Sociology Days at Rovaniemi
27.—28.3.2014
University of Lapland
One of the fundamental questions that generations of sociologists have asked is: how is 
society possible? The answers proposed to this question have included norms, institutions, socialization, structures, cohesion produced in interaction and exchange, and sometimes even human interdependency: the pure necessity of survival. Ties that bind – the theme of the Annual Westermarck Society conference of 2014 – renews this basic sociological dilemma. Instead of providing just one theoretical answer, the conference examines concrete ways in which people are tied with each other; how communities are formed, networks built and new ties formed. And how are customs customised?
On the other hand the conference theme also asks, how processes of rejection and exclusion work, and what has happened to citizenship and politics – ties that supposedly previously tied communities together. Are we on our way to a world, where the global economic (and political) elite of the few is bound together, while the rest linger on in war with each other?
Program
Thursday, March 27th, 2014
10.00–12.00 Registration (main hall, C-wing)
12.00–12.20 Opening words (Lecture hall 1, Fellman, C-wing)
- Adjunct Professor Jarno Valkonen, University of Lapland
- Professor Anssi Peräkylä, University of Helsinki, President of The Westermarck Society
- Rector Mauri Ylä-Kotola, University of Lapland
12.20–14.20 General lectures (Lecture hall 1, Fellman, C-wing):
Chair: Professor Soile Veijola, University of Lapland
- Professor Sarah Pink (RMIT University, Australia): ”Digital Media, Presence and Everyday life in the home: The Bindings of People and Things”
- Dr. Olli Pyyhtinen (University of Turku): ”No Gift with/out Bond? On Giving and Exchange”
- Professor Donatella Della Porta (European University Institute, Italy): ”Democracy is not a spectator sport! Spreading democracy in the Anti-Austerity Movements”
14.20–15.00 Break
15.00–18.00 Workshops
19.00 Event at Rovaniemi town hall (Hallituskatu 7, Rovaniemi)
20.00 Evening party and dinner at Cafe Tivoli
Friday, March 28th 2014
9.00–11.00 Workshops
11.00–12.00 Lunch
12.00–12.30 The Westermarck Society –spring meeting (Lecture hall 1)
12.30–12.40 Break
12.40–13.00 Westermarck Thesis Award (Lecture hall 1)
SOSIOLOGIA-JOURNAL 50 YEARS
(Lecture hall 1, Fellman, C-wing)
Chair: Adjunct Professor Jarno Valkonen, University of Lapland
13.00–13.20 Opening words: Professor Anssi Peräkylä, University of Helsinki, President of The Westermarck Society
13.20–13.40 Professor Emeritus Antti Eskola, University of Tampere
13.40–14.00 Dr. Marja Alastalo, University of Tampere
14.00–14.20 Dr. Kirsti Lempiäinen, University of Lapland
14.20–14.40 Dr .Eeva Luhtakallio, University of Helsinki
14.40–15.00 Ending of Sociology Days
17.00–21.00 Train-waitingclub at Cafe Kauppayhtiö (Valtakatu 24, 96200 Rovaniemi)
- Document The Trouble with Being Human These Days – Life and work of Zygmunt Bauman (2013) will be showed downstairs of the cafe at 17.30 / 19.00 (Duration 50 min, language English/Polish, subtitles English)
- All the food prices -10%, Beer/cider from the tap 4€
- Sushi-orders must be made beforehand: 016-3422422
For other inquieries, you are kindly requested to contact the conference secretary Mervi Hyötylä (sosiologipaivat (at) ulapland.fi).
