Re-engaging Citizens in Democratic Politics

Details of an upcoming event in Sheffield...

ESRC Festival of Social Science Event

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science (6-15 March 2009), the Politics Department will be hosting the following event. Re-engaging Citizens in Democratic Politics - Thursday 12 March, 6-7:30pm.
This event brings together Professor Colin Hay (University of Sheffield, author of Why We Hate Politics) and Professor Gerry Stoker (University of Southampton, author of Why Politics Matters) to discuss the sources of political disaffection and what might be done to re-engage citizens in democratic politics in Britain today.
Venue: Showroom Cinema (Cinema No. 3), Paternoster Row, Sheffield.
The event is ticketed, but tickets are free. Tickets available from: Margaret Holder, Deparment of Politics, University of Sheffield (m.holder@sheffield.ac.uk).
Full details of the University's contribution to the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences can be found at: http://www.shef.ac.uk/icoss/whatson/esrcfest.html

The Politics of Space and Place Conference

CAPPE Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics
University of Brighton, UK
4th International Interdisciplinary Conference
The Politics of Space and Place
Wednesday 16th - Friday 18th September 2009
Keynote speaker: Ilan Pappe, University of Exeter, UK

Having now accepted about 60 proposals in response to our first call for papers we would particularly welcome contributions in the following areas, while nevertheless not excluding others:
* political and philosophical aspects of space and place
* sexual space and place
* space, place and globalisation
* current affairs

Final Call for Papers

In a world where inequality and poverty are growing remorselessly, where you are, and where you happen to have been born, continue to determine, how, and in indeed whether, you live. From the urbanization of the human species and the burgeoning of slums to the rise of the modern gated community; from 'Fortress Europe' and the Israeli 'security wall' to land reform in South Africa; questions of space and place are central to some of today's most bitterly contested political issues. What might an analysis of politics which focuses on the operation of power through space and place, and on the spatial structuring of inequality, tell us about the world we make for ourselves and others? How is power structured and brought to bear on people through space and place? How does power operate locally, nationally and globally and in both its soft and hard forms? How does it operate through urban planning, architecture, housing policy, immigration policy and national borders? How does it work to discipline and exclude some, while insulating others from the excesses of inequality and degradation? How and in whose interests do these divisions function as they pit against each other not only people who live in different parts of the world but also those who live just a few metres apart? What might an analysis of politics through questions of space and place indicate about how power, injustice and inequality could be better understood and more effectively contested?

Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be emailed to Nicola Clewer AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS NUMBERS ARE LIMITED - and by 30 April 2009 at the very latest: nicolaclewer.hughes@ukonline.co.uk Decisions will be communicated by 8 May. The conference fee is £210. This includes refreshments, lunch on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and a buffet dinner on Thursday in a local pub. There remain a few places for graduate students and for people who have no institutional affiliation at the reduced price of £105. Please indicate if you wish to be considered for one of these when sending your abstract; or contact Nicola Clewer: nicolaclewer.hughes@ukonline.co.uk as soon as possible. Please note: the conference fee does not include accommodation. Reasonably priced en-suite accommodation in student halls of residence will be available on a first come, first served basis for a minimum of three nights. (Further information regarding university accommodation will be provided at the registration stage.) Otherwise delegates are welcome to make their own arrangements. Please note: unfortunately we are unable to offer travel grants. For updates and further information about the centre please visit the CAPPE website: www.brighton.ac.uk/CAPPE

ECPR 2009

Further to yesterday's CFP for a particular panel at the 2009 ECPR General Conference, here are details of the conference more generally:

The 5th ECPR General Conference will be held at Potsdam Universitat from 10-12 September 2009. The Academic Convenors for the conference are Professor Luciano Bardi (ECPR Executive Committee) and Professor Martin Bull (ECPR Academic Director).

There are 57 sections, with several accepted panels in each section. The deadline for paper proposals is 1st February 2009. 

Race and the American Presidential Election

There's an excellent article in today's Guardian newspaper on the race issue in the American presidential election. Slightly off topic for this blog I know, but well worth a read - thought-provoking and more than a little worrying.