CfP: “Nationalism and the Market”, University La Sapienza in Rome, 21st to 22nd June 2018

CfP: “Nationalism and the Market”, University La Sapienza in Rome, 21st to 22nd June 2018

Call for papers for the international conference “Nationalism and the Market”
University La Sapienza, Roma, Italy
21st-22nd June 2018

The Research Centre for the study of Politics of Sciences Po (CEVIPOF) in collaboration with the Research Centre for International Cooperation (CEMAS) at the University La Sapienza in Rome and the Interdiscplinary Laboratory of Ecole polytechnique Paris (LinX) are organizing an international conference entitled ‘Nationalism and the Market’ from 21st to 22nd June 2018. This conference will be held at La Sapienza in Rome, Italy. The working language will be English.

For several decades, sociologists, philosophers, political scientists, as well as politicians, lobbyists and corporate CEOs, have blazed abroad that the ‘free market’ can provide a response or solution to all human crises and conflicts. Accordingly, we should be collectively ushered into a global era of peace. Like erstwhile Marxist and socialist myths, neoliberal globalisation should have been heralded a new era, forever free of nationalist tensions.

Multiple signs have contributed to dispel this hope, despite large sectors of the economic elites still tending to cling to notions of free market fundamentalism. The advent of Donald Trump as US president, the rise of xenophobia in the West and elsewhere, British and Catalan secessionism, mounting aggressive nationalism in China, Russia, Turkey, India, and an endless list of other crisis points, all indicate that the ‘free  market’ is not only utterly unable to provide any response to the emerging multiple problems it has created, including ethno-political crises, but it has sometimes contributed to aggravate all of them. Moreover, the market seems to be unable to address climate change, which itself points towards the ‘end of the road’ or the demise of consumerist capitalism as we know it, with consequences on national borders.

However, the linkage between nationalism and the marketplace has remained largely under-studied and under-theorized.  Indeed, the ‘market’ includes nationalism as nationalism is one of the many items available on the marketplace, so that the most talented sellers are bent to win a greater share of the market. Moreover, of the many ideological products available on the marketplace, nationalism is probably the best-selling one. This can lead researchers along two main paths and explore two sets of interrelated questions: First, how has free market inspired, sometimes rebranded nationalism and national identities? Second, how has nationalism taken advantage of the market?

The conference aims at unpacking and analysing the relationship between the nation and the ‘market’. The focus is both historical and contemporary, without geographical limitations.

This call for papers is addressed to academics from junior to senior levels, working in the contiguous areas of globalisation and nationalism studies, history, political science and public policy analysis, international relations, sociology and political economy.

It will allow for around 40 papers to be presented in the course of the conference. Keynotes plenary sessions will also be organised.

The conference welcomes paper proposals in the following broad themes, although new panel proposals can also be considered:

(1) Theoretical perspectives on nationalism and the market
(2) Historical Perspectives on nationalism and the market
(3) Public economic policies of identity branding
(4) Corporate policies of identity branding
(5) Case studies

Paper proposals should be submitted by 15 March 2018 in the form of a 250 words abstract and a short biographic note (including author’s name, institutional affiliation and title, when appropriate).

For applications, as well as any queries or additional information, please email to the assistant chair, Romina Rapisarda: romina.rapisarda@uniroma1.it.

In the abstract, please be sure to highlight how your paper relates to the conference’s theme and its central question(s).

Conference organisers:
Prof. Andrea Carteny (CEMAS Sapienza University of Rome)
Prof. Daniel Conversi, Ikerbasque Foundation for Science/ University of the Basque Country).
Prof. Gil Delannoi (Sciences Po-CEVIPOF)
Dr. Vincent Martigny (Ecole Polytechnique Paris/Sciences Po-CEVIPOF)

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