The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, U.S. Consulate in Kraków and the Salzburg
Seminar American Studies Association (SSASA) are inviting American experts
and academics to apply to participate in the Salzburg Global Seminar program
entitled "Life and Justice in America: Implications of the New
Administration" in Salzburg, Austria from September 22-26, 2016.

More information about the seminar can be found here:
<http://www.SalzburgGlobal.org/go/ssasa15> www.SalzburgGlobal.org/go/ssasa15

and below.

About the Seminar:

The Symposium, organized by the Salzburg Seminar American Studies
Association (SSASA), will be attended by ca. 45 individuals from ca. 25
countries around the world. They will discuss the quality of life and sense
of justice in the United States from a contemporary perspective, including
the domestic and global implications of the new administration in a visibly
polarized society. Participants will be from the public and private sector,
as well as academics teaching about the United States in universities around
the world.

Who can apply?

Participants will be academics who specialize in the study of contemporary
United States, as well as sociologists, legal experts, immigration experts,
and civil rights activists.

The ideal candidate should have a background in research or teaching on the
topics that will be discussed at the Symposium. Preference will be given to
individuals who have not attended a Salzburg Seminar American Studies
Symposium before.

Costs:

The cost of participation in the Symposium is 740 euros. It includes all
expenses in Salzburg - tuition, a private room, all meals, fees, reception
costs, drinks in the Bierstube, and a palace concert followed by a gala
dinner in the Marble Hall the final evening. The cost of participation will
be shared by SSASA and the US Embassy.

The participant will be responsible for travel costs to Salzburg (including
local transportation).

How to apply:

In order to apply please send us your application by March 19, 2017. Please
attach your CV and send it to:  <mailto:U.S.Embassy.Warsaw@state.gov>
U.S.Embassy.Warsaw@state.gov

The decisions on who will be invited to Salzburg will be announced by the
end of April.

Application scheme:

1. Name/surname

2. Position, title

3. Place of work, organization, university

4. How long have you held this position?

5. Professional responsibilities: Please discuss your professional
responsibilities in greater detail, including research interests, and/or
other pertinent information.

6. Current courses taught: course title, level of student (please select:
Ph.D., M.A., Undergraduate), classroom hours per semester, number of
students

7. How long have you been involved in research or teaching about the
contemporary United States?

8. Have you participated in a U.S. government exchange program or studied in
the US? (Please provide the name of the program and years)

9. Include a personal statement explaining what you can contribute to the
Symposium and what you hope to gain from this opportunity. Please describe
how you plan to use your experience to shape your research/studies
afterwards.

LIFE AND JUSTICE IN AMERICA:

IMPLICATIONS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION

Convened by the Salzburg Seminar American Studies Association

Schloss Leopoldskron, Salzburg, Austria

September 22-26, 2017

Overview

Ever since Salzburg Global Seminar was founded in 1947 as the Salzburg
Seminar in American Studies, critical dialogue about American society,
history, literature, culture, politics, economics and law has played a vital
role in our organization's development and legacy. The annual symposia now
convened by the Salzburg Seminar American Studies Association focus on key
questions and conflicts influencing American society and culture, in order
to foster understanding of how these are influenced by, and influence, the
rest of the world.

This landmark session in 2017 has particular resonance in the year of a new
US Presidential Administration. Drawing on the seventy years of cross-border
exchange that began at Schloss Leopoldskron in the aftermath of war, this
multi-disciplinary conversation will examine what the "American Dream" means
in today's world and assess progress in the United States towards fulfilling
that potential. Participants will discuss the quality of life and sense of
justice in the United States from a contemporary perspective, including the
domestic and global implications of the new Administration in a visibly
polarized society.

Life in America is predicated on fair and equal treatment and the
expectation of protection by constitutionally-assured rights and justice.
Issues such as civil rights, personal safety, pluralism, and access to
educational and economic opportunities both challenge and contribute to the
quality of life of Americans of every age, gender and ethnicity.

The session will explore historic events related to social progress and
literary reflections of the nature and quality of life and justice in
America. The function of legal and political institutions at federal, state,
and local levels will be examined alongside qualitative dimensions of
family, social and personal lives to better understand changing patterns and
risks to the social fabric.

Our ultimate purpose will be to compare the historic "Promise of America"
with today's realities, and to forge ideas and projects that help towards
realizing a good life for all in America.

Participant Profile

Salzburg Seminar American Studies Association (SSASA) symposia connect
scholars and thought leaders from around the world to build collaborative
networks for research and critical debate.

The 2017 session - the 15th SSASA symposium - will bring together
approximately 40 participants from more than 25 countries. In addition to
public and private sector professionals, participants will include academics
teaching about the United States in universities across Asia, Africa, the
Middle East, Central, Eastern and Western Europe, as well as the United
States. We actively encourage participation by sociologists, representatives
of the legal profession, immigration experts, civil rights activists, and
other individuals working on issues at the heart of protecting and improving
contemporary life in America and ensuring its constructive global
involvement.

Program Format

The five-day session will be highly participatory. Daily thematic
presentations by distinguished speakers will be followed by plenary
discussions, as well as panels on topical issues focused on interaction with
participants.  Afternoon sessions will include small thematic discussion
groups, providing multiple opportunities for all participants to share their
knowledge and expertise on equal terms and to build new alliances and
research projects.

Focusing on the context of the Constitution and the judicial system, the
2017 session will consider such issues as: economic equality and the
distribution of wealth as it relates to race and gender; the  management of
policing and civil rights; fair application of legal protection;
availability of employment and equal opportunity; as well as other aspects
that contribute to or otherwise relate to the quality of life.

Participants will situate this analysis in the contemporary context and be
able to discuss and evaluate the implications and likely impact of changes
implied by the election proposals of the new President as well as policy
decisions taken during the first months of the new Administration.

Key Questions

Issues to be addressed during the session include:

*         How do demographic changes and immigration issues reflect social
tensions and raise questions and problems about the quality of life for
those concerned?

*         How and in what way has the availability of education affected
mobility and fostered success and/or failure in America?

*         How do social and economic class stratification relate to and
affect the quality of life, fairness, well- being and justice in American
life?

*         In what way does the distribution of wealth, parity of income and
availability of employment opportunities affect and contribute to fairness
and justice?

*         What does the nature and degree of incarceration indicate about
justice and the quality of life?

*         How have these matters changed and/or evolved over the past
seventy years?

*         Does the American justice system function fairly and in what way
might it benefit from radical change?

*         How does the electoral system and congressional representation
promote and support or otherwise affect and represent fairness, equality and
justice?

*         How and in what way are policy proposals and changes by the new
administration likely to affect life, justice, health and welfare of
Americans?

Program Goals and Impact

*         The session's primary goal is to foster intellectual analysis and
discussion between professionals and academics about the factors that have
contributed over the last seventy years to the contemporary reality of life
and justice in America and which might affect the future.

*         University professors from around the world who teach about
America will acquire and refine content to convey to their students through
active discussions about America and its democratic future .

*         By sharing knowledge and expertise, participants will contribute
to critical thinking on issues affecting life in contemporary America and
suggest priorities and strategies for improvement and progress to fulfill
the American promise of a better life for all.

As we examine the last seven decades of America's progress, problems and
challenges, and the promise to itself and the world to provide a good life
with fairness and justice, we will try to identify challenges for the future
to help fulfill the American Dream and the Promise of America.

For information about becoming a participant, contact Symposium Director Ms.
Marty Gecek:

 <mailto:mgecek@SalzburgGlobal.org> mgecek@SalzburgGlobal.org

The Symposium website and a registration form can be accessed at

 <http://www.SalzburgGlobal.org/go/ssasa15>
www.SalzburgGlobal.org/go/ssasa15 Information on designated speakers will be
posted there as they are confirmed.