Conference on Contemporary European Perspectives on Volunteering - Stockholm (SE), 10-12 September 2008
10 September 2008 - 12 September 2008
Denmark
About the conference
The struggle for democracy and the rise of the welfare state in Europe has historically both rested on and challenged the active participation of its citizens. On the one hand, social movement activism has been and remains crucial in the continuing efforts to extend democracy and include marginalized and powerless members of society. At the same time the forms and types of activism have changed considerably over time. On the other, voluntarism based on ideals of civic virtue, associated with formal and informal social work, charities and philanthropy, has been challenged by the rise of the welfare state and a new ethos emphasizing professionalism, universalism, and the role of the state. However, acts of private charity as well as civil society based philanthropy have remained important nonetheless, and given the limitations of the welfare state there are signs that this is a tradition that is undergoing a revival.
This conference seeks to further investigate the current trends with respect to volunteering and social activism in Europe. Of particular interest is to consider the extent to which these are practices that not only have changed and continue to change in form and structure, in aims and motivations, but also differ in important ways in the many corners of “Europe” – East/West and North/South. To further capture what may be distinct about the European patterns and traditions, the conference also aims to make room for perspectives from the United States with its rich and diverse traditions of charity, philanthropy, and social movement activism.
A further theme to be explored concerns the convergences and divergences when it comes to the two strands of volunteering we would like to consider. To what extent is the distinction between social volunteering based on notions of charity and virtue, on the one hand, and political social movement activism, on the other, a valid and useful one?
Deadlines for abstracts of papers
An abstract of no more than 200 words have to be submitted before the 15th of May 2008 to Lena Blomquist (see below). Notices of acceptance will be sent out by the 15th of June 2008. The final papers have to be distributed no later than the 20th of August 2008.
The conference is open to all members of the CINEFOGO Network as well as to other interested colleagues. PhD students are also welcome to apply.
Conference web: http://www.cinefogo.org/workpackages/wp16/wp16-conference-on-contemporary-european-perspectives-on-volunteering-civic-virtue-vs-social-movement-activism/(opens in new window)
Organizers
The conferences is collaboratively organized and funded by Stiftelsen Riksbankens Jubilieumsfond (the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation), the CINEFOGO Network of Excellence on Civil Society and New Forms of Governance in Europe, and Ersta Sköndal University College.
Costs
The conference will be free for paper-givers, while travel and accommodation costs will be covered by each individual participant/institution.
Further information
Regarding professional matters, please contact Lars Svedberg, e-mail lars.svedberg@esh.se
Regarding practical matters, please contact Lena Blomquist, e-mail: lena.blomquist@esh.se, telephone +46-8-5550-5130.About CINEFOGO
CINEFOGO is an acronym for Network of Excellence “Civil Society and New Forms of Governance in Europe – the Making of European Citizenship”. CINEFOGO aims at enhancing the understanding of social and democratic processes, citizenship and de-mocratic participation in Europe. It seeks to provide knowledge about civil society, citizenship and social protection, nourish a public debate on governance and strengthen intellectual co-operation. To learn more on CINEFOGO, visit http://www.cinefogo.org(opens in new window) or send an e-mail to secretariat@cinefogo.org. The CINEFOGO Network of Excellence is supported by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme, Priority 7: New Forms of Citizenship and Cultural Identities of the European Union.
The struggle for democracy and the rise of the welfare state in Europe has historically both rested on and challenged the active participation of its citizens. On the one hand, social movement activism has been and remains crucial in the continuing efforts to extend democracy and include marginalized and powerless members of society. At the same time the forms and types of activism have changed considerably over time. On the other, voluntarism based on ideals of civic virtue, associated with formal and informal social work, charities and philanthropy, has been challenged by the rise of the welfare state and a new ethos emphasizing professionalism, universalism, and the role of the state. However, acts of private charity as well as civil society based philanthropy have remained important nonetheless, and given the limitations of the welfare state there are signs that this is a tradition that is undergoing a revival.
This conference seeks to further investigate the current trends with respect to volunteering and social activism in Europe. Of particular interest is to consider the extent to which these are practices that not only have changed and continue to change in form and structure, in aims and motivations, but also differ in important ways in the many corners of “Europe” – East/West and North/South. To further capture what may be distinct about the European patterns and traditions, the conference also aims to make room for perspectives from the United States with its rich and diverse traditions of charity, philanthropy, and social movement activism.
A further theme to be explored concerns the convergences and divergences when it comes to the two strands of volunteering we would like to consider. To what extent is the distinction between social volunteering based on notions of charity and virtue, on the one hand, and political social movement activism, on the other, a valid and useful one?
Deadlines for abstracts of papers
An abstract of no more than 200 words have to be submitted before the 15th of May 2008 to Lena Blomquist (see below). Notices of acceptance will be sent out by the 15th of June 2008. The final papers have to be distributed no later than the 20th of August 2008.
The conference is open to all members of the CINEFOGO Network as well as to other interested colleagues. PhD students are also welcome to apply.
Conference web: http://www.cinefogo.org/workpackages/wp16/wp16-conference-on-contemporary-european-perspectives-on-volunteering-civic-virtue-vs-social-movement-activism/(opens in new window)
Organizers
The conferences is collaboratively organized and funded by Stiftelsen Riksbankens Jubilieumsfond (the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation), the CINEFOGO Network of Excellence on Civil Society and New Forms of Governance in Europe, and Ersta Sköndal University College.
Costs
The conference will be free for paper-givers, while travel and accommodation costs will be covered by each individual participant/institution.
Further information
Regarding professional matters, please contact Lars Svedberg, e-mail lars.svedberg@esh.se
Regarding practical matters, please contact Lena Blomquist, e-mail: lena.blomquist@esh.se, telephone +46-8-5550-5130.About CINEFOGO
CINEFOGO is an acronym for Network of Excellence “Civil Society and New Forms of Governance in Europe – the Making of European Citizenship”. CINEFOGO aims at enhancing the understanding of social and democratic processes, citizenship and de-mocratic participation in Europe. It seeks to provide knowledge about civil society, citizenship and social protection, nourish a public debate on governance and strengthen intellectual co-operation. To learn more on CINEFOGO, visit http://www.cinefogo.org(opens in new window) or send an e-mail to secretariat@cinefogo.org. The CINEFOGO Network of Excellence is supported by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme, Priority 7: New Forms of Citizenship and Cultural Identities of the European Union.