-mail: naabell@yorku.ca