Just got this Call for Papers for an academic seminar on "Young People, New Technologies and Political Engagement" at the University of Surrey from July 24-25. Here’s the seminar description:
Against
the backdrop of increasing concern about the disengagement of youth
from politics and the public sphere, the relationship between new
technologies and young people’s political engagement and participation
is a cross-disciplinary issue of considerable importance not only to
academics but to practitioners and policymakers across the world. There
is now a large body of literature which has explored the potential of
"digital democracy" to revitalize political life and challenge
conventional forms of political participation… Only recently, though, has
significant research attention begun to focus upon the particular
relationships — potential and actual — between new technologies and
political engagement amongst the young.
I bet there’s an interesting paper to be written about young people on the Second Life Teen Grid and their activism on various social issues, like child sex trafficking. Certainly more interesting than reading another analysis of MySpace.
Abstracts are due by February 23. See the full message below for details…
CALL FOR PAPERS
Young People, New Technologies and Political Engagement
University of Surrey, 24-25 July 2007
CONFIRMED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
- Prof. Lance Bennett (Center for Communication and Civic Engagement, University of Washington)
- Prof. Stephen Coleman (Institute of Communication Studies, University of Leeds)
- Dr. Anita Harris (Department of Sociology, Monash University)
Against
the backdrop of increasing concern about the disengagement of youth
from politics and the public sphere, the relationship between new
technologies and young people’s political engagement and participation
is a cross-disciplinary issue of considerable importance not only to
academics but to practitioners and policymakers across the world.
There
is now a large body of literature which has explored the potential of
"digital democracy" to revitalize political life and challenge
conventional forms of political participation. Separately, youth
researchers have provided considerable insights into the way new
technologies are influencing — and are themselves influenced by — the
lives and identities of young people. Only recently, though, has
significant research attention begun to focus upon the particular
relationships — potential and actual — between new technologies and
political engagement amongst the young.
This seminar intends to
contribute to the development of research and theory in this crucial
area by providing a forum for scholars from across the world to share
the findings of empirical and theoretical work, discuss the policy
implications of their research, and strengthen their international and
inter-disciplinary ties. We aim to bring together leading figures in
the subject area from across the globe as well as to offer a valuable
international forum for emerging projects and individuals.
Proposals
are therefore invited for papers focused upon any aspect of the
relationship between young people, new technologies and political
engagement. As well as encouraging contributions from a variety of
academic disciplines and perspectives, we would particularly welcome
papers from practitioners and policy-makers.
The event is
organised by the British Sociological Association’s Youth Study Group
in association with the University of Surrey’s Institute of Advanced
Studies and The Social Policy Association.
We are able to
offer up to six grants (of up to £200) to speakers traveling to the
event from outside the UK. If you would like to be considered for such
a grant, please make this clear when sending your abstract.
Please
send abstracts (of up to 250 words) to Dr Rachel Brooks at the
University of Surrey (R.Brooks@surrey.ac.uk) by 23 February 2007 at
the latest. Please include full contact details with your proposal. For
further information, please contact Dr Rachel Brooks or Dr Paul
Hodkinson (P.Hodkinson@surrey.ac.uk).
Further
information about the event will soon be available on the Institute for
Advanced Studies website: http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/ias/