Objective
The objective of the Seminar is to bring together contributions from young
academics and intellectuals who share our concerns about the growing socio-economic
disparities in India under the neoliberal regime, the resultant marginalization
of the poor and the oppressed and the sheer absence of any empathy towards
them in the mainstream political and cultural discourse.
In a context where the economic, cultural and political domination of
globalised capital, which underlies the neoliberal hegemony, is being
questioned across the world with renewed commitment and vigour by the
students and the youth, the young critical minds in India definitely have
a role to play. The Seminar intends to provide a platform, cutting across
the boundaries of academic disciplines, to all those who are willing to
rigorously analyze and critique the existing neoliberal order and discuss
the possibilities of change in the Indian context.
Themes
The topic of a paper should address at least one of the questions that
have been posed under the themes below.
I. The State, Markets and the People under
the Neoliberal Regime
Liberalization in India had promised to unshackle the Indian Economy from
the "license-quota raj" and usher in an era of high growth through
integration with the global economy. Has it delivered on the promises?
What has been the economic fallout of the decade-and-a-half of neoliberal
"reforms"? Have the withdrawal of the state and the greater
role played by the market forces benefitted the agricultural, industrial
and services sectors? Have financial and trade liberalization led to higher
investment and growth? Have the macroeconomic policies of the state during
the "reforms" period led to better economic and societal outcomes?
What has been the impact of such "reforms" on employment, poverty,
gender disparities and income inequality?
II. Economic Growth under Neoliberalism and
People’s Development
Questions related to the trajectory of growth and development under "reforms"
need to be posed. Is the economic growth experienced in India today a
balanced one? Do the fruits of economic growth automatically trickle down
to ensure overall development of the people, especially the poor? Is privatization
compatible with social justice? Can reservation for dalits in the private
sector make the growth process more inclusive? What about reservation
for religious and ethnic minorities? What has happened to regional inequalities
in India; are the backward states catching up? Is the current pattern
of urbanization sustainable? Can the new technologies, especially Information
Technology, solve the developmental problems faced by India? Is India
on a sustainable path with regards to resources like water and energy?
What are the environmental costs of this pattern of growth and development?
III. Democracy and Peoples’ Rights in the Neoliberal
Era
The Lok Sabha elections of 2004 have thrown up several important questions.
The Wall Street Journal for instance editorially remarked that the people
of India had committed a mistake and raised doubts over the market-friendliness
of Indian-style democracy. The question arises therefore whether democracy
in India is at all compatible with the neoliberal reforms that the state
and the ruling classes have been pursuing? Are we witnessing a creeping
authoritarianism and rollback of democracy? Has the democratic process
been able to include oppressed groups like women, dalits, adivasis, minorities,
etc.? Are there linkages between neoliberalism and the growth of communalism?
Has the threat of communalism receded with the defeat of the BJP in the
2004 Elections? How do we effectively deal with terrorism? Are anti-terror
laws that curb civil liberties unavoidable in today’s context?
IV. Neoliberal Ideology, Media, and the Culture
Industry
Along with the ascendancy of neoliberal ideology a discernible transformation
has taken place in the media and culture industry. The key features of
that transformation need to be analyzed and critiqued. Is the media totally
driven by the market and advertisements? Can objectivity be expected from
the media? Does the print and electronic media only play an ideological
role in "manufacturing consent" for the neoliberal regime? Do
they play any critical role? What about films, literature and performing
arts? Is there any scope left for the lives and aspirations of the common
people to be represented and expressed through the dominant cultural modes?
Is culture synonymous with entertainment? Is there a tendency towards
commodification and homogenization, and are diversities being destroyed
in the process? What has happened to the local and folk cultures?
V. Resistance to Neoliberalism: People’s Movements
and Alternatives
The recent times have witnessed serious challenges being posed to the
neoliberal regime in India from diverse quarters. What are the models
of resistance and popular mobilization open to us? Have the conventional
mobilization strategies of the Left – the working class party, the General
Strike, etc. – become passé? Are the Left Parties being able to
use their enhanced Parliamentary strength and crucial outside support
to the UPA Government to rein in the neoliberal juggernaut and articulate
policy alternatives? Is the Left in India restricted to the Left Parties?
Is identity-based political mobilization of the oppressed the way out?
What are the potentials and limitations of NGOs? What are the other political
and social forces which seek to resist the neoliberal order and build
alternatives? Is a coalition of such forces possible in the current conjuncture?
What can be the contours of such an alternative?
Specifications
The Seminar would be held in New Delhi between 4–6 April 2006. The topic
of a paper should be within the framework of the specified themes. The
paper should be an original work which has not been published before.
Paper length should be between 3500 to 5000 words. Soft copies in Word/Openoffice
format can be e-mailed at leftword@gmail.com or hard copies mailed to
the LeftWord address. The last date for submission of papers is 31st January
2006. Papers are invited from researchers and activists under the age
of 35 (as on 31 January 2006).
The LeftWord editorial collective would select the papers and the selected
contributors would be invited to present their papers in the Seminar.
The Seminar Organizing Committee would provide to-and-fro travel expense,
accommodation, and a modest per diem to the selected contributors. The
Seminar papers may be considered for publication by LeftWord.
Contact Us
LeftWord Books
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New Delhi - 110001.
India.
Phone: 91 - 11 - 2335 6966, 98912 52317, 5536 0598. + 91 - 98183 07909,
Email: leftword@gmail.com and
leftword@vsnl.com