Date: Tue, 23 Apr 1996 17:00:44 -0400
To: forced-migration@mailbase.ac.uk, isafp@csf.colorado.edu,
        PSRT-L@MIZZOU1.MISSOURI.EDU, revs@csf.colorado.edu,
        acuns-io@brownvm.brown.edu, asylum-l@ccsdec1.ufsia.ac.be,
        bisa-un@mailbase.ac.uk, peacekeeping@gmu.edu, UNReform@chatsubo.com,
        anthap4@oakland.edu
From: kmills@yorku.ca (Kurt Mills)
Subject: Call for Papers
CALL FOR PAPERS

We are looking for papers for a combined conference panel/book project
provisionally entitled "Refugees in the Emerging Global Order: Changing
Perceptions and International Responses."  We plan to have three panels at
the International Studies Association in Toronto, March 22-26, 1997.  In
addition, however, we plan to compile the books in an edited volume and
hope to have at least one workshop in addition the ISA  presentations to
present and critique the papers of presenters.


Project Overview

Over the past two decades the number of refugees worldwide has increased
dramatically. Concurrent with this, perceptions of the refugee crisis and
reactions to refugees have changed. This project will examine three
different dimensions of the changed refugee environment. First, it will
look at changing perceptions of refugees, partially situated within broader
discourses related to immigration. That is, it will examine the extent to
which refugees are increasingly being constructed as threats --
politically, culturally and economically, as well as from broadened
perspectives of security. This is related both to geopolitical factors and
domestic neoliberal economic retrenchment.

The second dimension of this issue is related to changing responses to
refugee crisis. This involves, on the one hand, looking at international
intervention in refugee crisis, and other reactions such as interdiction,
non-entree policies and alliance strategies. On the other hand, domestic
policies in the North have become more salient in dealing with refugee
crises as more refugees (although still a minority) and other immigrants
are able to make their way to the developed world, and states increasingly
view this as a question of security. Thus, the connection between domestic
policies and international action will also be addressed.

The third dimension involves examining structures for greater cooperation
among states, regional and international governmental organizations, and
NGOs. Thus, the role of regional collective arrangements, such as NATO, the
WEU, and OSCE, will be readdressed, as they will have to be concerned with
matters that have generally been considered outside their original
objectives, such as refugee crises. It is also important to examine the
adequacy of the UNHCR and the IOM in dealing with this question. They need
a long-term vision which combines both universal norms and practical
politics, one that goes beyond immediate concerns for the plight of
refugees.  Furthermore, this section will address the role played by NGOs.
As the role of the state is reappraised and alternatives are sought to
solve problems, NGOs have emerged as one of a number of critical not for
profit actors, private in form but public in purpose.


Panel/Book Structure

The panels and sections of the book will correspond to the three dimensions
discussed above, and will include some or all of the subjects listed below.
We are also interested in other related topics.

Panel/Section 1: Changing Perceptions of Refugees

        -the construction of refugees as threats
        -societal and cultural factors

Panel/Section 2: Changing Responses to Refugee Crises

        -international intervention in refugee crises
        -interdiction, non-entree, and alliance strategies
        -globalization and domestic-international linkages

Panel/Section 3: The Role of International Governmental and Nongovernmental
Organizations

        -security organizations
        -UNHCR/IOM
        -NGOs
        -coordinating international responses


Proposals

Proposals should include a 250 word abstract and all contact information,
including affiliation and e-mail address.  The deadline for paper proposals
is June 1, 1996.  Please send proposals to either of the individuals below:

Kurt Mills
Centre for Refugee Studies
York University
North York, Ontario
Canada M3J 1P3
Phone: (416) 736-5663
Fax: (416) 736-5837
e-mail: kmills@yorku.ca

Nazare Albuquerque Abell
Centre for International and Strategic Studies
York University
North York, Ontario
Canada M3J 1P3
Phone: (416) 736-5156
Fax: (416) 736-5752
e-mail: naabell@yorku.ca