CfP: Fifth International Conference on Strikes and Social Conflicts in the 21st Century (Event, 06/2022, Rotterdam); by: 31.01.2022

International Association on Strikes and Social Conflicts (Web)

Time: 21.-24.06.2022
Venue: Dutch Trade Union Confederation, Rotterdam
Proposals by: 31.01.2022

The 5th International Conference on Strikes and Social Conflicts will take place in Rotterdam at the headquarter of the Dutch Trade Union Confederation (FNV). Its objective is to discuss and assess the changing character of strikes and social conflict over the course of capitalist history. Among the specific questions to be addressed are the following:

  • What have been the responses of the working class to change under globalisation?
  • What has the impact been on the capacity of social movements to conduct struggles and what are the key observations and lessons learnt?
  • How have trade unions responded to the changing environment? Have they made suitable adaptations to labour organisation and strike methods to assist in representing the interests of workers?
  • What are the trends of global and national struggles over the short and long term and what are the prospects for future struggles?
  • What have been the convergences and divergences of social struggles during the 20th and 21st centuries?

I. Themes of the conference

1. Internationalism and Solidarity

Despite the events following the murder of George Floyd, global „Black Lives Matter“ solidarity protests in over 60 countries on all seven continents, no new international solidarity organisation has emerged since the collapse of the World Social Forum in 2018. What are the reasons for the lack of a sustainable international solidarity movement to emerge and what kind(s) of organisation is required? What is the character and significance of solidarity movements in the current period?

2. Strike Waves

Strike waves and mass strikes continue to be a feature of 21st century capitalism. These include the major strikes and mass strikes that took place in South Africa, Portugal, Spain, Greece, China, United States, United Kingdom, Iceland, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Germany, France, India, Cambodia and Brazil. What explains these upsurges in … read more and source (Web).