Bonifacio@150

Bonifacio@150

From Anti-Colonialism to Anti-Neoliberalism: The Working Class Struggle for Social and National Emancipation in Asia and the Pacific

Bonifacio @ 150

U.P. School of Labor and Industrial Relations

International Conference

FROM ANTI-COLONIALISM TO ANTI-NEOLIBERALISM:

THE WORKING CLASS STRUGGLE FOR SOCIAL AND NATIONAL EMANCIPATION IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

23 to 25 October 2013, University of the Philippines Diliman

Call for Papers and Special Interest Symposia

The 18th century up to the middle of the 20th century were centuries of uprisings by the oppressed peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. At the forefront of these uprisings, directed mostly against Western colonial dominance and control, were the nascent working classes – from the gold mines in the hinterlands to the export-oriented plantations in the countryside, from the forced labor camps to the emerging urban ports in various colonies.

Have we forgotten all of this? These uprisings produced countless martyrs, heroes, heroines and other icons in the pantheon of liberty and freedom in the developing world -- from Simon Bolivar and Jose Marti in Latin America to Sun Yat Sen and Mahatma Gandhi in Asia.

In most of Asia and the Pacific, the uprisings were struggles for national independence as well as social emancipation, for colonial oppression had national and class dimensions. Thus, in the Philippines, Andres Bonifacio, the "Great Filipino Plebian", raised national freedom and social equality as the twin goals of the Philippine Revolution against Spain. Bonifacio's advocacy for national and social emancipation was somehow echoed in the struggles of other peoples in India, China, Indochina and other Asian countries. Not surprisingly, nationalism and socialism, articulated variedly, became significant mobilizing and intertwining ideas for the anti-colonial movements in Asia and the Pacific.

On November 30 this year, the Philippines shall commemorate the 150th birth of Andres Bonifacio. In honor of Bonifacio and other heroes and heroines in the struggle for national and social emancipation in the Philippines and other Asian countries, the U.P. School of Labor and Industrial Relations, in cooperation with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, is organizing an international conference with the theme: "From anti-colonialism to anti-neoliberalism: The working class struggle for social and national emancipation in Asia and the Pacific".

Why anti-neoliberalism? Because in most of the developing world, the formal acquisition of political independence (“Republic”-hood) did not end the quest of the working class for emancipation. Colonialism was replaced in some countries by elite rule and new forms of Western control over the economy and politics. In the last three decades or at the turn of the millennium, an insidious economic ideology was foisted on and held sway over most of the developing world – neoliberalism. But like in the colonial times, the working classes, primarily the trade unions and organized farmer associations, took a leading role in exposing and opposing neo-colonialism and neo-liberalism, which are blamed for the continuing poverty and social inequality in the former colonies.

Indeed, it is time to do some historical stock taking. What have been achieved by the working class in the struggle for national and social emancipation through the centuries? What are the unfinished tasks in building a truly independent and just society?

In Asia-Pacific, this historical stock taking is doubly significant in the light of the claims by global and regional economic bodies such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that the region is on the cusp of an Asian golden age. Accordingly, the region is poised to become the world's dominant economic power in a decade or so. In addition, the conference will serve as a venue for labor scholars, trade unionists and labor activists to discuss and debate the critical role in Asia and the Pacific of trade unions and mass-based organizations in society, particularly in the continuing clamor of the working class for social justice, equity and democracy – at the workplace, industry, national and global levels.

The conference will be organized around six track themes:

Track 1: Revisiting national liberation movements in Asia and the Pacific: Lessons and insights for labor’s continuing struggles for social justice,equity and democracy

Track 2: The working class and working class organizations in the 21st century

Track 3: Globalization, regional integration and the emergence of precarious Asia: Challenges for governance and organized labor

Track 4: The role of women and women’s organizations in emancipatory struggles

Track 5: Transnational labor migration in Asia and the Pacific: The construction and deconstruction of worker identities and solidarities

Track 6: Labor’s role in building an inclusive and sustainable Asia and the Pacific

We invite scholars, trade unionists, labor activists, students and practitioners from across Asia and the Pacific and beyond to submit abstracts of paper proposals under any of the six track themes. Those who wish to participate without presenting a paper are also welcome.

Proposals for special interest symposia that tackle other important topics related to the general theme of the conference are also welcome. Please see below the guidelines on abstract and symposium proposal submission and registration fees.

Join us in this regional soul-searching on the questions raised by our forebears a century or more ago.

Kind regards,

Dr. Jonathan P. Sale (Dean, U.P. School of Labor and Industrial Relations)

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo (Director, Center for Labor Justice, U.P. School of Labor and Industrial Relations)

Dr. Melisa R. Serrano (Assistant Professor, U.P. School of Labor and Industrial Relations)

PROGRAM

Notification of participation

Expression of interest to participate (with or without paper presentation) in the conference can be done via email at: solair@upd.edu.ph

Attn. Eileen Pupos). Please email expression of participation on or before 30 September 2013.

Submission guidelines

1. Abstracts

Abstracts are welcome on the general theme of the Conference or on one of the track themes. Please indicate which theme or track applies to your abstract.

Abstracts must be written in English and have a length of 350-500 words.

All abstracts are to be sent via email at: solair@upd.edu.ph (Attn. Eileen Pupos)Abstracts can be submitted on or before 30 September 2013. Acceptance decisions will be communicated by 7 October 2013.

2. Symposium proposals

We welcome proposals for special symposia on the general theme of the conference or on one of the track themes. Symposia are self-contained sessions of one and a half hour to two hours.

The convenor of a symposium should submit a proposal of about 1000 words, written in English, including the theme of the symposium, the details of speakers and the abstracts of their papers.

Symposium proposals can be submitted on or before 30 September 2013. Acceptance decisions will be communicated by 7 October 2013.

Registration fees

The schedule of registration fees for participation in this conference are as follows:

Foreign

Regular fee:USD 125.00 Student fee:USD 60.00

Local:Php 3,000.00 Local: Php 2,000.00

The registration fee includes access to all sessions, meals and snacks served during the conference, and conference materials. Payment of registration fee can be done on the first day of the conference.

Hotels

Participants are advised to do their own inquiry and booking in any hotel of choice. There are hotels or hostels within and around U.P. Diliman.

1. Hotels/Hostels within U.P. Diliman

University Hotel Guerrero St. Cor. Aglipay UP Campus Diliman Quezon City Phone nos: (632) 926-1975, 926-1953, 924-6743, 435-1317, 929-5003, 435-1316 Sales: (632) 426-0674/433-6606 Fax (632) 435-1319 email:updilimanhotel@gmail.com Web site: http://updilimanhotel.googlepages.com

UP NISMED Hostel Quirino St corner Roces Ave. University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon city Tel. Nos. (632) 981-8500 local 3901 up to 3910 ext. 102 Tel. Nos. (632) 927-4276, (632) 928-1563 Mobile phone No. (0918) 420-2745 Website: http://www.nismed.upd.edu.ph/hostel-rooms/

UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR) Dormitory E. Jacinto St., UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 E-mail: solair@up.edu.ph Contact Nos.: (632) 920-7717 (Telefax)

2. Hotels outside U.P. Diliman

Sulo Riviera Hotel – Quezon City Matalino St., Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Contact Nos.: (632) 924-5051, (632) 922-2030 (Fax)Telephone No.: (632) 924- 2689 / Facsimile (632) 925-3205 Central Reservation: (632) 912-2691 and 912-8000 / Facsimile (632) 912-2693 Web site: http://www.sulorivierahotel.com/

Fersal Hotel – Malakas Street, Quezon City 131 Malakas Street, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Contact Nos.: (632) 426-7308 (Fax)Telephone No. (632) 926-5140 Central Reservation: (632) 912-2691 and 912-8000 / Facsimile (632) 912- 2693 Email Address: reservations@fersalhotelgroup.com Website: http://www.fersal.com.ph/malakas/

Oracle Hotel & Residences 317 Katipunan Avenue Loyola Heights,Quezon City, 1108 Philippines Telephone : (632) 926-7777 Fax: (632) 576-0753 http://www.oraclehotel.com.ph/http://www.oraclehotel.com.ph/hotelresidences/

SEAMEO INNOTECH International House Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 E-mail: info@seameo-innotech.org Contact Nos.: (632) 921-0224 Telefax: (632) 928-7692, (632) 924-7681 to 84, (632) 928-7348 .