Abstract
Deadline: 10/31/2002
Event:
A Conference on Pakistan - Southern Asian Institute,
Columbia University
Event
Date & Location:
April 12 weekend, 2003, Columbia University
Website:
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/data/indiv/southasia/cuvl/conf/4-03CUPakistan.html
Information:
The Pakistan Center and the Southern Asian Institute
at Columbia University, in collaboration with the American
Institute of Pakistan Studies, is organizing a two-day conference
on Pakistan in the Spring (weekend of April 12th) of 2003.
The theme of the conference is New Perspectives on Pakistan:
Contexts, Realities and Visions of the Future. See website
for Detailed Conference Proposal.
Contributors
will be requested to submit abstracts on one of the following
Panel Themes:
Rethinking
Processes of State Formation in Pakistan:
This panel addresses issues relating to both the theory
and practice of state formation in developing states and
explores concepts, obstacles, organizations and strategies
relating to socio-political realities in these states. How
and why is the Pakistani experience different or exceptional?
Is the Devolution Plan 2001 really changing the Pakistani
state?
Challenges
of Pluralism: Social Forces and Interest Groups:
Social Forces and Interest Groups. What are the challenges
of pluralism in Pakistani society? Are there any institutions
and processes available through which dissent may be articulated?
Are there any social movements of significance that may
have contributed towards transforming state structures,
reforming laws and expanding the representation of dissenting
groups? How are religious/ethnic groups, women organizations,
and other informal groups reshaping the Pakistani society?
Globalization
and Economic Transformation:
What has been the performance of Pakistan's economy in recent
decades? What are the sectors of growth and development?
How is the economy responding to the challenges of globalization?
How is the Pakistani Diaspora community contributing towards
promoting trade and investment in Pakistan?
Fighting
Terrorism and Promoting Democracy:
What is terrorism and how do we distinguish it from legitimate
resistance to occupation? What are the root causes of terrorism
(manifested in Pakistan through sectarian violence) and
how does Pakistan's joining the global coalition against
terrorism protect its strategic interests? How can we fight
terrorism while strengthening democracy, human rights and
civil liberties? What has happened to political parties;
are they relevant for any reform or mass mobilization? Do
proposed constitutional and electoral reforms promise protection
of federal parliamentary democracy?
Submission
Guidelines / Information:
Papers are invited on any of the themes suggested for
the conference. The deadline for submitting a title and
short abstract of paper is 31st October 2002. The deadline
for submitting paper is 20th January 2003.
Registration
Information:
Text
Contact:
Saeed Shafqat
Quaid-e-Azam Distinguished Professor
Southern Asian Institute
Columbia University
1128 IAB, 420 West 118th Street
New York, NY 10027
Phone: 212--854-3932
Fax: 212-854-6987
email: ss2009@columbia.edu
