38th World Congress of the IIS, Budapest-Call for Papers

Title of Session: Development of Marginal Groups/Communities in South Asia in the Post-liberalisation Era

Development of Marginal Groups/communities is one of the Fundamental Rights enshrined by the fathers of the Constitution. It is the duty on the part of the leaders that they should obey their respective constitutions. But, reality, what we are experiencing is different. Due to the onslaught of Liberalisation and globalisation, the question of Development of marginal groups/communities is in doubt. The reason behind this is that State is slowly withdrawing from their duties and allowing the Third Sector/ donor agencies to lead the show of Development. In return, agencies are looking after their benefits leaving aside the welfare of these sections in across South Asia. Thus, it is our duty as citizens of South Asian countries; we must address the question of Development of Marginal Groups/Communities in order to fulfil the Rights and Duties of the Constitution.

This session covers the theoretical and empirical understandings in the field of inter-disciplinary works from the scholars of South Asia. Thus, it makes a link between field level works with the existing theory and give a new look in the developmental paradigms. The proposed session attempts to discuss and also theorize the pragmatic concepts and issues related to marginal groups in Contemporary Asian Society. It has following sub-themes:

The sub-themes of the session are as follows:

• Conceptual and methodological issues relating to Development of Marginal Groups/ Communities in South Asia

• Policies and programmes of the State

• Role of NGOs/Donor agencies in the amelioration of these groups

Dates to Remember: January 15, 2008 - Deadline for submission of abstracts of papers for a regular session.

Link: www.iisoc.org/iis2008

ESWARAPPA KASI, Session Convener

E-mail address to which abstracts of papers should be sent:

kasieswar@gmail.com, kasieswar@yahoo.com

12th World Congress of Rural Sociology-Call for Papers

Rethinking Developmental Discourse in the Contemporary Societies of Asia

The 12th World Congress of Rural Sociology will be held 6-11^th July 2008 in Goyang, Korea. The central theme of the 12^th World Congress of Rural Sociology is Congress will be the exploration of the economic, socio-cultural, political, and environmental context, and challenges, facing rural communities throughout the world. Our independent Working Group titled as ‘Rethinking Developmental Discourse in the Contemporary Rural Societies of Asia’. Without participation from active rural sociologists like yourselves, it would not be possible to
have an exciting and fruitful Congress next year.

The developmental debates are progressively attempting to look at the grassroots systems of ideas, knowledge and discourses which alter the main body of knowledge. In order to understand the dynamics of development in the contemporary rural societies, we need to re-address or rethink certain themes which are very essential for further clarification and dissemination of the knowledge to local societies. Thus, there is a need to address different themes which include Poverty, Development, Vulnerability and its linkages with Civil Society agencies. It covers the range of theoretical and empirical understandings in the field of inter-disciplinary works of scholars from across the disciplines. It emphasizes on the need of relooking at the contemporary Rural Asian societies, in view of recent studies and debates on Poverty and vulnerability, as a way of rethinking development and to face the new problems in the 21^st Century Asia. Thus, it makes a link between field level works with the theory and becomes a full fledged analysis and give a new look in the developmental paradigms.

Each scholar shall explain both theoretical as well as empirical understanding of the phenomenon into their own experiences and analyse their thinking in their broad themes. All the themes are basically is a kind of empirical and theoretical, which allowed for considering to further debate and discussion. The proposed session attempts to discuss and also theorize the pragmatic concepts and issues related to marginal groups in contemporary Asian society. It has following sub-themes:

Sub-themes:

· Conceptual and Methodological Discourses of Poverty and Vulnerability

· How Poverty and Vulnerability have a bearing on the Lives of the Marginal Communities

· Role of Civil Society agencies in amelioration of the poverty and vulnerability

· Emerging trends in the analysis of poverty and vulnerability

I am writing you all to inform you that the IRSA web site (http://www.irsa-world.org/XII/program/index.html) is now open for individual abstract submissions. Anyone wishing to present an individual paper in this working group, must submit their abstract electronically via the IRSA web site, by clicking on “abstract submission.” If any queries, contact the Convener through his emails: kasieswar@yahoo.com, kasieswar@gmail.com

I would also like to bring to your attention the fact that the Organizing Committee is providing a limited number of scholarships for young and meritorious scholars from International Sociological Association (ISA) B & C countries. More information on these scholarships can be found by clicking on “scholarships” on the IRSA
web site. Please share this information with appropriate scholars whom you know.

Abstract Submission Deadline - January 18, 2008

With Best Wishes

ESWARAPPA KASI

Working Group Convener (12)