April 14, 2006
Columbia University, New York City

Keynote Speaker:
Paul Rabinow, University of California, Berkeley

Panelists:
Todd Gitlin, Columbia University
Stanley Aronowitz, CUNY Graduate Center
Steven Lukes, NYU

Submissions deadline: February 10, 2006

In 1956, C. Wright Mills published his landmark work, “The Power Elite.” Fifty years later this classic study of power in American society still challenges sociologists to be public, political and critical.

The graduate students in the Department of Sociology at Columbia University are hosting a conference to examine two interlocking themes: the work and legacy of C. Wright Mills and the study of power today. The conference will open with a faculty panel on the intellectual history and influence of C. Wright Mills, including Todd Gitlin, Stanley Aronowitz and Steven Lukes. As the keynote speaker Paul Rabinow will provide a counterpoint to the Millsian tradition, extending the analysis of power into new areas.

We seek graduate student papers that either build on Mills or address topics of “The Power Elite” from today’s standpoint. Topics may include:
• power;
• ideology and hegemony;
• democracy and participation;
• the military-industrial complex;
• intellectuals, knowledge and expertise;
• elites;
• sociology and the public.

Papers will be selected for presentation in one of two panel discussions. Presenters will receive a small travel stipend to attend the conference. Submissions should preferably be in the form of two double-spaced, hard copies of complete papers to be presented in 20 to 30 minutes, including time for discussion. Electronic submissions are also accepted (preferably in pdf format) to the addresses below. Submissions must be received by February 10, 2006.

Please send all materials to:
Columbia University
Department of Sociology
Attn.: SGSAC Call for Papers
413 Fayerweather Hall, Mail Code 2551
1180 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, New York 10027
Notification about selections will be made by February 24, 2006. Please direct any questions to:

Ernesto Castañeda (ec2183@columbia.edu)
Daniel Fridman (dgf2101@columbia.edu)

For further details and updates on the conference, please visit our website:
http://www.sociology.columbia.edu/workshop/main/sgsac/sgsacconference.html