Social Movement Governance, the Poor and the New Politics of the Americas

CONFERENCE: This is the first large meeting of its kind to bring together leading scholars (in dialogue with other actors) from throughout the world to collectively advance our understanding of what new forms of governance are emerging in the Americas and how they relate to the poor.

The conference attempts to mobilize critical research on these themes by bringing researchers, based in the Americas or working on the Americas, together with those affecting and affected by the emergence of such new forms of politics and governance in the Americas, such as actors in civil society organizations, social movements and practitioners. It will address these new forms of politics critically in order to promote an understanding of what they consist of, what has been achieved, the effects for the poor, whether (or ways in which) the poor are engaged and participate in these movements, internal weaknesses of the new politics and movements, as well as the structural, economic and political factors that condition their achievements. Sessions and keynote presentations will highlight the following themes:

-Characteristics and origins of social movement governance and the new politics of the Americas
-The extent to and manner in which these political forms have successfully addressed poverty, social cohesion and inequality
-The political economy of multiple types of linkages and relations – migration, social organization, intergovernmental, inter-class – within the Americas.

Conference sponsors:

• Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions
• Globalizations journal, Routledge
• CROP
• University of South Florida