CfP: Practices of International Governance, Antwerp, 27-28.11.2009

Practices of International Governance

27-28 November, 2009

Background
To the extent that societies are subject to processes of globalization,
problems increasingly have to be dealt with “beyond the nation-state.” There is a growing need for international governance. This is not a new, and even less so a contested claim. Unsurprisingly, then, political salience gives rise to scholarly attention. How is it possible to understand the presence/absence, nature, and evolution of international governance? Scholarly accounts of international governance typically rely on diverging social theories. Rationalist social theory informs the dispute over relative versus absolute gains, whereas constructivist approaches address the importance of norm development and changing identities in the relationship between the nation-state and the plurality of actors the contemporary international game. From yet another perspective, discursive approaches can point to shifting loci and bases of authority in these governance structures. Their focus is on the conditions of international action.

In recent times, a range of academics has started to question the singular focus on
discourse, and is instead suggesting a focus on “practices” (see e.g. Neumann 2002, 2007, 2009, Büger and Gadinger 2005, Müller 2008, Pouliot 2008). A major concern in this practice turn is how practices relate to discourse and its institutionalisatio n, and how they relate to social and cultural change. This workshop on the “practices of international governance” will both focus broadly on the practice turn in social theory, and its relevance for the discipline of political science, and explore its relevance for the study of changes in international governance specifically. Special attention will be paid to its methodological implications.

This two-day workshop will be convened by one of the key participants in the ‘practices of governance’ debate, prof. Iver Neumann ( Oslo University). Besides roundtable discussions on “the practice turn” in social theory and international relations, participants will present their research in panel sessions.

We are soliciting three types of papers: analyses that
» contribute to the theorisation of the practice turn in international governance; and/or
» develop methodologies to apply these (meta)theoretical insights to
» empirical studies of practices of international governance

Both junior and senior researches are invited to send a paper proposal. Contributions can take the form of a regular conference paper or of a research design. It is our intention to publish a selection of the papers either as a special issue or as an edited volume.

Deadline paper proposals (abstracts): 15 September 2009

Location: The workshop will be hosted by the University of Antwerp, Belgium

Fees: None. We have applied for funding to finance accommodation, lunches and dinner for participants. The organization of the workshop is conditional upon obtaining this funding (which excludes participants’ traveling costs).

Paper abstracts and information requests can be sent to
Jorg Kustermans (Jorg.Kustermans@ ua.ac.be)
Tanja Aalberts (taalberts@fsw. leidenuniv. nl)

See also: http://www.eur.nl/fsw/english/publicadministration/nig