Dynamics of Global Inequality: New Thinking in Global Affairs

2017 Annual Global Affairs Graduate Student Conference

Rutgers Division of Global Affairs, Newark, NJ, April 21, 2017

 

Current events across the globe have demonstrated the urgent need for new ways of thinking about the historical and contemporary issues that shape global affairs. In the current political moment, it is imperative to examine how global systems of inequality such as race, sexuality, gender and ability shape the world in which we live. Central themes of global affairs scholarship, including security, development, migration and mass atrocity crimes occur with the context of, and are shaped by such systems of inequality. Further, we must recognize that a US- or Euro-centric focus offers a limited explanation of global politics and we must therefore look beyond these geographical arenas to reflect on the contribution of other regions to global affairs theory and practice.

Nevertheless, many global affairs conferences and curricula continue to operate along traditional lines and question whether the circumstances of identity, gender, race or sexuality are even relevant to global affairs. With its annual conference, the Student Association of Global Affairs seeks to broaden this debate and provide a space for students to deconstruct traditional narratives within international relations and global affairs by exploring these new fields and how they can inform theory, analysis, practice, and methodology: Why do we need to take these issues into account? How can they shape our thinking both at domestic and global levels?

We invite abstracts for papers on the following and related topics in all aspects of global affairs:

• Racial and Ethnic Identities
• Systems of Oppression (Racism, Xenophobia, Sexism, Classism, Homophobia, etc.)
• Gender and Gender Identities
• Sexuality, Queer Theory, and Global LGBT Activism
• Ability and Disability
• Intersectionality
• Decolonial Thinking
• Postcolonialism
• Mass Atrocity Crimes (Genocide, War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, Ethnic Cleansing)
• Non US- or Euro-centric Approaches to International Relations and Global Affairs

This graduate student conference seeks to create an interdisciplinary conversation on these topics, and we welcome participants from multiple disciplines, including, but not limited to: Political Science and International Relations, Sociology, Anthropology, Geography, Critical Ethnic Studies, American Studies, African and African American Studies, History and the Humanities.

The submission deadline for abstracts is January 27th, 2017. Please submit an anonymous abstract of up to 400 words (in PDF or Word document form) to saga.rutgers@gmail.com. Please put your name and contact details in the email body and put “Paper Submission DGA Conference” in the subject line.

Opening Address: Prof. Patricia J. Williams, James L. Dohr Professor of Law at Columbia Law School

Keynote Lecture: Prof. Elisa von Joeden-Forgey, Dr. Marsha Raticoff Grossman Professor of Holocaust Studies at Stockton University

Panel Discussion: “Broadening the global affairs and IR curriculum: Why does it matter?”

For further information please visit the Division of Global Affairs website or contact the Student Association of Global Affairs (SAGA): saga.rutgers@gmail.com.

Student Association of Global Affairs
Division of Global Affairs
Rutgers University – Newark

Email: saga.rutgers@gmail.com
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