Globalization and the transformation of Europe’s borders A seminar series/research network funded by Norface globalborders.org.uk Principal Organizer: Chris Rumford, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK

10th anniversary Conference of the European Journal of Social Theory
“Europe since 1989: Interpreting Social Change”

Call for Papers

The implications of 1989 have not frequently been taken as an explicit point of departure for the rethinking of social theory. General notions of social thinking, such as ‘globalization’, ‘late modernity’, ‘identity’, or ‘diversity’, have remained rather untouched by the event. In this, social change in post-1989 Europe has mostly been understood as a moment of accelerated convergence towards a (post-) modern form of society, rather than implying diversification. There has also been an over-emphasis on Europeanization. This lack of attention for the deeper implications of 1989 seems unfortunate, as 1989 in its various significations has had a decisive impact not only on the possibility of any critical kind of social theory, and on imaginations of the social as such, but also on the shape of the future of Europe as well as on how we interpret the European historical legacy.
The conference will address these considerations around four themes:

- critical theory,
- post-western and multi-ethnic Europe,
- the idea of the social,
- interpreting the European political heritage.

We invite individual paper proposals (300-word abstracts) on any of the four themes. Submissions can be sent to: ejst@sussex.ac.uk. The deadline for abstracts is 30 March, 2008. Registration details and information on travel/accommodation will be soon available on this website. Please note that accommodation and travel costs will not be covered by the organizers. There will be a reduced fee for early registration.

For further information, please contact the conference convenors: Dr Paul Blokker or Professor Gerard Delanty.

www.sussex.ac.uk/cspt/europe1989