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The DAVID BRUCE CENTRE FOR AMERICAN STUDIES (Keele University, UK), in association with the CENTRE FOR DIPLOMATIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES at the University of Leicester, announces a colloquium, to be held at the University of Keele on April 12-14, 2007, on ALLIES AND CLIENTS: America’s ‘Special Relationships’.
The intention of the conference organisers is to focus firstly on sets of bilateral relationships between the United States and various allies. Obvious candidates are US-UK, US-Israeli, US-Canadian, US-Japanese and US-Mexican relations. The approach of the papers may be partially historical, though particular attention will be drawn to bilateral relations in the 21st century. The War on Terror and the foreign policies of the George W. Bush Administration have brought to the fore the difficulties and complexities inherent in various sets of America’s bilateral allied relationships. At the same time, problems and setbacks for multilateralism - seen in the recent US-UN difficulties, in the rise of American unilateralism, and in the current crises for European integration - have also highlighted the contemporary importance of these bilateral allied relationships. The conference is intended to reflect these various developments.
We are also interested in papers which look at the way 'special relationships' are institutionally and ideologically nurtured by government, business, and third-sector organizations at home and abroad. Presentations could address the role and effectiveness of foundations, think tanks, religious agencies and lobbying groups in creating and sustaining the ‘special’ status of bilateral ties.
In addition to its contemporary foreign policy focus, the conference will also provide a forum for some papers which will consider comparative, transnational historical and cultural issues. The conference organisers will endeavour to achieve a balance between the detailed bilateral foreign policy questions, and wider comparative issues.
In the past, Bruce Centre Colloquia have resulted in the publication of peer-reviewed volumes, and the organizers are once again planning to pursue the publication of a selection of paper.
Participation in the Colloquium is by invitation only. The David Bruce Centre for American Studies will cover travel costs, room and board for colloquium speakers.
PROCEDURES FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS:
By September 30th, 2006, please submit a 1-2 page abstract summarizing your paper to the conference organizers:
Dr Axel Schaefer
School of Humanities, American Studies
Keele University
Staffs. ST5 5BG
E-mail: a.schaefer@ams.keele.ac
Prof John Dumbrell
Dept of Politics and International Relations
University of Leicester
Leicester, LE1 7RH
E-mail: jwd5@le.ac.uk
Authors will be notified by October 30th whether or not their proposal has been accepted.
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