7th Conference of the European Sociological Association (ESA) Torun, Poland, September 9th-12th, 2005Rethinking Inequalities
Research Stream
Religion and Inequalities in a Global World
Call for Papers Various forms of inequalities through History
Through History, forms of inequalities have been diverse and seem to be ever increasingly extensive. While ancient forms of inequalities, based on status (honor) or on gender, may not have disappeared, modern societies, promoting the value of individualism i.e. equality and personal freedom, seem to generate new forms of inequalities : those based on socio-economic level, racial criteria, and new ones found on personal dignity, for example those who perceive themselves as minority groups’ (invalids, sexual orientation, new religious movements or ethno-religious groups, etc…).
The global world seems to favour or reinforce these inequalities. Globalization is characterized by a double-faced mobility : migrations from developing countries towards the ‘North’ are caused by aspirations to improve one’s economic status, when factory delocalisation to the ‘South’ is oriented to biggest profits and may reinforce poverty in developing countries. Besides, through a larger circulation of ideas and goods, globalization allows comparisons between different situations, hence new aspirations to equality between groups or individuals from World diverse regions.
How does Religion adress these inequalities ?
Religion is traditionally preoccupied with poverty, disease, aspirations towards equal recognition, giving expression to these aspirations, assisting underpriviledged people, explaining/justifying unequal situations. How do religious groups adress the diminishing capacities of the Welfare State in rich societies and ever growing inequalities between them and other societies ? For instance, we can observe in some countries new alliances between Orthodox or radical Islamic groups and anti-globalization groups. In other places, fundamentalist or charismatic groups create new structures for assistance to distressed people, either mentally or economically. Other examples may be suggested.
Can we interprete the weakening of secular professional assistance structures and the growing intervention of religious groups, specifically in health care, as a ‘de- secularization’ process ? If we also take into account the contradictory evolution of religious groups towards dominant values of general society, how is this convergence interfering with this trend ? How do religious group maintain and recompose their identity ?
Two thematic sessions, each of 2 hours, will be organized (4-5 papers in each one). Some topics are proposed here, but other themes may be suggested.
ABSTRACT
Deadline for submitting an abstract is February 28th 2005.
Abstracts should not exceed 200 words. Notification of acceptance will be sent by March 31th 2005.
Martine Cohen, cohen@iresco.fr (Groupe de Sociologie des Religions et de la Laïcité) 59-61 Rue Pouchet – 75017 PARIS – FRANCE