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”. It will take place on 11 May 2015 at the University of Liège Belgium.

Argument

The Initial Training Network INTEGRIM Integration and international migration: pathways and integration policiesis a project funded with support from the European Commission. As INTEGRIM partener, the Centre for Ethnic and Migration Studies (CEDEM) of the University of Liège is pleased to announce the INTEGRIM 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 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

Guidelines submission

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 8^th 2015 : mail to:  M.Martiniello@ulg.ac.be.

Calendar

• Reception of papers : 8 February

• Notification to authors : 23 February
• Papers expected: 30 April

People who have been accepted will be invited (travel and accommodation taken in charge by the organizers within the limits of the available budget).

This workshop is open to professors, researchers, MA students, PhD students. The attendance is free but registration is requested before April 15^th 2015.

Please send an email to Sonia.Gsir@ulg.ac.be 

Scientific committee

• Marco Martiniello,
• Sonia Gsir,
• Jean-Michel Lafleur