IV ISA Forum of Sociology (February 23-28, 2021)

127

Poverty, Inequality and Conflicts in Globalized World: Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management

Abstract Submissions Closed

RC10 Participation, Organizational Democracy and Self-Management (host committee)

Language: English

Session Type: Oral

Poverty and inequality have many dimensions (social, economic, environmental, physical and spatial). There is growing concern about the poverty and inequality, as manifested earlier in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The income and wealth inequality is on the rise as highlighted by economist Thomas Piketty and many other scholars. Capitalistic developments based on profit maximisation, emerging centralised governing tendencies of states along with their weakening welfare role is creating ground for conflicts and contradictions in emerging democracies. Urban social problems seem to assume serious dimensions in many countries in the wake of rapid urbanization, commodification of land and housing, distortion in land market and weakening of public sector housing provision in the post liberalisation period. The onset of liberal regimes in promoting development of real estate markets, beginning of low interest home loans, etc seem to have made land and housing in urban areas commodities for speculation. Similarly rural areas are under stress due to structural shifts in economies affecting livelihood of millions of people who are forced to leave the rural settlements. The inequality between rich and poor and the marginalization of the poor can be seen in most developing countries due to global and capitalistic forces. Participation, organisational democracy and self-management seem to be crucial for addressing the problems of poverty, inequality and conflicts that the world is facing today. Papers are invited from across the globe highlighting various aspects of the theme under consideration.