Call for Papers: “Producing legitimacy: governance against the odds”

University of Cambridge

April 22-23, 2013

Abstract Submission Deadline: October 26, 2012

Full call for papers: www.legitimacyconference.wordpress.com/

This interdisciplinary conference will examine the concept of legitimacy by exploring the legitimacy claims of anomalous geopolitical spaces, such as de facto states, annexed territories, governments-in-exile, and territories governed by insurgencies, liberation movements or unrecognised governments. Bringing together scholars from diverse disciplinary backgrounds who study geopolitical actors aspiring to exist within the inter-state system, this conference explores:

- the utility of legitimacy as a conceptual framework for examining the functioning of such polities;

- the practices, discourses and narratives through which legitimacy is constructed in cases where legality is denied;

- what this might mean for how we think about governance in the international system more generally.

Abstracts are welcomed from scholars across the social sciences and humanities, including but not limited to history, international relations, political geography, political science, international law and social anthropology.

Limited funds may be available to help with speakers’ travel and/or accommodation, but those considering submitting an abstract to present a paper should plan on seeking funds from their own institutions to meet these costs.

Please send abstracts of not more than 300 words, along with name, affiliation and a biographical statement of up to 70 words to: asj38@cam.ac.uk, frm24@cam.ac.uk and arw42@cam.ac.uk. The deadline for abstracts is October 26th 2012.

Convenors:

Dr Alex Jeffrey, Geography, University of Cambridge;

Dr Fiona McConnell, Geography, University of Cambridge;

Dr Alice Wilson, Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge;

For more information, please visit

www.legitimacyconference.wordpress.com/