Sofia University, Department of Philosophy

  New Social Movements and Sexuality-

Call for Papers Sofia, Bulgaria, September 8-9, 2004.

Application deadline: May 15, 2004.

The sixth meeting in the series "Socialism and Sexuality" will focus on the sexual ideologies and programs of the new social movements in Western Europe, the United States, and after 1989 in Central and Eastern Europe. Cultural changes in the 1970s and 1980s have led to a proliferation of new social movements in Europe and the United States concerning ecology, peace, ethnicity, gender and sexual identity. Although they are called "new social movements" some of them have existed since the late 19th century. Extension of participatory democracy has been one of the most notable features of these new social movements. Most of them have been closely allied with socialist parties, and share some of the goals of the traditional and the new left ideologies (with the exception of the right wing ecology movement).

Sexuality and sexual reform occupied a significant place in the new social movements of the West. The demise of communism in 1989 triggered a new wave of social movements in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet States. Unlike their predecessors in the West, the pro-democracy movements of CEE countries are essentially conservative and anti-socialist. One important cluster of the new social movements in Central and Eastern Europe that is clearly missing is the movement for sexual reform. Despite promising legal changes and expansion of the freedoms for the individuals in all countries of the region, sexual relationships are considered only in the case of couple: adult, monogamous and heterosexual. Sexual reform, gay and lesbian and the transgender movements have usually been excluded from the public discourse on social tolerance and development of social capital.

Created in 1997 by Francis Ronsin (University of Burgundy, Dijon) and other scholars associated with the Institute of Contemporary History (Dijon), the International Institute of Social History (Amsterdam), and the Center for Millennial Studies (Boston), the "Socialism and Sexuality seminar" has brought together on a yearly basis a number of scholars who explored the link between socialism and sexual politics. This year the seminar aims to attract more scientists from Central and Eastern Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union, and expand the existing international network of scholars who research the sexual programs of leftist ideologies.

Read more about the last meeting of the series "Socialism and Sexuality" at: http://www.iisg.nl/~womhist/socandsex.html

The organizers are currently searching for sponsors to cover the conference-related expenses of scholars who lack the means to attend.

More information:

Email: [email protected] (Contact person Monika Pisankaneva)