Schedule Now Available - Fifth Annual Conference in Critical Social Research

The schedule for the Fifth Annual Conference in Critical Social Research, and the 2013 Great Lakes Graudate Conference in Political Economy is now available. Please see our conference webpage, or click here.

Extended Abstract Deadline and Date Change

The CSRC has been asked to take on the 2013 Great Lakes Conference in Political Economy, hosted by the Institute of Political Economy, at Carleton University. The conference will be held in conjunction with the CSRC's Fifth Annual Conference in Critical Social Research. This is one conference, with the core theme of "Eulogies for the 'Public': Capitalism, Warfare, and the Conservative Turn", taking place at Carleton on Thursday, May 2nd,* 2013 [*Note Date Change].

As such, we have decided to extend our abstract deadline to the end of February. Those interested in making a submission to the 2013 Great Lakes Graduate Conference in Political Economy OR the Fifth Annual Conference in Critical Social Research should submit proposals (and a short bio) by February 28th, by email, to the CSRC. A revised conference CFP can be found HERE.

Last Call - Fifth Annual Conference in Critical Social Research

Our digital design artist has taken the time to prepare a visually stunning rendition of our Call for Papers [Click here to open PDF]. We'd like to use the opportunity to make a 'final call for papers' for the Fifth Annual Conference in Critical Social Research. Proposals are due on February 10th, 2013. The conference theme is 'Eulogies for the Public: Capitalism, Warfare, and the Conservative Turn'. If you haven't already, consider submitting a proposal!

The conference will take place at Carleton University on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 [Note new date].

Here's a preview of the poster, but for best results download the PDF version:

Call For Papers! Fifth Annual Conference in Critical Social Research!

It's official! The CSRC has announced its call for papers for its Fifth Annual Conference in Critical Social Research:

CLICK HERE FOR PDF VERSION

CALL FOR PAPERS

Eulogies for the Public:

Capitalism, Warfare and the Conservative Turn

The Fifth Annual Conference in Critical Social Research/

The 2013 Great Lakes Graduate Conference in Political Economy

Thursday, May 2nd,* 2013 [*NOTE new date]

Carleton University

Ottawa, ON

pub-lic: \ˈpə-blik\

●      of, relating to, or affecting all the people or the whole area of a nation or state;

●      devoted to the general or national welfare;

●      “A special kind of virtual social object, enabling a special mode of address” (Michael Warner. Publics and Counterpublics. New York: Zone Books, 2002).

Like ‘social justice’, the notion of the ‘public’ has long held an esteemed position in progressive politics. Yet given the many crises of contemporary capitalism, the proliferation of wars between and within nation-states, and the rise of conservative movements and moods, there is a strong case to be made for asking critical questions about how the ‘public’ - in its many shapes and forms - is being transformed:

On capitalism and the ‘public’: How have social formations of capitalism, such as recent austerity policies, the shift from welfare states to private philanthropy, or the rise of consumer responsibility modified the ‘public’?

On warfare and the public: Just over a decade old, the 21st century has already known constant warfare, between states and within them. How can we understand the impact and role of media, movements, patriarchy, indigenous struggles, and technologization in conflict waged for, against and between publics?

On the conservative turn and the public: The rise of popular neo-conservative movements (and their convergence with neo-liberal ideologies) has manifested in the coming to power of right-leaning governments, while so-called left-leaning governments drift towards the centre. Are processes of privatization and conservative rule changing how we come to know, express, constitute, or act, as publics?

Using the three broad themes of capitalism, warfare, and the conservative turn, the Critical Social Research Collaborative is seeking papers and/or creative submissions which address how the ‘public’ (broadly defined) is constituted, contested and enforced in contemporary society, for its 5th Annual Conference in Critical Social Research. The conference is being held in conjunction with The 2013 Great Lakes Graduate Conference in Political Economy, hosted by the Institute of Political Economy at Carleton University. We expect to showcase high quality, compelling analytical works backed up by robust research on topics relating to the transformation of the ‘public’. The following list of topics is non-exhaustive and merely suggestive of the many dimensions through which we believe the public could be eulogized:

●      Riot, Occupy, Strike: The Public Response to Austerity

●      Corporate Social Responsibullshit: The ‘Ethically Consuming’ Public

●      Philanthropy and Great Citizenry as the New Welfare State

●      ‘Excluding Everyone Equally!’: Sexism, Racism, and Classism in the New Public

●      Pitting Public Against Public: The Avarice of Modern Warfare

●      The Clash of Fundamentalisms: Using the Public as a Shield

●      The Trope of Public Private Partnerships: The Privatization of Public Spaces

●      Tragedies of the 21st Century Commons: Neoliberalizing (Public) Nature

●      Drifting Right: Conservative Movements and the Co-optation of the Public

●      Labour’s Unending Challenge: Gutting the Public Service

Academics, researchers, students and activists are invited to submit proposals for panels or individual paper presentations, or artistic projects, from diverse theoretical and methodological orientations in historical and/or contemporary contexts. Please send your proposal, including an abstract of no more than 300 words, a presentation title, your name, and a brief biography (of no more than 100 words) to the conference organizing committee at CriticalSocialResearch@gmail.com by February 28th, 2013. Decisions on proposals will be communicated by mid-March. Accepted submissions may be solicited for publication. Some (limited) funds are available to help cover student travel expenses – please inquire by email.

The Critical Social Research Collaborative (www.CSRCproject.ca) is an interdisciplinary research collective consisting of students, faculty, trade union and community activists based at Carleton University. We aim to promote, support and create a platform for the sharing and dissemination of critical perspectives and research conducted on the defining social issues of our time.