Call for papers and workshop note – Religion and the Political Participation and Mobilization of Immigrant Groups: A Transatlantic Perspective

Centre for Ethnic and Migration StudiesUniversité de Liège- Integration and international migration: pathways and integration policies (project funded with support from the European Commission), Work Package 2: Citizenship and Political Participation

CALL FOR PAPERS

INTEGRIM SCIENTIFIC THEMATIC WORKSHOP

11 May 2015, CEDEM, University of Liège, Belgium

The Centre for Ethnic and Migration Studies (CEDEM) of the University of Liège is pleased to announce the third scientific thematic workshop organized by the working group Citizenship and Political Participation on Religion and the Political Participation and Mobilization of Immigrant Groups: A Transatlantic Perspective

According to the last European Agenda for the Integration of third-Country Nationals, migrants should participate fully in all aspects of collective life. The European Commission has recognized that migrants’ participation in the democratic process is important for their integration and that the implementation of integration policies allowing their political participation and their involvement is crucial for integration.

The scientific thematic workshop will examine the political participation of immigrants in an original perspective. Instead of analyzing it through an exclusive ethnic and racial origin lens, we will focus on the role of religion in the political participation and mobilization of immigrant groups in a transatlantic perspective (Europe-North America). The leading question, of the workshop is: what role does religion play in the political participation and mobilization of immigrant groups in European and North American cities? We don’t want to focus on Muslims but consider Catholics, Protestants, and religions as well as non-religious faith such as secularism.

The intention is to prepare a special issue of a journal including a selection of the papers presented at the workshop. Those interested are asked to send a one-page presentation of their paper to Marco Martiniello by February 8th 2015 : mail to: M.Martiniello@ulg.ac.be.

The papers should cover in priority one of the following topics possibly in a comparative perspective. However, other topics proposed by the applicants will also be considered. The topics:

· Electoral behavior of Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, etc. citizens with an immigrant background

· Political mobilization through churches, mosques and religious associations

· Immigrants and organized secularism

· Music, religion and political mobilization of second and third generations

· Immigrants and anti-religious discrimination

· Trans-religious alliances among immigrants

This workshop is open to professors, researchers, MA students, PhD students. The attendance is free but registration is requested before April 15th 2015. Please send an email to Sonia.Gsir@ulg.ac.be