Multiculturalism has been one of the dominant themes of research and reflection in political theory over the last decade. Among other issues, attention has focused on how multiculturalism relates to liberal principles of individual autonomy, toleration, equality, and justice; where, and on what basis, the limits of liberal toleration should be drawn; and the implications of multiculturalism for current and emerging conceptions of citizenship. For the most part, these debates have been conducted at a fairly abstract level or else have been informed by, or applied to, the Canadian, American and, increasingly, the European contexts. Political theorists (including Australian political theorists) have devoted scant attention to Australia’s national policy of multiculturalism (in contrast to their recent attention to indigenous rights). The scholarly literature on Australian multiculturalism has tended rather to come from cultural studies and the empirical social sciences.

Organizations: The Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs and the UNSW Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Location: Sydney, Australia
Date: July 8-9, 2004
Deadline: ASAP
Details: Contact Geoff Levey for more information.

CONTACT: Geoff Levey, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2053, Australia
Tel: 61-2-9385 1376, F: 61-2-9385 1555
Email: g.levey@unsw.edu.au