MATTERS OF LIFE: HUMAN SCAPES AND SCOPES

Whatever is my right as a man is also the right of another;
and it becomes my duty to guarantee as well as to possess.

-Thomas Paine, Rights of Man

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a drastic loss of human life worldwide. It presents an unprecedented challenge to the human existence and survival on the global level in the post-World War-II history. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic has been devastating, wherein countless people lost their jobs, often falling into extreme poverty, and over six million people died. The impact of the pandemic has been so abrasive that the essence of life has undergone a huge transformation. We are currently living in a post-COVID era where human beings are under the constant threat of the virus. The nature of human life has witnessed a redefinition with a renewed focus on the fundamental truths of life such as survival, livelihood, human dignity and basic human rights. The prevalence of the pandemic has given rise to the need to be more vigilant and concerned towards human dignity and human life.

Perhaps even more importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed yet another face of privilege. As the pandemic statistics demonstrate, not all lives matter equally: some social groups have proven to be more vulnerable than others. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, 60 countries (as of May 2020) have adhered to social protection measures for persons with disabilities and out of them 18 specifically target children with disabilities. For an all-round recovery and greater resilience, investments in the development of cash transfer, in-kind support and other such services are needed in lower-middle-income countries to adequately cover all children with disabilities and their families in need of support. Apart from this, it has been particularly detrimental to members of other social groups like people living in poverty situations, older persons and indigenous people. Moreover, the health and economic impacts of the virus are being borne disproportionately by poor people. For instance, homeless people, due to their inability to reside in safely sheltered places, are highly exposed to the danger of the virus. People without access to running water, refugees, migrants, or displaced persons also stand to suffer invariably both from the pandemic and its aftermath – whether due to restricted movement, lesser employment opportunities or increased xenophobia.

One of the ways through which inclusivity has been practiced by America internationally is through certain Inter-American Relations and Bipartisanship pacts. For example, in 2017, with support from the Ford Foundation, Global Americans convened a working group on Inter-American Relations and Bipartisanship, consisting of policymakers, business leaders, civil society leaders and scholars with the aim of discussing bipartisan and cross-regional ways that the U.S. administration could build and improve upon the achievements of the past two decades of inter-American relations. Moreover, in recent years, nations from outside the hemisphere, particularly China and Russia, have also increased their economic and political presence in the hemisphere despite different interest areas as a sign of unity despite diversity.

One of the most well-known movements which fought for human rights and dignity in recent times is the Black Lives Matter movement. 'Black Lives Matter' started as a social media slogan in 2013 in response to state and vigilante violence against the Blacks and has become the battle-cry of Black youth activists. It acted as a testimony to the prevention of human rights and dignity. The movement of Black Lives Matter has transformed the way in which Americans fight for freedom. Its focus has been on fighting for a fundamental restructuring of society wherein Black lives are free from systematic dehumanization. The broader cultural impact of Black Lives Matter as a movement favours the concept of inclusion of Black lives in particular and all kinds of marginalized lives in general.

An inclusive society rejects differences of race, gender, identity, class, generation, caste hierarchies, national identity, and sexual orientations. It is a society wherein all members, irrespective of their backgrounds, are considered equal for participating in civic, social, economic and political activities leading to cultural pluralism. In this context, it is imperative to understand that there is a need to support the idea of inclusion and diversity through the international exchange of ideas and information from all nations and various disciplines on hemispherical, national, and transnational levels.

When it comes to America's contribution to inclusionary practices, mass movements have a rich history woven into the America's fabric, a place that is constantly in the process of redefining itself. The 'Telegram gate Protests,' the 'March of our Lives,' the 'Black Lives Matter Movement,' 'Stonewall Riots,' 'Women Suffrage Parade,' 'Women's March in 2017,' and the 'Boston Tea Party' are some of the highlighted global instances of the radical waves in response to the increasing authoritarianism and marginalization and a call for change. All such movements implore us to create a dialogue when it comes to the importance of all lives irrespective of differences at several levels. By creating dialogues, a spontaneous action takes place where the fight for inclusion becomes a collective one. To a great extent, the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of inclusivity. For two years, due to the massive destruction at the humanitarian, psychological, social, mental levels, there is a serious need to be inclusive towards people despite their respective differences. The former US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg once expressed, 'Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.'

Apart from the various radical protests that have taken place in America as a response to increasing authoritarianism, the unfortunate occurrence of 9/11 attack in US unveiled a global storm of human rights violations. As a result, human lives were wiped out and destinies witnessed major shifts. In this context, it is imperative to analyse the effects of such gruesome attacks on human life and dignity which go through immense ruptures and crises at various levels. Such ruptures have occurred due to the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic as well. Be it the loss of lives due to virus and hunger, homelessness, unemployment, and deterioration of mental health at the global levels, all these issues have got highlighted and need deeper examination and response.

Therefore, this interdisciplinary CFP intends to address the above-mentioned need by studying a variety of aspects pertaining to inclusion and marginalization, particularly through the lens of the pandemic, both in historical and contemporary contexts. In order to bring in inclusion, the origins of domination and subjugation have to be analysed in the light of understanding the paradigms of changes and their responses towards the issues of human rights and human dignity. This CFP aims to invite a wide range of academicians, scholars, and artists who are eager to contribute their scholarly thoughts on the myriad ways in which the subject of the importance of lives can be analysed and expressed.

IASA invites papers looking at different theoretical and critical perspectives (Translation Studies, Literary Criticism, Critical Theory, Cultural Studies, Discourse Analysis, Feminist and Gender Studies, Queer Theory, Philosophy, Sociology, Postcolonial Studies and Social Sciences) and also papers which indulge deeply in critique or resistance, potentials of conflict management and other dimensions of inclusion and marginalization to justify how and why all lives matter.

In the interest of exploring the above issues papers on topics that revolve around (but are not limited to) the following areas are invited:

  • Role of Literature and Art in Equality, Diversity, Inclusivity
  • Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Displaced People
  • Globalization and Human Rights
  • LGBTQIA+ Issues
  • Women’s Studies
  • Ethnic Assertions in a Globalized World
  • Environmental Activism and Protest
  • Politics of Dissent and Activism
  • Peace and Conflict Studies
  • Disability Studies
  • Marginalization due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Economics of Globalization
Note: The Conference will be held in hybrid mode

Important Dates (Deadline Extended)

  • Submission of abstracts (max. 250 words): by July 31, 2022
  • Intimation of acceptance: by August 31, 2022

Email for submission and enquiries: iasa.indiaconference22@gmail.com

Emory Elliott Award: The Award will be granted as per norms on the IASA website.