International conference

“Ethno-cultural Diversity and the Problem of Tolerance in the Globalizing World”

Research Committee 14 (‘Politics and Ethnicity’) of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) and Russian Political Science Association,

St. Petersburg, June 24-26, 2010



The Research Committee 14 (Politics and Ethnicity) of the International Political Science Association and Russian Political Science Association organize the international conference “Ethno-Cultural Diversity and the Problem of Tolerance in the Globalizing World”. The conference will be held in Pushkin (the suburb of St. Petersburg) on June 24-26, 2010.

Ethno-cultural diversity is an important factor of political process not only on the national, but also on local, regional, international and global levels.  In the context of globalization, increase of migration, intensification of the cross-cultural exchange on the one hand and continuing efforts of the political elites aimed at nation-building and consolidation of solidarity inside the borders of existing states on the other the growing ethno-cultural diversity is often seen as a source of tension and conflict.  The conflicts that are regarded as “ethnic” attract a lot of attention from scholars, and there are definitely good grounds for that.  But of no less interest is the study of experience of political adaptation of ethno-cultural diversity in different polities that supposes an implication of the wide spectrum of legal, administrative and symbolic tools.  The conference “Ethno-Cultural Diversity and the Problem of Tolerance in the Globalizing World” is aimed at comparative analysis of the ways that states, particular political institutions and actors meet the challenge of ethno-cultural diversity and of existing regimes of tolerance and intolerance.

The conference will focus on the following main issues:

·         Ethno-cultural diversity and political order (at global, international, national, regional and local levels). Ethno-cultural communities and social justice.

·         Communicating ethno-cultural diversity: the problems of coexistence of plural identities in the public sphere

·         Migration and the problem of ethno-cultural tolerance.

·         The states, political parties, NGOs and practices of ethno-cultural tolerance and intolerance

The conference language will be English.

Researchers interested in participating in the conference are requested to submit by February, 26, 2010 an abstract of the proposed paper, not exceeding 500 words, and short CV to the Conference Coordinator at the following email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Notification of acceptance will be delivered in March, 2010 along with information about booking of accommodation and visa application (for those who need).

Invited papers should be submitted to organizers by May 31, 2010.