The European Sociological Association (ESA) held its Third European Conference at the University of Essex in Colchester, north of London from Wednesday, August 27th through Saturday, August 30th 1997.
Programme
There were six major parallel themes relating to the major themes of the Conference, with a sub-Plenary for each of these themes. Key speakers at the Plenary and sub-Plenary sessions included: Margaret Archer (United Kingdom); Berit Ås (Norway); Rainer Bauboeck (Austria); Daniel Bertaux (France); Volker Bornschier (Switzerland); Drude Dahlrup (Denmark); Marju Lauristin (Estonia); Margaret Maruani (France); Alberto Melucci (Italy); Maria Mies (Germany); Zdravko Mlinar (Slovenia); Birgitta Nedelmann (Germany); Mojca Novak (Slovenia); John Scott (United Kingdom); Yasemin Soysal (USA); Karl Ulrich-Mayer (Germany); Sylvia Walby (United Kingdom); Nira Yuval-Davis (United Kingdom).
A very successful feature was the "Meet the Author" sessions which included the following presenting their works: Robert Castel; Lutz Leisering; Ernesto Laclau; Ken Plummer; Jeff Weeks; Jennifer Platt; Paul Thompson; Goren Therborn.
The main activity of the conference was paper sessions organized around the six main themes. The Research Networks of the ESA and the Southern Europe Regional Network held sessions within this structure:
THEME 1: Revisiting Classical Theory
THEME 2: Work, Welfare and Citizenship
THEME 3: Inequalities Old and New
THEME 4: Globalizations
THEME 5: European Processes, Boundaries and Institutions
THEME 6: Cultures and Identities
(RN) = ESA Research Networks
Several volumes of edited papers stemming from the Conference will be appearing as part of the ESA's publication programme.
The Local Organising Committee was: E. Stina Lyon (South Bank University); Joan Busfield; Lydia Morris; Carlo Ruzza; John Scott; Nigel South (all at the University of Essex).
