CfP: Power in a World of Becoming, University of Warwick, Conference 2–3 June 2014

by | 5 Feb 2014

Recently, there have been various calls for a move beyond ‘post-structuralism’ (i.e. Foucault, Deleuze, cultural/critical theory), which had long been seen as the radical edge of the critical social sciences. Such calls are motivated in part by the sense that post-structuralist philosophies — which were forged against a backdrop of totalitarian rule and burgeoning welfare states in Europe — fail to offer moral or political purchase in the contemporary governmental landscape. Moreover, there is a sense that various concepts and theories have become reified and constraining — closing down the possibilities of critical thought.

However, the issues that post-structuralist theory placed on the critical social science agenda have become more vital than ever — be that the concern for the complex and dispersed nature of power and agency; the imbrication of power and economics with knowledge and science; rethinking the relation between equality and difference; the political/contested/changing nature of embodiment, biology and ecology; or the efforts of states and others to establish and exercise power over life itself.

We maintain that now is the time, not to reject post-structuralist perspectives, but to reinvigorate and transform those traditions through empirical and political work that is creatively engaged with current problems. The Authority & Political Technologies group at Warwick will host a series of annual events that bring together world leading, emerging and postgraduate scholars from across the social sciences whose work promises to renew post-structuralist critical thought through empirical scholarship.

This year we invite papers on the theme ‘Power in a World of Becoming, Entanglement & Attachment’. The event, which will be free of charge, will take place on the 2nd and 3rd of June in Ramphal. We invite the submission of abstracts by March 10th on the following themes:

  • Biopolitics and Political Spirituality/Religion
  • Materialism and the Political Meaning of Entanglement
  • Authority, Sovereignty and Becoming in the (Post) Colony
  • Process and New Forms of Society(ism), Association and Being in Common
  • Necropolitics and Human Rights

Confirmed Speakers

  • William Connolly (Johns Hopkins)
  • Christian Borch (CBS, Copehagen)
  • Costas Douzinas (Birkbeck)
  • Amade M’charek (Amsterdam)
  • Luciana Parisi (Goldsmiths)
  • AbdouMaliq Simone (Goldsmiths)

Conference Organisers

Claire Blencowe & Illan rua Wall – Authority & Political Technologies (APT) Warwick

Deadline for abstract submission 10 March 2014.

For further information and updates see the conference website.

APT Warwick:

Claire Blencowe; Miguel Beistegui; Will Davies; Stuart Elden; Nick Gane; Olga Goriunova; Amy Hinterberger; Hannah Jones; Cath Lambert; Nick Lee; Celia Lury; Alice Mah; Goldie Osuri; Maria Do Mar Pereira; Lynne Pettinger; Shirin Rai; John Solomos; Vicky Squire; Nathanial Tkacz; Emma Uprichard; Nick Vaughan-Williams; Illan rua Wall; Chiara Livia Bernardi; Sam Burgum; Rogan Collins; Esteban Damiani; Kathryn Medien; Marijn Nieuwenhuis; Hidefumi Nishiyama; Maurice Stierl; Lauren Tooker; Lorenzo Vianelli

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

POSTS BY EMAIL

Join 4,770 other subscribers

We respect your privacy.

Fair Access Publisher
(pay what you can, free option available) 

↓ just published

PUBLISH ON CLT

Publish your article with us and get read by the largest community of critical legal scholars, with over 4500 subscribers.