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Call for Papers   The Futures of the New Mediascapes: Communication, Knowledge, and Culture in a Globalizing World   Joint Session of RC07 Research Committee on Futures Research and RC14 Research Committee on Sociology of Communication, Knowledge and Culture at the XVI World Congress of the International Sociological Association in Durban, South Africa, July 23-29, 2006   Chairs: Markus S. Schulz, New York University, USA, markus.schulz@nyu.edu and Gaëtan Tremblay, UQAM, Canada, tremblay.gaetan@uqam.ca   The Internet and its related information and communication technologies have experienced tremendous growth rates and given rise to booming industries. Yet, the benefits of these technologies are very unevenly distributed among and within countries. The once euphoric hopes projected on these new media are being met with more pessimistic warnings of unprecedented means of surveillance, an increasing fragmentation of public discourse, restrictive intellectual copyrights legislation, and new digital inequalities. This session is meant to provide a forum for scholars working on communication, knowledge, and culture to discuss the processes in which the new global mediascapes are being shaped and their future implications and social consequences.   Deadline for paper proposals (200-300 words): October 15, 2005   More information: http://www.ucm.es/info/isa/congress2006/rc/rc07_durban.htm   Markus S. Schulz, PhD Asst. Professor, Sociology New York University 53 Washington Square South, CLACS-4W New York, NY 10012 Phone: +212.998 35 76 Fax: +212.995 41 63 Email: markus.schulz@nyu.edu