The Social Question in the New Millenium

Coimbra, 16-17-18 Setembro, 2004
Centro de Estudos Sociais
University of Coimbra, Portugal

Announcement and Call for Papers
Deadline for submissions: March 31, 2004

In the nineteenth century the Social Question was, as is widely accepted, the topic that concerned European industrialised societies the most. The very process of definition of the social sciences, in tandem with the development of their most important theoretical paradigms, was knitted into the social question. Both in creating mechanisms of integration and social harmony and in paving the way for a fairer society, the social sciences were the outcome of inequalities, injustices, protests and social movements that followed the capitalist model for centuries.

Despite the deep transformations, struggles and social experiments of the last two centuries, the most diverse projects for social justice remain unfinished. As of today, the most elementary human rights continue to be violated every day. Social injustices and inequalities are more visible than ever in central countries, as well as, and especially, in peripheral countries of the South. The difference lies in the fact that presently these problems become strikingly more shocking both in intensity and extension. The new information technologies and the increase in mobility, as well as in economical, political, social and cultural instability, give evidence of the increasing complexity of the global social phenomena. This reality calls for bigger responsibilities on the social and human sciences to analyse and reflect over the consequences of the present trends of globalisation. Thus, the social question remains open, assuming a particularly disturbing configuration on the edge of the new millennium.

The VIII Luso-Afro-Brazilian Congress is shaped by these concerns and, as in its former editions, it aims at stimulating debate and cooperation amongst social scientists from Portuguese-speaking countries. This important biannual meeting has been taking place since 1990 and had venues in Coimbra (1990), São Paulo (1992), Lisbon (1994), Rio de Janeiro (1996), Maputo (1998), Oporto (2000) and Rio de Janeiro (2002). In 2004, it will be back in Coimbra, under the organization of the Center for Social Studies/ School of Economics of the University of Coimbra.

Session formats include (besides the established plenary conferences) thematic sessions, panels and group discussions. The official language of the Congress is Portuguese. Papers are invited on issues related to any of the following themes:

Plenary Sessions
1. Politics and citizenship- the state of democracy
2. Justice, violence and social inequalities
3. Risk, health care policies: the problem of AIDS

Themes for Workshops
1. Knowledges, technologies and sciences
2. State, nation, law and democracy
3. Social movements, participation and citizenship
4. (In)equalities, differences, inclusions and exclusions
5. Economies, solidarities and social politics
6. Social sciences in lusophony Africa
7. Work, trade unionism and social dialogue
8. Conflicts, cooperation and international relations
9. Languages, cultures and literatures
10. Migrations, exiles and diasporas
11. Spaces, territories and urbanities
12. Post-colonialism, ‘lusofonia’ and reconstructions of history
13. Communication and the information society
14. Sport, leisure and cultural expressions
15. Conjugalities, families and affects
16. Educational politics, teaching and pedagogies
17. Health, medicines and welfare policies
18. Religions, beliefs and identities

Panels and Discussion-Groups
These two presentation models work as follows: sessions are proposed by a group of participants (or by a session coordinator) and organised around a specific theme, a research project, a book or an article, a network or proposal for a future network, etc. Panels are formed by 4-5 participants and the session is open to an audience. Discussion groups are closed sessions, formed by 10-15 participants. Panels and discussion groups should include social scientists from at least two Portuguese-speaking countries (e.g. Angola, Mozambique, S. Tomé, Cape Verde, Guiné-Bissau, East-Timor, Brazil and Portugal). Participants from other nationalities are welcome, as long as their research topics concern or are relevant to any of these countries (presentations must be in Portuguese).

Abstracts
Papers: abstract with 500 to 600 words.
Panel and group discussions: description with up to 250 words.
Please send the abstract and title page (along with the registration-form) to lusoafrobrasileiro@ces.uc.pt by March 31, 2004.

Important Dates
Deadline for submitting abstracts of communications and proposals: April 30, 2004.
Confirmation of accepted papers/ proposals: May 15, 2004.
Deadline for submitting papers (after confirmation of accepted abstract): August 13, 2004.

Address / contacts
(send “Ficha de Inscrição”, by mail, fax or Email - see attached file )
Secretariado do VIII Congresso Luso-Afro-Brasileiro de Ciências Sociais
Centro de Estudos Sociais
Colégio S. Jerónimo, Largo D. Dinis
Apartado 3087, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal

Telephone: (+351) 239855570/80; Fax: (+351) 239855589.

For more information visit our website at: http://www.ces.uc.pt/lab2004
To request any further information, please send a message to: lusoafrobrasileiro@ces.uc.pt

Organizing Commission
Elísio Estanque (Centre for Social Studies/School of Economics, University of Coimbra – Coordinator); António Casimiro Ferreira (CES/FEUC); Hermes Costa (CES/FEUC); Maria José Canelo (CES/School of Arts and Letters, University of Coimbra); Rui Bebiano (CES/FLUC); Sílvia Ferreira (CES/FEUC); Kátia Cardoso (Secretary)

Permanent Commission
Elísio Estanque (CES/FEUC); Anália Torres (ISCTE – U. Lisboa); Omar Ribeiro Thomaz (CEBRAP/Unicamp – S. Paulo); Peter Fry (UFRJ – Rio de Janeiro); Renato Lessa (IUPERJ – Rio de Janeiro); Artemisa Monteiro (student, Federal Univ. of Santa Catarina, Brazil); Rosa Cruz e Silva (Historical Archive – Luanda) and Teresa Cruz e Silva (U. Eduardo Mondlane – Maputo).

Scientific Commission
André Sango (School of Law, Agostinho Neto Univ, Luanda); Boaventura de Sousa Santos (CES/FEUC); Bruno Reis (Federal Univ. Minas Gerais); Carlos Cardoso (ISCTE, Lisbon); Carlos Lopes (United Nations); Gilberto Velho (National Museum of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro); Gregório Firmino (Univ. Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo); Isabel Allegro Magalhães (School of Arts and Letters, U. Lisboa); Joana Pereira Leite (ISEG, Lisbon); João Ferreira de Almeida (ISCTE/ ICS, Lisbon); João Paulo Borges Coelho (U. Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo); Lilia Schwarcz (USP-SP); Luís Werneck Vianna (ANPOCS/IUPERJ); Manuel Villaverde Cabral (ICS, Lisbon); Maria Nazaré Ceita (Ministry of Education – S. Tomé); Onésimo da Silveira (Cape Verde Ambassador in Portugal); Sérgio Adorno (USP-SP); Yvonne Maggie (Federal Univ. of Rio de Janeiro).