3rd Annual International Symposium on Multiculturalism
Reclaiming Multiculturalism:
Global Citizenship and Ethical Engagement with Diversity
Hosted by the Centre of Citizenship and Globalisation (CCG)
15-16 November 2012
Venue: The Richard Searby Room (hd 2.006)
Melbourne Burwood Campus, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
Multiculturalism has been vehemently criticised at the turn of the 21st century, and academics and state actors have made many recent efforts to ‘reframe’ and ‘rethink’ it. However, others have argued for the need to preserve multiculturalism, more or less in its original form, and to align it with other terms such as interculturalism, rather than replace it with new, and less developed, concepts. Therefore, it is possible that the ‘multicultural turn’ needs to be rectified by restating the importance of multicultural and cosmopolitan principles. Anti-multicultural rhetoric, perpetuated by public figures and the media, has led to a rise of xenophobia that threatens the rights and safety of citizens. Rather than rejecting or reconfiguring multiculturalism this conference will explore whether multiculturalism can be reclaimed in culturally and religiously diverse societies as a foundation of ethical citizenship, social inclusion and peaceful societies.
The conference will bring together scholars, state and community actors specialising in the fields of multiculturalism, intercultural and interreligious relations across diverse disciplines and geographical regions. Participants will build on the discussions of previous CCG and AMLSCS symposia and debate multicultural, intercultural and interreligious policies, practices, theories, histories and controversies. Papers will address the following themes:
- Differences between Transculturalism, Interculturalism and Multiculturalism
- Effects of Anti-multicultural and Anti-cosmopolitan Political and Media Rhetoric
- Benefits and Challenges of Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue and Action
- Rights, Religion and Governance
- Cosmopolitanism and Ethical Citizenship
- Racism, Disempowerment and Recognition
- Addressing Gender Inequalities in Multicultural and Multifaith Societies
- Multiculturalism, Community Engagement and Countering Violent Extremism
- Reconfiguring Self and Other in the Context of Plural Societies
