From navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in Wed Dec 5 04:48:01 2007 From: navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in (Navdeep Mathur) Date: Wed Dec 5 04:49:33 2007 Subject: [Tps] TPS/ECPR Policy Network - Forum: Qualitative Social Research, Issue on Discourse Empirical Methods Message-ID: <550f31d00712050148hc3a408fy5f833e89d5719fd9@mail.gmail.com> http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs/fqs-e/inhalt2-07-e.htm Volume 8, No. 2 ? May 2007 >From Michel Foucault's Theory of Discourse to Empirical Discourse Research. Current Methodological Trends and Practices in Social Research Edited by Andrea D. B?hrmann, Rainer Diaz-Bone, Encarnaci?n Guti?rrez Rodriguez, Gavin Kendall, Werner Schneider & Francisco J. Tirado ----------------------------------------------- Editorial FQS 8(2): From Michel Foucault's Theory of Discourse to Empirical Discourse Research Andrea D. B?hrmann, Rainer Diaz-Bone, Encarnaci?n Guti?rrez-Rodr?guez, Werner Schneider, Gavin Kendall & Francisco Tirado This issue outlines the foundations and the various strands of FOUCAULTian discourse analysis in existence today. The diverse contributions give insight into theoretical and methodological aspects of the FOUCAULTian concept of discourse. They work out the research practices of discourse analysis and concrete developments in this field. Such a discussion seems to be necessary because of the growing presence and influence of discourse analysis within the field of qualitative social research. Further, with this approach, the combination of a structuralist view with a praxeological perspective on society can be reflected upon. [1] The FOUCAULTian notion of discourse describes a certain kind of practice that is to be conceived as a collective?rather than an individual?reality. This discursive practice is located in social areas or fields and it results in the construction of collective orders of knowledge as supra-individual realities. FOUCAULT himself argued that discourses also have a strong impact at the individual level: individuals "as subjects" are discursively constructed and constituted. Therefore the FOUCAULTian concept of discourse is?on the one hand?analysed at the meso- or macro-level from where it influences socialised individuals and interactions in social situations, while this concept is?on the other hand?also analysed at the micro-level. Here the analysis focuses on the discursive constitution of the subject, i.e. its subjectivation/subjectification and the relationships between discursive and non-discursive practices. Recently, combinations of these two perspectives have been attempted and here the FOUCAULTian concept of dispositif possesses a strategic role. All these topics provide a starting point for the articles in this issue about methodological developments in the field of FOUCAULTian discourse analysis. [2] One might say, then, that FOUCAULTian discourse analysis is not (or is no longer) just a theoretically informed "position" or another "perspective" in the area of qualitative social research. Many researchers in the last few decades have become more and more aware that the socio-historical analyses of FOUCAULT and his methodological considerations about archaeology and genealogy have laid the groundwork for a new methodological area for empirical research. It follows that discourse research has to reflect on the coherence of the research practice and its integration with the theoretical notions of FOUCAULTian discourse theory. Therefore, there are (or have to be developed) specific forms of research design, modes of explanation, methodological standards and quality criteria for the evaluation of FOUCAULTian analysis?as the published articles in FQS 8(2) demonstrate. The articles also demonstrate that discussions are still active about questions such as: does FOUCAULTian discourse analysis include or prescribe certain methods, research tools and instruments, their design and use in the practice of discourse analysis? how can other approaches and paradigms be combined with FOUCAULTian discourse research? This collection of articles demonstrates that there are different strands of FOUCAULTian research and that FOUCAULTian discourse analysis is not integrated in the way that one could speak of a FOUCAULTian paradigm but, rather, in the way that one could speak of an emerging field in qualitative social research. [3] This issue does not only include articles but also reports from different research groups working with the FOUCAULTian approach?especially from Germany, but also from France and Spain. We want to give an insight into these research activities and provide some information about research institutions. We cannot claim to deliver an exhaustive description of the field, but we can claim that the various groups identified are the source of multiple dialogues (of which this issue is itself one result) and have identified common methodological agendas. Here new perspectives for a FOUCAULTian methodology emerge, as concepts such as "interdiscourse", "dispositif", "materialities" (as techniques, bodies, visual materials, media), events, other forms of practices and performativity produce questions about the consequences of adequate methodological adaptation. [4] We think that the issue will give an insight into the state of the art in FOUCAULTian discourse research as an emerging field of qualitative social research and will have an impact on its ongoing internationalisation. An extended introduction to the international field of discourse analysis as well a survey of the articles published in this journal is presented in the article The Field of Foucaultian Discourse Analysis: Structures, Developments and Perspectives. [5] Citation B?hrmann, Andrea D.; Diaz-Bone, Rainer; Guti?rrez-Rodr?guez, Encarnaci?n; Schneider, Werner; Kendall, Gavin & Tirado, Francisco (2007). Editorial FQS 8(2): From Michel Foucault's Theory of Discourse to Empirical Discourse Research. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 8(2), http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs-texte/2-07/07-2-E1-e.htm. Revised 6/2007 Last update: 08.06.2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) 2007 Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research (ISSN 1438-5627) Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs/fqs-e/inhalt2-07-e.htm From navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in Tue Dec 11 01:46:08 2007 From: navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in (Navdeep Mathur) Date: Tue Dec 11 01:45:28 2007 Subject: [Tps] TPS/ECPR Policy Network - 4 positions available at Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UK Message-ID: <550f31d00712102246w273f3c07r61f78e680e44004@mail.gmail.com> Research Fellows (Ref: 243) Full time (35 hours per week) The Participation Power and Social Change team are seeking to appoint up to two new fellows; one appointment in the field civil society ? state relations and the second appointment is open to any of the themes relevant to the work of the team: power and change at systemic, organisational and personal levels of experience identities, rights and social justice inclusive citizenship and governance Candidates should have a PhD and a strong background in a relevant discipline (although exceptionally, comparable research and practical experience may be taken as a substitute). They should have an excellent research and publication record with experience and interest in bridging research with practice and policy, and be able to demonstrate conceptual and applied skills concerning the constitution and practice of power in connection with the inter-related processes of societal, organisational and personal transformation. Candidates should be highly fluent in written and spoken English. A strong background in postgraduate teaching and convening is desirable Salary: ?29,927??46,986 per annum depending on qualifications, relevant skills and experience Closing date: 07 January 2008 (11.00). Interview date: February 2008. ------------------------------------------------------------- Research Fellows in Information, Communication, Knowledge and Social Change (Ref: 250) 35 hours per week We are seeking to appoint two Research Fellows within our Information Department to contribute to an emerging research theme relating to information, communication, knowledge and social change in an international development context and help improve understanding of the roles these play in positive social change ? globally, locally and institutionally. We are offering a unique opportunity to link together the research and practice of information, communication and knowledge within a vibrant and dynamic department in one of the world's leading organisations for research, teaching and communications on international development. Applicants should have a demonstrated capacity for leadership and innovation, with a demonstrable track record of independent research and publication and/or practical experience in an information or knowledge-related theme or field within a development context. Candidates should have a doctorate, and/or equivalent demonstrable research or practice experience. They should be able to demonstrate how they would link analysis and research findings to policy and practice. A commitment to working collaboratively and in teams with colleagues and people from a range of cultural, disciplinary and organizational backgrounds will be essential. We offer an attractive salary, favourable holiday allowance, a flexible working ethos and membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme. The post is based in Brighton, Sussex. Please note that this post has the potential to meet UK Home Office requirements for work permit criteria, therefore candidates who would require a permit to work in the UK may apply. Salary: Initial appointment will be between ?29,927??46,986 per annum (depending on experience). Closing date: 15 February 2008 (11.00). Interview date: 22 or 23 April 2008. From navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in Wed Dec 12 08:26:14 2007 From: navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in (Navdeep Mathur) Date: Wed Dec 12 08:25:41 2007 Subject: [Tps] TPS/ECPR Policy Network - CFP 'Communicating and interpreting policy meanings' Message-ID: <550f31d00712120526s6a46435fuf352ebaf4b68e0a6@mail.gmail.com> On Behalf of Dvora Yanow ---- Call for abstracts for theme session at the conference Language, Culture, and Mind Odense, Denmark, 14-16 July 2008 http://www.lcm.sdu.dk/ Theme Session on Communicating and interpreting policy meanings Organizers: Alan Cienki Dvora Yanow Dept. of Language and Communication Dept. of Culture, Organization & Management Faculty of Arts and Humanities Faculty of Social Sciences Vrije Universiteit Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands Amsterdam, Netherlands a.cienki@let.vu.nl d.yanow@fsw.vu.nl The topic of this theme session brings together ideas from two scholarly (and perhaps epistemic) communities: linguistic semantics, and public policy studies (a subfield within political science). On the side of semantics, a number of cognitively oriented approaches have developed over the past few decades, involving theories of categorization (Lakoff 1987), cognitive and cultural models (Strauss & Quinn 1997), conceptual integration/blending (Fauconnier & Turner 2002), conceptual metaphor (Lakoff & Johnson 1980), conceptual metonymy (Panther & Radden 1999), frame semantics (Fillmore 1982), and mental spaces (Fauconnier 1985/1994). Some of these have been applied to language as used in political contexts, but this has mostly involved the analysis of metaphor and cognitive models in the rhetoric of political figures (e.g., Charteris-Black 2005, Cienki 2004, and Lakoff 1996/2002) or as reflections of ideologies (Dirven et al. 2001, Frank et al. 2003). The language of public policy itself has only occasionally been the object of cognitive semantic research (e.g., Nerlich 2002 and elsewhere). The theories and methods employed in cognitive linguistic research in semantics thus remain a rich potential resource for helping us understand how meaning is expressed (or not) and interpreted (or not) via the language of public policy. In public policy studies, a growing community of scholars has been taking an "interpretive" approach to policy analysis (e.g., Fischer 2003, Hajer and Wagenaar 2003, Yanow 1995, 1996, 2000; additional references below). By contrast with the more positivistic, quantitative approach that has been dominant since the field's founding in the 1970s, this group has been exploring the importance for understanding public policies and policy-making processes of phenomenology, hermeneutics, (some) critical theory, pragmatism, symbolic interactionism, and ethnomethodology, and their attendant research methods (e.g., ethnography, semiotics, metaphor and category analyses, discourse analysis). While disparate in their analytic approaches, these studies share an interest in situating human meaning front and center in public policy analysis. Analyses ask not just what specific policies mean, but how they mean, and how these meanings are communicated (or not) to various policy-relevant publics. This session would provide an opportunity for those schooled in political and certain other social science approaches to the study of meaning to learn from those coming from a more linguistic focus. In turn, the session would afford an arena for those well-versed in cognitively based theories of meaning to consider the analysis of data from contexts with social policy implications. The title of the session is intentionally broad with respect to specific empirical case (e.g., environmental, health, social, military, science and technology or other policy topic), as well as with respect to method of analysis. Examples of topics which might be analyzed include the use of metaphor, metonymy, imagery, categories, discursive frames, cognitive/cultural models, or subjective perspective/point of view. The theoretical framework for analyses is open, but might include semantic, semiotic, cognitive linguistic, ethnomethodological, or cognitive ethnographic approaches. Collaboration between scholars from different fields in the formulation of proposals is encouraged, but not required. This theme session has openings for six presentations, of 30 minutes each, including discussion. Abstracts (maximum 500 words) should be sent to d.yanow@fsw.vu.nl by February 15th, 2008. Abstracts accepted by the theme session organizers will be forwarded to the conference selection committee for final approval. Abstracts not accepted for the theme session will also be sent on to the conference selection committee to be considered for the general session. Notification concerning acceptances will be sent April 1st. Inquiries about possible submissions for this theme session may also be sent to either organizer. References 1. Works involving cognitive linguistic approaches Charteris-Black, Jonathan. 2005. Politicians and rhetoric: The persuasive power of metaphor. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Cienki, Alan. 2004. Bush's and Gore's language and gestures in the 2000 US presidential debates: A test case for two models of metaphors. Journal of Language and Politics 3: 409-40. Dirven, Ren?, R. Frank, & C. Ilie, eds. 2001. Language and ideology: Descriptive cognitive approaches. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Fauconnier, Gilles. [1985] 1994. Mental spaces. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Fauconnier, Gilles, & M. Turner. 2002. The way we think: Conceptual blending and the mind's hidden complexities. New York, NY: Basic Books. Fillmore, Charles. 1982. Frame semantics. In Linguistic Society of Korea, ed., Linguistics in the morning calm. Seoul: Hanshin. Frank, Roslyn, M. P?tz, & R. Dirven, eds. 2003. Cognitive models in language and thought: Ideology, metaphors and meanings. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. Lakoff, George. 1987. Women, fire, and dangerous things: What categories reveal about the mind. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Lakoff, George. 1996/2002. Moral politics: What conservatives know that liberals don't. Second edition published as Moral politics: How liberals and conservatives think. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Lakoff, George & M. Johnson. 1980. Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Nerlich, Brigitte, R. Dingwall, & D. Clarke. 2002. The Book of Life: How the human genome project was revealed to the public. Health 6: 445-469. Panther, Klaus-Uwe & G. Radden, eds. 1999. Metonymy in language and thought. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Strauss, Claudia & N. Quinn. 1997. A cognitive theory of cultural meaning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2. Representative works in public policy studies Fischer, Frank. 2003. Reframing public policy: Discursive politics and deliberative practices. NY: Oxford University Press. Fischer, Frank and Forester, John. 1993. The argumentative turn in policy analysis and planning. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. Hajer, Maarten A. and Wagenaar, Hendrik, eds. 2003. Deliberative policy analysis. NY: Cambridge University Press. Hawkesworth, M. E. 1988. Theoretical issues in policy analysis. Albany, NY: SUNY Press. Rein, Martin and Sch?n, Donald A. 1977. Problem setting in policy research. In Carol Weiss, ed. Using social research in policy making. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books. Sch?n, Donald A. and Rein, Martin. 1994. Frame reflection. NY: Basic Books. Yanow, Dvora. 1993. The communication of policy meanings: Implementation as interpretation and text. Policy Sciences 26: 41-61. Yanow, Dvora, ed. 1995. Special issue, "Policy interpretations." Policy Sciences 28: 111-126. Yanow, Dvora. 1996. How does a policy mean? Interpreting organizational and policy actions. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press. Yanow, Dvora. 2000. Conducting interpretive policy analysis. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://malagigi.cddc.vt.edu/pipermail/tps/attachments/20071212/b3d88b64/attachment.html From navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in Sun Dec 16 11:05:14 2007 From: navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in (Navdeep Mathur) Date: Sun Dec 16 11:04:58 2007 Subject: [Tps] TPS/ECPR Policy Network - CFP 9th ESSEX CONFERENCE IN CRITICAL POLITICAL THEORY Message-ID: <550f31d00712160805v3013a87k44c459b146642eda@mail.gmail.com> Posted for David Howarth... -------------------------------------- 9th ESSEX CONFERENCE IN CRITICAL POLITICAL THEORY CAPITALISM, FAITH, NATURE Call for Papers Dates: 12-13 June 2008 Location: University of Essex, Colchester, UK Call for Papers Deadline: 30 March, 2008. Website: 9th Essex Conference in Critical Political Theory < https://exchange2.essex.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.essex.ac.uk/government/critical%2520political%2520theory%2520conference/9th_conference_in_critical_political_theory.shtm > All Inquiries to: polcon@essex.ac.uk > Keynote Speakers Professor Jane Bennett, The Johns Hopkins University (USA) Professor William E. Connolly, The Johns Hopkins University (USA) Organizing Committee at the University of Essex Jason Glynos, Department of Government, University of Essex (UK) David Howarth, Centre for Theoretical Studies, University of Essex (UK) Aletta J. Norval, Centre for Theoretical Studies, University of Essex (UK) Sarah Hartley, PhD Candidate, Department of Government, University of Essex (UK) Blendi Kajsiu, PhD Candidate, Department of Government, University of Essex (UK) The Conference Theme: Capitalism, Faith, Nature ONLY a few years ago, the use of abstract nouns like 'capitalism', 'faith' and 'nature' - not to mention their conjunction as a series of terms - would have seemed a little unusual, perhaps even antiquated. Yet any history of the present today highlights the continuing pertinence of these signifiers for critically engaging with a growing range of social and political phenomena. ONE obvious issue here is the rise of new fundamentalisms - dogmatic and monist faiths - whether of an economic, political, religious, or national character. Another is the peculiar linking together of heterogeneous doctrines and sensibilities, such as Christianity, corporate capitalism and conservativism in the United States, for instance, into new assemblages and projects that directly impinge upon existing political institutions and democratic settlements. In part, these new fundamentalisms constitute a reactionary backlash against the emergence of novel cultural identities and existential faiths that seek to pluralize the pluralism of existing democratic institutions and practices, or put forward demands for greater freedom and equality. Fundamentalisms are also organised against efforts to reorganize our geo-political landscapes - or construct new transnational networks - so as to foster greater cooperation and security across once sedimented territorial divisions. IN equal measure, there are pressing questions about the place of nature in the contemporary world, whether this is understood in terms of the intensifying environmental crisis, or debates about the character and role of 'human nature' in our increasingly technological societies, or with respect to the character of human and political subjectivity. Underpinning many of these new concerns are further questions about new forms of political economy at the local, national and global levels, and their impact on our changing conceptions of space, time, culture and speed. HOW do we problematize and critically explain these new phenomena? In what ways can various fundamentalisms be challenged and engaged with in the name of a democratic politics that is not itself fundamentalist in character? What are the limits and potentials of contemporary political and ethical theory in addressing these new issues? What are the prospects and limits of pluralizing pluralism? Ought we to restrict agency to humans, or does it extend to the material and non-human world more generally? What is the relationship between nature and culture? How can cultural theory respond to recent developments in science? What is the relationship between cultural theory, materialism and naturalism? What kind of ethos needs to be cultivated in the face of these new challenges, and how can it be brought about? How do these broad sets of issues and questions get addressed in specific contexts and policy arenas? And what theoretical languages and methods are best able to respond to these changes and trends? These are just some of the tasks of critical political theory today. THE NINTH CONFERENCE IN CRITICAL POLITICAL THEORY at the University of Essex provides a space to address and engage with these issues. The conference has achieved a renowned reputation for the quality of the papers presented and the large number of international participants. Previous guest speakers have included Michael Hardt, Wendy Brown, Judith Squires, Quentin Skinner, Joan Copjec, James Tully, Fred Dallmayr, Bonnie Honig, David Owen, David Campbell, Simon Critchley, Ernesto Laclau, and Chantal Mouffe, among others. THE conference provides an important opportunity to engage with the contemporary challenges and possibilities of social and political theory and to exchange views on ongoing research. We welcome papers from young scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and postgraduates from a wide variety of backgrounds in the field of social and political theory. But as is customary with the Essex conference, the themes are in part shaped by the thought and writings of our invited guests, and this year is no exception. We are delighted to host William Connolly and Jane Bennett. WILLIAM CONNOLLY and JANE BENNETT are two of the leading political theorists of our time, and they both speak directly and powerfully to the problems and opportunities of the new conjuncture. Though far from complacent about the complexity of the issues confronting us today, each of them consistently seeks new lines of flight and intellectual nourishment that can advance the ideals of democracy, freedom, and pluralism. Their various writings straddle a wide range of debates about pluralism, nature, bio-ethics, materialism, global politics, radical democracy, the limits and possibilities of contemporary liberal theory, as well as discussions in the philosophy of science and social explanation. Most importantly, their work is persistently open to new events and possibilities, and focussed on movements and practices that invent new rights or promote new identities, which may or may not have been acknowledged on established cultural fields. Broad Themes Include * Politics of Immanence and Transcendence * Varieties of Pluralism * Politics and Technology * Universalism and Particularism * Democracy and Representation * Capitalism, Multiculturalism, Globalization * Identity Politics and Mobilization * Subjectivity and Psychoanalysis * Religion, Faith and Pluralism * Fundamentalisms * New Ecologies * Philosophies of Nature * Political Economy * The Politics of Space and Territoriality * Rethinking Identity/Difference Biographies JANE BENNETT is Professor and Chair of Political Theory at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. Her published books include The Enchantment of Modernity: Crossings, Energetics, and Ethics (Princeton University Press, 2001); Thoreau's Nature: Ethics, Politics, and The Wild (Sage Publications, 1994); and Unthinking Faith and Enlightenment: Nature and State in a Post-Hegelian Era (New York University Press, 1994). WILLIAM E. CONNOLLY is Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science at John Hopkins University. His recent books include Pluralism (Duke University Press, 2005); Neuropolitics: Thinking, Culture, Politics (University of Minnesota, 2002); and Why I Am Not a Secularist (University of Minnesota, 1999). His most recent book Capitalism and Christianity, American Style (Duke University Press) will be available in 2008. JASON GLYNOS is Lecturer in Political Theory in the Department of Government at the University of Essex, UK. He is also Director of the Masters Programme in Ideology and Discourse Analysis at the University of Essex. He is co-editor of Lacan & Science (Karnac, 2002) and Traversing the Fantasy (Ashgate, 2005). His most recent book is Logics of Critical Explanation in Social and Political Theory (Routledge, 2007), co-authored with David Howarth. DAVID HOWARTH is Senior Lecturer in Political Theory in the Department of Government at the University of Essex, UK. He is also Co-Director of the Centre for Theoretical Studies. His published books include Discourse (Open University Press, 2000); Discourse Theory and Political Analysis (Manchester University Press, 2000); Discourse Theory in European Politics (Macmillan, 2005). His most recent book is Logics of Critical Explanation in Social and Political Theory (Routledge, 2007). ALETTA NORVAL is Reader in Political Theory in the Department of Government, University of Essex, where she is also Director of the Doctoral Programme in Ideology and Discourse Analysis, and Co-Director of the Centre for Theoretical Studies. Her most recent book is entitled Aversive Democracy: Inheritance and Originality in the Democratic Tradition (Cambridge University Press, 2007). Conference fees for Staff: ?50 Conference fees for Students: ?30 Paper Givers (?25 for Essex students) ?35 Attendance Only (?30 for Essex students) ?45 If institutionally funded (?40 for Essex students) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://malagigi.cddc.vt.edu/pipermail/tps/attachments/20071216/7a2cdea1/attachment-0001.html From navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in Mon Dec 17 09:24:53 2007 From: navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in (Navdeep Mathur) Date: Mon Dec 17 09:24:39 2007 Subject: [Tps] CFP Interpretive Policy Analysis III Essex Deadline Extended In-Reply-To: <5286BEEC21FADA47A24AA92D8BC9270E4E7A12@fswmail01.scw.vu.nl> References: <5286BEEC21FADA47A24AA92D8BC9270E4E7A12@fswmail01.scw.vu.nl> Message-ID: <550f31d00712170624t737aeba4k928bb9d35f44ffe4@mail.gmail.com> Posting for Aletta Norval and David Howarth 3rd International Conference in Interpretive Policy Analysis Democracy, Governance, and Methods DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MONDAY, 14 JANUARY 2008 Dates: 19-21 June 2008 Location: University of Essex, Colchester, UK Call for Papers Deadline: EXTENDED TO MONDAY, 14 JANUARY 2008 Website:http://www.essex.ac.uk/centres/TheoStud/Conference_III/interpretation_in_policy_confere.htm All Inquiries to: ipol@essex.ac.uk Organizing Committee David Howarth, University of Essex (UK) Aletta J. Norval, University of Essex (UK) Methodology Workshops Organizing Committee Sarah Hartley, University of Essex (Organizing Chair) Katharina Paul, Universiteit van Amsterdam Jason Glynos, University of Essex Dvora Yanow, Vrije Universiteit (Amsterdam) Advisory Board Frank Fischer, Rutgers University, New Jersey (US) Herbert Gottweis, University of Vienna (Austria) Steven Griggs, University of Birmingham (UK) Maarten Hajer, Universiteit van Amsterdam (NL) Navdeep Mathur, India Institute of Management (Ahmedabad) Henk Wagenaar, Leiden Universiteit (NL) Dvora Yanow, Vrije Universiteit (Amsterdam, NL) Keynote Speakers Professor Jean Hillier (University of Newcastle, UK) Professor Ernesto Laclau (University of Essex, UK/Northwestern University, US) Professor Eva S?rensen (Roskilde University, Denmark) Professor Keith Topper (Northwestern University, US) Professor Mark Warren (University of British Columbia, Canada) Interpretivism today comes in many shapes and sizes. It is a broad church that challenges mainstream positivism and scientism in the name of a methodological pluralism that is sensitive to meaning, historical context, and the importance of human subjectivity. Following two successful conferences in Birmingham, UK (2006) and Amsterdam (2007), the Third International Conference in 'Interpretive Policy Analysis' will be held at the University of Essex on 19-21 June 2008. This conference will focus on the relationship between governance, democracy, and critical policy analysis, as well as methodological and practical research issues in the interpretive tradition. These themes will be particularly evident in the plenary sessions, which are focused on new forms of governance and their impact on various modes of policymaking, rethinking the theory and practice of democracy, and debating different methods of interpretation and critical explanation. The relationship between governance, democracy, and critical policy analysis raises a host of interesting questions. Consider the precise character and configuration of new forms of governance and their impact on policymaking. How can we characterize new forms of governance today? What is decentered governance? What is the relationship between governance and issues of representation, deliberation and novel forms of political engagement? How can we explain and evaluate the rise of network governance? At the same time, new issues pertaining to the environment, bio-politics, security, multiculturalism, and so on, pose important challenges to the articulation and evaluation of policies. How are issues of risk and novelty factored into our understandings of policy change? What is the role of performativity and engagement in policymaking and democratic governance? Do new forms of governance suffer a democratic deficit? In short, a range of new issues and problems have led to a questioning of traditional models of government, administration and policy-making. It is clear, then, that the issue of democracy and democratization is a pressing issue in the present. Not only are there worries about a growing democratic deficit, but there is much talk about democratizing policymaking and governance today. How do different models of democracy impact on critical policy analysis? What are the similarities and differences between aggregative, discursive, and agonistic conceptions of democracy? How do these accounts of democracy speak to issues of representation, participation, and conflict in modern societies? What is radical democracy? Do critical models of democracy suffer from an institutional and policymaking deficit? What is the relationship between normative/evaluative and descriptive/explanatory research in this field? How does one think about democracy, policymaking and public spaces? In short, the issue of democracy not only raises a crucial set of normative, evaluative and explanatory issues in conducting policy analysis, but it also poses questions about the role of the interpretive researcher and practitioner and their community. An equally important set of methodological issues is posed by new forms of democratic governance, especially in the interpretive tradition. Interpretivists have elaborated a range of innovative methods and research techniques to challenge mainstream positivism and unthinking quantitative approaches. They have also stressed the role of reflexivity and subjectivity in the process of conducting research and analyzing social processes. Yet, there is still a range of approaches that are compatible with the interpretivist outlook. Some stress the role of self-interpretations or focus exclusively on the beliefs and desires of individual agents; others emphasize the role of mechanisms in explaining policy change; yet others have developed the role of logics, discourse theory and rhetorical analysis to critically explain policy processes and specific outcomes. What is the difference between self-interpretations, mechanisms and logics? What is the relationship between qualitative and quantitative methods? What new qualitative approaches and methodologies are becoming available for interpretive policy analysis? Conference papers might engage one or more of the following themes: * The contribution of a particular theoretical or philosophical approach to critical policy analysis (e.g., pragmatism, hermeneutics, post-structuralism) * Clarification of approaches in use (e.g., varieties of discourse analysis or narrative analyses; the role of rhetoric and metaphor) * Case studies from particular policy issue arenas (e.g., the new challenges of environmental politics and policymaking; bio-politics; local governance; asylum or immigration policy; food policy; urban and regional planning) * Methodological issues in doing critical policy analysis (e.g., reflexivity in policy analytic practices; getting, and using, feedback from 'informants'; issues in using new recording technologies; evaluating software programmes) * The relationship between policy analytic practices and democratic and/or other theories of governance * Interpretive perspectives on key topics (e.g., community conflict resolution practices; policy evaluation; leadership; network organizations; other public management questions) Plenary Sessions Plenary sessions will be organized around a number of key themes, including: 'Governance, Participation, and Performativity' Professor Jean Hillier (University of Newcastle) Professor Eva S?rensen (Roskilde University) Chair: Professor Maarten Hajer (Universiteit van Amsterdam) 'Democracy and Critical Policy Analysis' Professor Mark Warren (University of British Columbia) Professor Frank Fischer (Rutgers University) Chair: Dr Aletta Norval (University of Essex) 'Debating Method: Interpretations, Mechanisms and Logics' Professor Ernesto Laclau (Northwestern University, University of Essex) Professor Keith Topper (Northwestern University) Chair: Dr David Howarth (University of Essex) Proposals for Papers, Panels and Roundtables The conference organizers welcome proposals for individual papers; full panels (with papers); and roundtables (focused on discussion of a common theme rather than the formal presentation of papers). Paper, panel, and roundtable proposals (short abstracts) should be sent to ipol@essex.ac.uk no later than 10 December 2007. Inquiries may also be sent to that address. For those paper proposals that are accepted, full papers will be due one month prior to the conference date. There will be a pre-conference dinner for all doctoral students who wish to attend the evening before the conference. Please indicate if you would like to participate in this 'no host' event. Further information for paper-givers will be available on the Conference website: http://www.essex.ac.uk/centres/TheoStud/Conference_III/interpretation_in_policy_confere.htm Papers from the conference may be considered for a special issue of Critical Public Policy: Analysis and Practice, General Editor - Steven Griggs (s.f.griggs@bham.ac.uk); Reviews Editor - Pauline Jas (p.e.jas@bham.ac.uk); Forums Editor - Navdeep Mathur (navdeep@iimahd.ernet.in). Methodology Workshops Some of the sessions will be devoted to methodological workshops. The 90-minute workshop sessions feature specialists in different aspects of interpretive analysis. The format of the workshop sessions builds on the idea of a "master-class" as practiced in musical studies, where two senior researchers (or "specialists") will meet a small number of early career researchers using a particular methodological strategy or technique. The focus will be on questions raised by researchers, and their research will be treated as case studies to generate and engage a set of methodological questions. The workshops aim at (1) creating a setting where early career researchers can benefit from focused interaction with experts in their field and (2) generating questions about and exchange experiences with interpretive methods, such as expert interviewing and discourse analysis. The sessions will be facilitated by fellow early career researchers, and the discussants will be established and renowned names in the field of interpretative policy analysis, such as Frank Fischer, Maarten Hajer, Navdeep Mathur, Jacob Torfing, Henk Wagenaar. The sessions are fully incorporated into the regular conference program, and the sessions are open to all conference participants, in order to create a collaborative learning environment for all involved. In order to take part in a workshop session, early career researchers invited to present their work in one of these will be asked to introduce their research project in a 2-3 page summary, pointing to the particular difficulties or methodological questions that arise from their research and/or field experience that they would like to explore in the workshop. Please note it clearly in your inquiry if you wish to be considered for inclusion in a Methodology Workshop. The deadline for inquiries is 10th of December 2007. For additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact the chair of the Methodology Workshop Advisory Board (ipol@essex.ac.uk) marking your inquiry clearly for attention: Sarah Hartley. Conference Site The University of Essex is located in the ancient market town of Colchester and near the picturesque village of Wivenhoe in northeast Essex. It is about 45 minutes from London by rail, 30 minutes from London's Stansted Airport by cab or about an hour by bus. The conference programme will offer opportunities to enjoy the traditional villages and countryside in this scenic part of England. More information about accommodation, costs, and venue is available on the website (http://www.essex.ac.uk/centres/TheoStud/Conference_III/interpretation_in_policy_confere.htm). From navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in Wed Dec 19 10:31:44 2007 From: navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in (Navdeep Mathur) Date: Wed Dec 19 10:31:39 2007 Subject: [Tps] TPS/ECPR Policy Network - New Book Announcement - Message-ID: <550f31d00712190731l2901ab99p9a5fc0572496397b@mail.gmail.com> *New in Paperback* *Logics of Critical Explanation in Social and Political Theory * *Series: **Routledge Innovations in Political Theory* *Jason Glynos *and *David Howarth,* both at University of Essex, UK. *...an exceptionally valuable contribution to political and social theory from a poststructuralist perspective.** Michael Freeden, Professor of Politics, Oxford University* *...a remarkable book, not only due to its rigour and scope, but also because of its sustained effort to engage with the most important contemporary currents in social explanation and social theory...this is the most significant attempt so far at elaborating a general framework for social research from a poststructuralist perspective. ** **Ernesto Laclau, Professor of Humanities and Rhetorical Studies, Northwestern University, USA and Professor of Politics, Department of Government, University of Essex, UK* *...a unique book in the philosophy of the social sciences, one that appreciates an element of chanciness in the world as it retains the ambition to explain. An indispensable book for those who are dissatisfied with the options available today.** William E. Connolly, Professor of Political Science, Johns Hopkins University, USA* *This edifying book is a tremendous accomplishment...This is careful yet imaginative scholarship, worthy of widespread attention across the social sciences**.** Hugh T. Miller, Professor of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University, USA* *Logics of Critical Explanation in Social and Political Theory* proposes a novel approach to practising social and political analysis based on the role of logics. The authors articulate a distinctive perspective on social science explanation that avoids the problems of scientism and subjectivism by steering a careful course between lawlike explanations and thick descriptions. Drawing upon hermeneutics, poststructuralism, psychoanalysis, and post-analytical philosophy, this new approach offers a particular set of logics "social, political and fantasmatic" with which to construct critical explanations of practices and regimes. While the first part of the book critically engages with lawlike, interpretivist and causal approaches to critical explanation, the second part elaborates an alternative grammar of concepts informed by an ontological stance rooted in poststructuralist theory. In developing this approach, a number of empirical cases are included to illustrate its basic concepts and logics, ranging from the apartheid regime in South Africa to recent changes in higher education. *Selected Contents:* Introduction 1. Retroduction 2. Contextualized Self-Interpretations 3. Causal Mechanisms 4. Ontology 5. Logics 6. Articulation Conclusion 234x156: 288pp Hb: 978-0-415-40428-0: *?65.00 / $125.00 CLICK HERE TO ORDER * Pb: 978-0-415-46212-9: *?20.00 / $34.00 CLICK HERE TO ORDER * The paperback version is *only* available on the Routledge website to individual customers through the Routledge Paperbacks Direct scheme *CLICK HERE* for more information on the titles in the Routledge Paperbacks Direct Scheme -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://malagigi.cddc.vt.edu/pipermail/tps/attachments/20071219/44b56c78/attachment.html From jhuns at vt.edu Thu Dec 20 10:51:43 2007 From: jhuns at vt.edu (Jeremy Hunsinger) Date: Thu Dec 20 10:51:42 2007 Subject: [Tps] Call for Papers: Internet Research 9.0 (AoIR 2008 conference) In-Reply-To: <00ac01c8431a$ba01a5e0$2e04f1a0$@dk> References: <00ac01c8431a$ba01a5e0$2e04f1a0$@dk> Message-ID: > apologies for xposting -jh > > Please distribute to colleagues and relevant lists! > > > Lisbeth Klastrup > Conference Chair > IT University of Copenhagen > > Brian Loader > Program Chair > University of York > > > ************************************************************************ > CALL FOR PAPERS > > INTERNET RESEARCH 9.0: RETHINKING COMMUNITY, RETHINKING PLACE > International and Interdisciplinary Conference of the Association of > Internet Researchers (AoIR) > Copenhagen, Denmark > > Workshops / Doctoral Colloquium: October 15th, 2008 > > AoIR. conference: October 16?18th, 2007 > > Deadline for paper submissions: February 8th, 2007 > > > RETHINKING COMMUNITY, RETHINKING PLACE > In the past few years, new forms of net-based communities have > emerged, > distributed on various websites and services, and making use of > several > media platforms and genres to stay connected. Now, as mobile and > location-based technologies are reintroducing "place" as an > important aspect > in the formation of communal and social activities, it is time to > consider > and rethink the concept of online or virtual communities. Not > forgetting the > lessons we have learned from studying the early virtual communities, > how do > we describe, analyse, theorise and design the communities and social > formations of the early 21st century? How do we address the blurring > of > boundaries between places and communities on- and offline? > > We call for papers, panel proposals, and presentations from any > discipline, > methodology, and community, and from conjunctions of multiple > disciplines, > methodologies and academic communities that address the conference > themes. > > Sessions at the conference will be established that specifically > address the > conference themes, and we welcome innovative, exciting, and > unexpected takes > on those themes. We also welcome submissions on topics that address > social, > cultural, political, economic, and/or aesthetic aspects of the > Internet > beyond the conference themes. In all cases, we welcome disciplinary > and > interdisciplinary submissions as well as international > collaborations from > both AoIR and non-AoIR members. > > > SUBMISSIONS > We seek proposals for several different kinds of contributions. We > welcome > proposals for traditional academic conference papers, but we also > encourage > proposals for creative or aesthetic presentations that are distinct > from a > traditional written ?paper.? > > We also welcome proposals for ROUNDTABLE SESSIONS that will focus on > discussion and interaction among conference delegates, as well as > organized > PANEL PROPOSALS that present a coherent group of papers on a single > theme. > > > SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS > All papers and presentations in this session will be reviewed in the > normal > manner. Detailed information about review and submission will be > available > through the conference submission website: http:// > conferences.aoir.org in > early January 2008. > > Format > - PAPERS (individual or multi-author) - submit abstract of 600-800 > words > > - CREATIVE OR AESTHETIC PRESENTATIONS - submit abstract of 500-750 > words > > - PANEL PROPOSALS - submit a 600-800 word description of the panel > theme, > plus 250-500 word abstract for each paper or presentation > > - ROUNDTABLE PROPOSALS - submit a statement indicating the nature of > the > roundtable discussion and interaction > > Papers, presentations and panels will be selected from the submitted > proposals on the basis of multiple blind peer review, coordinated and > overseen by the Program Chair. Each individual is invited to submit a > proposal for 1 paper or 1 presentation. A person may also propose a > panel > session, which may include a second paper that they are presenting. An > individual may also submit a roundtable proposal. You may be listed as > co-author on additional papers as long as you are not presenting them. > > > PUBLICATION OF PAPERS > Several publishing opportunities are expected to be available through > journals, including a special issue of "Information, Communication & > Society", based on peer-review of full papers. The website will > contain more > details. > > > GRADUATE STUDENTS > Graduate students are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. Any > student > paper is eligible for consideration for the AoIR graduate student > award. > Students wishing to be a candidate for the Student Award must send a > final > paper by June 30, 2007. > > Ph.D. students will also want to consider participating in the > Doctoral > Colloquium: > Following the very successful examples of previous Doctoral > Colloquia, we > will again aim to offer an all-day Doctoral Colloquium on October > 15th 2008 > (Wednesday) for Ph.D. students who wish to present their current > work for > critical evaluation by their peers and senior scholars. Submission and > registration details will be available on the conference website > http://conferences.aoir.org as soon as possible. > > > PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS > Prior to the conference, there will be a limited number of pre- > conference > workshops which will provide participants with in-depth, hands-on > and/or > creative opportunities. We invite proposals for these pre-conference > workshops. Local presenters are encouraged to propose workshops that > will > invite visiting researchers into their labs or studios or locales. > Proposals > should be no more than 1000 words, and should clearly outline the > purpose, > methodology, structure, costs, equipment and minimal attendance > required, as > well as explaining its relevance to the conference as a whole. > Proposals > will be accepted if they demonstrate that the workshop will add > significantly to the overall program in terms of thematic depth, > hands on > experience, or local opportunities for scholarly or artistic > connections. > These proposals and all inquiries regarding pre-conference proposals > should > be submitted as soon as possible to both the Conference Chair and > Program > Chair and no later than March 31, 2007. > > > DEADLINES > Submission site available: January 10, 2008 > Proposal submission deadline: February 8, 2008 > Presenter notification: March 31, 2008 > Final workshop submission deadline: March 31, 2008 > Submission for student award competition: June 30, 2008 > Submission for conference archive: July 31, 2008 > > > CONTACT INFORMATION > Program Chair: Dr. Brian Loader, University of York, UK > > Conference Chair: Dr. Lisbeth Klastrup, IT University of Copenhagen, > Denmark > > President of AoIR: Dr. Charles Ess, Drury University > Association Website: http://www.aoir.org > Conference Website: http://conferences.aoir.org > > > _______________________________________________ > The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list > is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org > Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org > > Join the Association of Internet Researchers: > http://www.aoir.org/ Jeremy Hunsinger Information Ethics Fellow, Center for Information Policy Research, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (www.cipr.uwm.edu ) Words are things; and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think. --Byron From navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in Wed Dec 26 11:10:53 2007 From: navdeep at iimahd.ernet.in (Navdeep Mathur) Date: Wed Dec 26 11:11:14 2007 Subject: [Tps] TPS/ECPR Policy Network - doctoral, post doctoral, lecturer, asst prof, and other positions in Bremen Message-ID: <550f31d00712260810u7707fd9ay215fca92a2ec06c@mail.gmail.com> Dear colleagues, Bremen (Bremen University and Jacobs) has 21 doctoral stipends and several post-doc positions/ junior professorships announced, thanks to the success in the German excellence initiative. I would be extremely grateful if you could pass on the information to suitable candidates. Many thanks and best regards, Prof. Dr. Susanne K. Schmidt Jean Monnet Centre for European Studies Bremen University/SFG 1340 Enrique-Schmidt Str. 7 28359 BREMEN Germany Tel.: + 49 421 218 67045 (new!) Fax: + 49 421 218 4896 Email: skschmidt@uni-bremen.de The Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS) invites applications to its Ph.D. and Post-doc program. The program is funded by the German Excellence Initiative and will commence in September 2008. BIGSSS is an inter-university institute of the University of Bremen (UB) and Jacobs University. BIGSSS builds on the experience and institutional structure of both UB's Graduate School of Social Sciences (GSSS) and Jacobs' interdisciplinary social-science graduate programs at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) and the Jacobs Center on Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development (JCLL). The program provides close supervision of dissertation work within a demand-tailored education and research framework. BIGSSS is part of an international network of strong graduate programs. It supports its Ph.D. and Post-doc Fellows in achieving early scientific independence, providing funds for conducting, presenting and publishing their research. The language of instruction is English. Successful applicants for the Ph.D. and Post-doc Fellowships will pursue a topic in one of BIGSSS' five Thematic Fields: - Global Integration - Integration and Diversity in the New Europe - Social Integration and the Welfare State - Attitude Formation, Value Change, and Intercultural Communication - Life-Course and Lifespan Dynamics. 21 Ph.D. Stipends/Fellowships BIGSSS seeks candidates with strong academic abilities and a Master's degree (or equivalent) in political science, sociology, psychology, law, economics, mass communication or other social science disciplines. We offer Ph.D. stipends of 1250/month for 36 months, contingent on successful completion of each year. 6 - 8 Post-doc Stipends/Fellowships We seek candidates pursuing English-language publication projects either from their dissertation (by making findings available to an international audience through a book or journal article) or from a new project. Post-doc stipends of 1500/month may run from 3 to 12 months. The competition is open to candidates who have received a doctorate in political science, sociology, psychology, law, economics, mass communication or other social science disciplines within the last 5 years, or who can be expected to finish prior to commencing their post-doc stay. More information as well as lists of required application materials can be found at www.bigsss-bremen .de. Non-German students are strongly encouraged to apply. BIGSSS strives to increase the share of women in the university and hence also strongly encourages women to apply. Applicants with disabilities who are equally qualified will be favored. Applications may be sent until 1 March 2008 to the following address: Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Steffen Mau, Founding Dean Universit?t Bremen PF/PO Box 330440 28334 Bremen Germany The Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS) has been awarded funding by the German Excellence Initiative and is being founded in cooperation between University of Bremen (UB) and Jacobs University Bremen. BIGSSS builds on the experience and institutional structure of both UB's Graduate School of Social Sciences (GSSS) and Jacobs' interdisciplinary social-science graduate programs at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) and the Jacobs Center on Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development (JCLL). BIGSSS draws on established regional, national and international cooperation with renowned partner institutions. BIGSSS invites applications for the following academic positions: Junior Professorship in Sociology (W1, tenure track) Reference No. JP 65/07 (Universit?t Bremen) We are looking for candidates with a strong background in the study of education and labour markets, both theoretically and in research. Candidates with expertise in comparative research in one of the fields are particularly encouraged to apply. The holder of the position will be member of the Faculty of Social Sciences (Fachbereich Sozialwissenschaften) at the University of Bremen. He/she would have responsibilities in teaching and in coordinating one of the thematic fields of BIGSSS. Additionally, he/she should be prepared to engage in teaching in the university's BA and MA programs of Sociology and in the MA European Labour Studies. The initial contract runs for three years with the possibility of renewal for another three years. The university offers a competitive tenure track. Assistant Professorship in Social Science Research Methods Reference No. 700 (Jacobs University) For the Methods Center of BIGSSS we are seeking candidates with a strong record in the methods of social research and a focus on large-n and small-n comparative research designs, especially case-study designs and methodology. The successful candidate should be willing to assume coordinator functions in the Methods Center. Scholars with a substantive research focus on topics in political science or sociology, in particular on topics which align with one of BIGSSS' research themes, are particularly encouraged to apply. The salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The initial contract runs for five years. Post-doc Position in European Studies (TV-L 13 until October 31, 2012) Reference No. A138/07 (Universit?t Bremen) Applicants preferably have a background in political science with an interdisciplinary bent toward law. The holder of the position would have responsibilities in teaching and in coordinating one of the schools' thematic fields. University Lecturer (Post-Doc) in "Socio-Cultural Change and the Individual" Reference No. 710 (Jacobs University) Applicants preferably have a disciplinary background in social or developmental psychology, communication, sociology or political science, and experience in the management of graduate programs. The holder of the position will have responsibilities in teaching and in coordinating BIGSSS' thematic field "Attitude Formation, Value Change and Intercultural Communication" The salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The initial contract runs for 3 years. Applicants for all academic positions should demonstrate accomplishment in both teaching and research, and the ability to obtain research funding. They are expected to have a strong record of scholarly productivity (including an outstanding dissertation), and a commitment to institutional excellence and inter-institutional cooperation. Any experience in interdisciplinary settings will be considered a strong point. BIGSSS' language of instruction is English. Preferably, work at the Graduate School should begin in July 2008. The following administrative positions are central to the organisation and management of the School. These positions will be filled as soon as possible. Executive Assistant to the Dean Reference No. 720 (Jacobs University) This post is designed to support the Dean and the executive team of BIGSSS, which includes the Vice Deans, the Executive Secretary and the Directors of Study. Fields of activity include public relations, internal communication, organizational (re)structuring, project management, conference organization and reporting. The salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Admission Officer (part-time) Reference No. 730 (Jacobs University) This post is designed to run the administrative affairs of approximately 120 doctoral fellows at BIGSSS. Fields of responsibility include matriculation, student visas, residence permits, and health insurance, as well as maintaining files on the doctoral fellows in the admissions process, course registration and progress assessment. The salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Both universities are equal opportunity employers and aim particularly at increasing the percentage of women in research. Applicants with disabilities who are equally qualified will be favored. For all positions, please send your applications (in English) by 31 January 2008 to the following address: Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Steffen Mau, Founding Dean Universit?t Bremen PF / PO Box 330440 28334 Bremen, Germany Applicants for the academic positions are expected to send a CV including teaching experience and a list of publications. More information on the Graduate School can be found at www.bigsss-bremen .de.