REASSESS Final International Conference Oslo 2012

INVITATION AND CALL FOR PAPERS

Reassessing the Nordic Welfare Model – Final International Conference

21-22 August 2012, Oslo

A Nordic Centre of Excellence in Welfare Research – "REASSESS" (www.reassess.no) – has since 2007 investigated whether five Nordic welfare societies (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) succeed in living up to the idea of a distinct Nordic Welfare Model. The overarching research question for the centre is whether these countries are able to reconcile economic effectiveness and social inequality. Researchers from nearly twenty university departments and research centres in the five Nordic countries have worked together in cross-national teams studying issues related to

• Care,
• Childhood,
• Disability and inclusion,
• Diversity and universalism,
• Family and parenthood,
• Gender relations,
• Globalisation and competition,
• Housing,
• Immigration,
• Income inequality and poverty,
• Intergenerational relations,
• Pensions and income transfers,
• Social regulation,
• Welfare governance
• Welfare-to-work (activation) policies

In many instances, this research has included colleagues from non-Nordic countries.

Keynote speakers
Three leading international scholars will give keynote talks at the Conference:

Mary Daly - Professor, Queen’s University, Belfast, the UK:
"The Welfare State in Society: Re-assessing the Social Challenges to the Nordic Model"?
Read more about Daly

Ann Orloff - Professor, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA:
"Toward a Gender-Open Future? Equality and Diversity in Feminist Social Politics and Policy"
Read more about Orloff

Sven Steinmo - Professor, European University Institute in Florence, Italy:
"The greediest of generations"
Read more about Steinmo

Yet, the greater part of the conference will be parallel paper-based sessions around the main topics of the research in REASSESS (see bullets above). REASSESS invites people to propose papers related to one or several of these topics. Priority will be given to papers with at least one of the Nordic countries as frame of reference.

Important dates!

• Deadline for paper proposals (about 300-400 words): 16 March 2012
• You will receive feedback on paper proposals before: 1 April 2012
• Deadline for registration for the conference 1 May 2012
• Deadline for submission of full paper: 1 August 2012

Paper proposals (abstracts) and full papers should be sent to Mi Ah Schøyen (miah.schoyen@nova.no) or reassess@reassess.no.

Conference Venue & Hotel Booking
The Conference will take place at OSLO QUALITY HOTEL 33 (close to public transport and the Edward Munch Museum ().

The organisers have made a reservation of 100 rooms for participants at this hotel at reduced and (by Norwegian standards) fair rates: NOK 1030 per night. In order to book one of the reserved rooms, please give code "NOVA" when you contact the Booking Office, e-mail: q.hotel33@choice.no. (Keep your credit card and expire date ready when you would like to book your room!)

If you would prefer (by Norwegian standards) cheaper accommodation you may want to contact Haraldsheimen Hostel (www.haraldsheim.no/?metrolingual=en) or use the internet (e.g. www.hotels.com/ or www.booking.com/).

NB: Since August is holiday time, you are advised to book your accommodation now and then cancel your booking if you change your plans!

Registration
To register for the conference use the electronic registration form: https://response.questback.com/nova/ekj1sepqlj/

There is no conference fee.

REASSESS will cover costs related to travel and hotel for participants with accepted paper proposal who have previously taken part in REASSESS-activities (strands, workshops, books & special issues, seminars, conference, PhD-courses, etc), PhD-students and post-docs who have been financially supported by REASSESS and members of the REASSESS and NordForsk steering committees and the Scientific Advisory Board for the NCoE Welfare Programme.

Others are welcome to apply for support for covering parts of their travel and accommodation expenses. Priority will be given to applicants who have their paper proposal accepted and who would be unable to participate without support.

www.reassess.no

RC19 Conference – same week & same venue!
Please note that Research Committee on Poverty, Social Welfare and Social Policy (RC19) of the International Sociological Association has its annual conference in Oslo 23-25 at the same venue (Quality Hotel 33). The deadline for abstracts to the RC19 conference is 1 March 2012. You are welcome to register for both conferences! For more information see the RC19 2012 webpage www.nova.no/rc19oslo.