SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND GLOBAL ISSUES SSSP GLOBAL DIVISION NEWSLETTER FALL 2007/WINTER 2008 FROM THE GLOBAL DIVISION CHAIR The creation of the Global Division is one of the recent significant changes that we have seen in the SSSP. The remarkable leadership of my predecessor and all those who initiated it and contributed to maintaining it cannot be taken for granted. I am honored to be the in-coming elected chair of the Division. I trust that with everyone’s cooperation we can maintain an active division. One of the significant challenges confronting us is the intensification of global inequalities as the reins of globalization ravage communities. In it we clearly see the intersectionalities of gender, race, ethnicity, class, nationality and citizenship with the consequent deterioration of the environment, human rights, and democratization. But on the other hand we see a corresponding intensification of local and transnational resistance to globalization. For the Global Division this phenomenon is particularly significant because it begs for a scholarship that will seriously interrogate its complexities and the human agency to alter its course so that global social justice is served. How can we as a global Division, which is concerned about the praxis of scholarship, participate in the movement for global justice that challenges and seeks alternative institutions and policies to neoliberalism? I would like the members of the Global Division to share their views and what they have been doing that respond to this question. Perhaps we can include your responses in the next newsletter. I have a few ideas to respond to the question: * First, we can take globalization and its alternatives as a theme for organizing sessions not only this year but for the coming years. We can bring to these sessions experiences from grassroots movements and activists from the Global South from whom we can learn and make connections. Of course, this needs money. Please see my proposal for the TransAtlantic Global Link Fund included in this newsletter for which I am soliciting your comments and approval (or disapproval) before I bring it up to the SSSP Executive Committee. * Second, we can contribute to disseminating a critical perspective on globalization through publications. For a start, Richard Dello Buono and I plan to edit a book on globalization that will compile good papers presented in the Global Division sponsored sessions and in other division sessions. Please see announcement on this in this newsletter. * Third, we can participate in the international campaigns within the anti-globalization movement that some of our members are involved with. Perhaps we can use the Division’s listserv to disseminate action alerts and signature campaigns of these movement organizations. As we all know, internet networking is an effective (though limited) way of transcending space and national boundaries in global justice movements. * Fourth, we can begin collaborative research on globalization that will partly serve the interest of movement organizations seeking alternatives to globalization both in the local and in the Third World or Global South. As of now the Global Division has more than 300 members, but we have little knowledge of each other’s research agenda related to globalization and resistance to it. Perhaps we can think of ways to start research networks among us that will enhance our production of critical knowledge on globalization and resistance. Those of us who have interest in conducting fieldwork overseas may benefit from this potential network. I am sure that there are creative responses among you to this important challenge on how the Global Division can be part of the global movement in raising critical understanding and awareness about globalization, and how it can be part of the global justice movement towards averting the dehumanizing global inequalities exacerbated by neoliberal policies. In the midst of these contending forces, we need a praxis of scholarship that will promote the interest of the oppressed. Can the Global Division nurture this kind of praxis? Ligaya Lindio McGovern, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Sociology Indiana University Kokomo INVITATION FROM KEN KYLE, EDITOR OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS FORUM, THE SSSP NEWSLETTER I am writing to invite Global Division members to contribute commentary, letters to the editor, and Convergences and Divergences: Perspectives on Social Problems features. One of my goals as editor is to promote a greater awareness of global and international concerns, problems, opportunities and movements. While the SSSP is both interdisciplinary and international by design, I feel it is rather narrow in its disciplinary approach and US-centric, or at least North-America-centric. Accordingly, I am actively working to include material in the newsletter that is not focused on the US. I would love to see a Convergences and Divergences feature organized by someone in your division, be it based upon the symposia or built around some other topic. If you are interested, here is the link for the feature explanation http://www.ssp1.org/index.cfm/m/287, and please do not hesitate to contact me (email address: sssp_editor@yahoo.com). GLOBAL DIVISION CALL FOR PAPERS ~ BOSTON, JULY 31-AUGUST 2, 2008 GLOBAL DIVISION SPONSORED SESSIONS Session 1: Globalization and Women of the Global South: Resistance from Below Co-organizer: Ligaya Lindio McGovern W: 765-455-9376; lmcgover@iuk.edu and Co-organizer: Richard Dello Buono; rdellob@hotmail.com   Session 2: Globalization, Migration, and Economic Diaspora – THEMATIC Organizer: Luis Fernandez W: 928-523-5673; luis.fernandez@nau.edu   Session 3: Globalization, Environmental Crisis and Alternatives Organizer: Alan Spector W: 219-989-2387; a_spector@sbcglobal.net   Session 4: Globalization: Theory, Ideology, and Practice Organizer: David Steele W: 931-221-7519; steeled@apsu.edu   Session 5: North/South Dialogue: Globalization and Human Rights: Contradictions and Opportunities – THEMATIC Co-organizer: LaDawn Haglund W: 480-965-7083; ladawn.haglund@asu.edu and Co-organizer John Dale W: 703-993-1444; jdale@gmu.edu GLOBAL DVISION CO-SPONSORED SESSIONS Session 32: Consumption, Sustainability and the Global-local Interface – THEMATIC (Environment and Technology and Global)Organizer: David Steele W: 931-221-7519; steeled@apsu.edu Session 39: Critical Perspectives on Global Security and Governance (Global and Critical Sociology) Organizer: Tony Samara W: 703-993-3780; tsamara@gmu.edu   Session 40: Globalization, Immigration, and Health (Global; Health, Health Policy, and Health Services; and Racial and Ethnic Minorities) Co-organizer: Jean Elson W: 603-862-1885; jelson@unh.edu and Co-organizer: Howard Lune W: 973-720-3714; luneh@wpunj.edu   Session 41: Global Institutional Ethnography: Crossing Spatial and Temporal Borders – THEMATIC (Global and Institutional Ethnography) Co-organizer: Peter Grahame; pgrahame@comcast.net and Co-organizer: Kamini Grahame W: 717-948-6038; kmg16@psu.edu   Session 42: Global Inequalities (Global and Political Economy of World System/ASA) Co-organizer: Jon Shefner W: 865-974-7022; jshefner@utk.edu and Co-organizer: David Smith W: 949-824-7292; dasmith@uci.edu   Session 43: Globalization and Models of Democracy (Global and Sociologists Without Borders) Organizer: Daniel Egan W: 978-934-4304; daniel_egan@uml.edu and Co-organizer Mark Frezzo W: 561-297-3275; mfrezzo@fau.edu GLOBAL DIVISION AWARD COMPETITIONS Global Division Graduate Student Competition  Deadline: 5/5/08  The Global Division announces its 2008 Graduate Student Paper Competition. The goal is to encourage critical scholarship in the areas of global studies and social problems. Suggested paper topics include but are not limited to the following themes being featured at the 2008 Annual SSSP meetings: Neoliberalism and Global Conflict; Globalization and Transitional Politics; Alternative Forms/Models of Globalization; and/or the Post-Washington Consensus Era in Latin America. Jointly-authored papers are accepted, but all contributing authors must be current graduate students or have graduated not prior to January 1, 2008. The award recipient will receive a monetary prize of $250, student membership in the SSSP, conference registration at the 2008 Annual SSSP Meeting in Boston, MA, and a ticket to the SSSP awards banquet. Award recipients will be expected to present their paper at the 2008 Annual Meeting. Papers must be submitted electronically in a format compatible with MS WORD and authors should ensure that they receive a confirmation of receipt for their submission. Although faculty sponsorship is not formally required to enter the competition, participants are invited to request a note from a faculty member or independent scholar that speaks to the academic quality of the submission and they should be emailed directly to the addresses below. Papers of up to a maximum length of 30 double-spaced pages may be sent beginning on January 31, 2008 but no later than May 5, 2008 to both Co-Chairs of the 2008 SSSP Global Division Graduate Student Award Committee: Dr. Jon Shefner, jshefner@utk.edu and Dr. David A. Smith, dasmith@orion.oac.uci.edu.   Global Division Undergraduate Student Competition Deadline: 5/5/08 The Global Division announces its 2008 Undergraduate Student Paper Competition. The goal is to encourage critical scholarship in the areas of global studies and social problems. Suggested paper topics include but are not limited to the following themes being featured at the 2008 Annual SSSP meetings: Neoliberalism and Global Conflict; Globalization and Transitional Politics; Alternative Forms/Models of Globalization; and/or the Post-Washington Consensus Era in Latin America. Jointly-authored papers are accepted, but all contributing authors must be current undergraduate students or have graduated not prior to January 1, 2008. The award recipient will receive a $100 prize, student membership in the SSSP, conference registration at the 2008 Annual SSSP Meeting in Boston, MA, and a ticket to the SSSP awards banquet. Award recipients will be expected to present their paper at the 2008 Annual Meeting. Papers must be submitted electronically in a format compatible with MS WORD and authors should ensure that they receive a confirmation of receipt for their submission. Papers of up to a maximum length of 30 double-spaced pages may be sent beginning on January 31, 2008 but no later than May 5, 2008 to both Co-Chairs of the 2008 SSSP Global Division Undergraduate Student Award Committee: Dr. John Dale, jdale@gmu.edu and Dr. Daniel Egan, daniel_egan@uml.edu .   Global Division Outstanding Book Award Deadline: 4/5/08 The Global Division announces its 2008 Outstanding Book Award. The goal of this award is to encourage critical scholarship in the areas of global studies and social problems. Books on a variety of topics and themes will be reviewed, including but not limited to the following themes being featured at the 2008 Annual SSSP meetings: Neoliberalism and Global Conflict; Globalization and Transitional Politics; Alternative Forms/Models of Globalization; the Post-Washington Consensus Era in Latin America; Global Cities; Transnational Communities; and Transnational Social Movements. Eligible books must have been published within 3 years of the meeting (2005-2008 for this year’s award). Single or multiple-authored books will be accepted; however, at least one of the authors must be a member of the SSSP. The award recipient(s) will receive two tickets to the SSSP awards banquet so as to bring along a guest for the honors. Award recipients are not required to present a paper at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Boston, MA in order to qualify for this award. Authors are encouraged to nominate their own work. Nominations may also be made by other members of the Global Division however nominations from publishers will not be accepted. Nominees should send full publication information and a paragraph explaining why this book is recommended. Contact information for the author should be included if available. Authors will be requested to facilitate with their publishers that copies of the nominated book be sent to each of the Award Committee co-chairs. Nominations are now being accepted but must be received no later than April 5, 2008. To nominate a book for this award, please copy your message to both Co-Chairs of the 2008 SSSP Global Division Outstanding Book Award Committee: Dr. Howard Lune, luneh@wpunj.edu and Dr. John Dale, jdale@gmu.edu. RECENT MEMBER PUBLICATIONS Almeida, Paul D. 2008. Waves of Protest: Popular Struggle in El Salvador, 1925- 2005. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. http://www.upress.umn.edu/Books/A/almeida_waves.html Almeida, Paul D. 2007. "Defensive Mobilization: Popular Movements against Economic Adjustment Policies in Latin America." Latin American Perspectives 34(3):123-139. Mullins, Christopher W. and Dawn L. Rothe. 2008. Power, Bedlam, and Bloodshed: State Crime in Post-colonial Africa. New York: Peter Lang Publishing. Mullins, Christopher W. and Dawn L Rothe. 2007. “The Forgotten Ones”. Critical Criminology 15(2):135-158. Rothe, Dawn L. and Christopher W. Mullins. 2008. "Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Central Africa: A Criminological Exploration" in Towards a Criminology of International Crimes, edited by R. Haveman and A. Smeulers. Antwerp: Intersentia. Rothe, Dawn L. and Christopher W. Mullins. 2007. “Darfur and the Politicalization of International Law: Genocide or Crimes Against Humanity.” Humanity and Society 31(1):83-107. Salime, Zakia. 2007. “The War on Terrorism: Appropriation and Subversion by Moroccan Women.” Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 33(1):1-24. Ligaya Lindio McGovern is guest co-editor with Erica G. Polakoff of the Special Double Issue of Journal of Developing Societies on Women and Globalization, Volume 23, Issues 1-2, January-June 2007. This special issue has fourteen articles covering the experience of women from different parts of the world, from Asia (such as the Philippines), to Latin America, Africa, USA, and Europe. McGovern has two contributions in it: “Neo-liberal Globalization in the Philippines: Its Impact on Filipino Women and Their Forms of Resistance” and the conclusion – “Women and Neoliberal Globalization: Inequities and Resistance”. PUBLICATION PROJECT FOR THE GLOBAL DIVISION Ligaya Lindio McGovern and Richard Dello Buono are putting together a publication (an edited volume) that will compile selected papers presented in the Global Division sessions as well as papers from invited contributors. The theme of the volume is “Uprooting Neo-liberal Globalization from Below”. The book will bring together analytical and empirical case studies or essays on how people/grassroots groups in Latin America, Asia, Africa, Middle East, North America and Europe are organizing resistance and alternatives to neo-liberal globalization. They are currently soliciting two-page abstracts that can be included in the book proposal they will send to the publishers to negotiate for an advance contract. If you are interested in submitting an abstract please send Ligaya (lmcgover@iuk.edu) and Richard (rdellob@hotmail.com) an email expressing your interest and a brief description of your work. This will give them a chance to have some sense of what works are out there.   “TRANSATLANTIC GLOBAL LINK FUND” (GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS!) Ligaya Lindio McGovern I would like to solicit your thoughts, comments, approval or disapproval on this idea I am thinking about. I would like to create what I like to call as of now, a “TransAtlantic Global Link Fund”. This Fund, to be created through fund-raising activities/efforts of the Global Division, will be used to annually bring to our conference activists who are engaged in the anti-globalization movement from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the MiddleEast (especially from the developing countries) where they can speak to us in a special session during the annual SSSP conference. Or we can also use part of this Fund to give an annual award to an exempleary NGO or anti-globalization or global justice movement organization in any of these geographical areas. The invited speakers and leaders of the NGO and movement organization who are selected to receive the award will become honorary members of the Global Division. They will serve as conduits for mutual exchange where we can learn from them and they can learn from us. If the Division approves this action we can launch the idea during the 2008 Conference in Boston with a fund-raising event, since it is very much related to the Conference theme, “Crossing Borders: Activist Scholarship, Globalization, and Social Policy”. Please send me your thoughts on this idea. So I can get a sense of where the division stands on this, please fill in the survey form and paste it in your reply to me (lmcgover@iuk.edu): 1. The ‘TransAtlantic Global Link Fund” is ________________ 2. I suggest the following: SSSP GLOBAL DIVISION GLOBAL DIVISION CHAIR: Ligaya Lindio McGovern lmcgover@iuk.edu GLOBAL DIVISION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: John Dale, jdale@gmu.edu Richard A. Dello Buono, rdellob@hotmail.com Daniel Egan, Daniel_Egan@uml.edu Luis Fernandez, Luis.Fernandez@nau.edu LaDawn Haglund, ladawn.haglund@asu.edu Howard Lune, luneh@wpunj.edu Ligaya Lindio McGovern lmcgover@iuk.edu Javier Pereira, jpereira@mail.utexas.edu Tony Samara, tsamara@gmu.edu Jon Shefner, jshefner@utk.edu Stephen Sills, sills.stephen@gmail.com David A. Smith, dasmith@uci.edu Alan Spector, a_spector@sbcglobal.net David Steele, steeled@apsu.edu CO-EDITORS OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS AND GLOBAL ISSUES: Ligaya Lindio McGovern, lmcgover@iuk.edu David Steele, steeled@apsu.edu THE ASSOCIATION FOR HUMANIST SOCIOLOGY ANNUAL MEETING The Association for Humanist Sociology [AHS] would like to invite submissions for our 2008 Annual Meeting at the John Hancock Center in Boston, Ma, November 6-9. Our conference theme is "What is to be Done? Public Sociology in Theory and Practice." While public sociology has attracted excitement in recent years, sociology as a resource for social action is not new. From Marx and Mills, to Dubois and Jane Addams, to Al Lee and Francis Fox Piven, the reemergence of public sociology is really the product of a long march by politically interested and socially engaged scholars through educational institutions, professional associations and publications, and other places where sociology is done. Yet, public sociology remains a contested terrain, criticized as "too political" by some and "not political enough" by others. Since our inception in 1976, AHS and its members have been contemplating and practicing public sociology, mostly from the margins of the discipline. Now that public sociology is front and center, we ought to have much to say about it: historically, theoretically, ethically, politically, and practically. This Annual Meeting is an opportunity to examine the past, evaluate the present, and begin to shape the future of a public sociology that matters. Paper submissions should address some aspect of public sociology and its relationship to teaching, activism, policy or community-based research, or other aspects of sociology as they relate to incorporating humanist goals with sociological work. Please send papers, abstracts, posters or session/workshop ideas to Program Director Daniel Egan, Daniel_Egan@uml.edu or AHS President, Corey Dolgon, cdolgon@worcester.edu SSSP GLOBAL DIVISION LISTSERV Sixty of our Division members are currently signed up for the SSSP Global Division Listserv. The listserv is a quick way to share news about the Division and global issues. If you would like to be added to the SSSP Global Division Listserv, please send an e-mail to David Steele at steeled@apsu.edu or Ligaya McGovern at lmcgover@iuk.edu. CALL FOR PAPERS: THEMATIC PANEL FOR GLOBAL DIVISION OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS (SSSP) North/South Dialogue: Globalization and Human Rights, Contradictions and Opportunities Deadline: January 31, 2008 Co-organizer John Dale Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University Ph: 703-993-1444; jdale@gmu.edu Co-organizer: LaDawn Haglund School of Justice & Social Inquiry, Arizona State University Ph: 480-965-7083; ladawn.haglund@asu.edu The practice of human rights by its promoters in the North often reflects ambivalence. This is due in part to the relationship between human rights and globalization. Globalization is a contested concept. Yet, if not reduced to its economic dimensions, we can claim that, to some extent, globalization has facilitated the spread of values, discourse, practices, and institutions for promoting human rights.  The transnational human rights regime investigates violations of human rights around the world and legally tries states, state leaders, corporations, and even citizens that some states refuse to indict. Thus, we might think of human rights as both a product and facilitator of globalization. At the same time, human rights often conflict with and challenge many of the processes underlying globalization, such as market liberalization, migration, dislocation, and innovations in surveillance and repression.  Aside from its sometimes antagonistic relationship to globalization, the use of the language of human rights itself also can be ambivalent. We see this clearly when state and non-state actors use human rights as a disciplinary instrument to regulate the behavior of other nation-states. Often, this pattern spreads governmental power transnationally in ways that strengthen the hegemony of Northern states over Southern ones. In short, we are finding that some human rights are under siege while others are becoming increasingly possible – and sometimes the advance of certain human rights, in practice at least, comes directly at the expense of others. This panel seeks to explore both the discursive ambivalence of human- rights practice, and the contradictions between globalizing forces and the institutionalization of human rights. We are especially interested in papers which identify new transnational strategies, campaigns, or mechanisms that seek to protect or expand human rights norms, and that link actors in the global North and South. Papers or extended abstracts (2-3 page summary of the intended presentation) MUST be sent electronically via the online submission cover sheet to session organizers no later than midnight (EST) on January 31, 2008.  You may review the online submission cover sheet by clicking on the link below. 2008 Global Division Sessions: http://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pageid/604 2008 SSSP Call for Papers: http://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/m/293 2008 SSSP Submission Cover Sheet: http://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pageId/591