5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

As we are approaching the age of the anthropocene, an increasing number of states choose strategies which rely upon strengthening the connection between authoritarian rule and development. Whereas dominant debates tend to frame this relationship in terms of neoliberalism and 'Big D Development', the dynamics unfolding particularly in contexts which are marked by protracted ethnic conflict are less in focus. Based on the insight, that the promotion of economic growth may lead to nationalist inclusion of minority populations, as these are being reduced to a potential benefit to national economic growth, this session invites papers dealing with the described relationship from a sociological perspective. Based on empirical insights as well as conceptual contributions, the aim is to discuss ways to re-frame majority-minority relations, and questions of redistributional justice within nation-states and patterns of exclusion/inclusion.