LSA 2015 CALL FOR PAPERS CITIZENSHIP, NATIONAL IDENTITY AND NATION BUILDING: OPPORTUNITIES, BEST PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES Liberia has successfully evolved from a post-conflict state focused primarily on stability and recovery, following one of history’s most destructive conflicts (1989-2003), to a state focused predominantly on democracy and development consolidation. Liberia is also in the process of negotiating a new constitution that is responsive to the needs of the governed and establishes systems of governance that promote accountability and transparency while giving equal political space to all. Education, youth, security and all the myriad issues facing the nation are all factors being addressed in the post-conflict era. One major player in this evolutionary process is the Liberian diaspora. The Liberian diaspora has remained engaged with the process of rebuilding post-conflict Liberia through remittances and support to development interventions in the country and inclusion in government. In spite of these, the relationship between Liberians within the country and the diaspora remains tenuous. Adding to this complexity is the call to allow Liberians resident abroad or children born in places outside of Liberia unto Liberian parentage to retain Liberian citizenship, though citizens of other countries. These issues have implications as the country strives for an inclusive nation building process both within the country and in the diaspora, and lie at the heart of what constitutes the definition of Liberian identity and citizenship. The Liberia Studies Association (LSA), the largest body of scholars working on Liberia, invites proposals for papers, panels, and roundtables related to this subject for its 47th Annual Meeting scheduled to take place at the Concordia University Chicago, Illinois from May 28 – May 30, 2015. Theoretical and empirical papers, action research and case studies using a range of scholarly approaches including qualitative, quantitative and critical methods are especially welcomed. The proposal must include the name, title, and institutional or organizational affiliation and full contact details of the person or persons submitting the abstract. All proposals should be no longer than 300 words, contain five key words, and sent to samwaijohnson@gmail or [email protected]. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2014. Conference Registration: $100 ($50 for students) by March 1, 2015; registration will also be done on-site. Presenters and other attendees are required to register. Please make checks payable to the LSA Foundation Account. For more information, contact Samuel Wai Johnson, Jr. at (302) 353-2593/ samwaijohnson@gmail, Michael Wannah at (708) 209-3146/ [email protected] or Jackie Sayegh at (607) 255-6849 / [email protected]
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 06:39:14 +0000
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