Call for Papers-Discourses on populism and nationalism (Helsinki)

[Alexandra Smith]

http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/ajankohtaista/vol/post-286.htm


Call for Papers

The Construction of ‘Us’ and ‘Them’:
Discourses on populism and nationalism

University of Helsinki, 7-8 September 2007

A key theme in politics, which translates to many fields of study, is
identification * or disidentification. ‘Us’ and the sometimes equally
relevant ‘them’ are articulated at various levels from the family circle, to
the neighbourhood, local identifications, sub-cultural groups, political
parties and social movements, and further to the level of nationhood and
beyond. These may overlap or draw from each other in the process of their
articulation. One of the cases in contemporary Europe, are the overlapping
identifications with the EU, nation, region and the locality. They may also
deal with populism, exclusion and minorities.

A useful tool for recognising and understanding the logics operating in
these processes is discourse theory. The key note speaker at the conference
is professor Ernesto Laclau - an author of, most recently, On Populist
Reason (2005), and also Hegemony and Socialist Strategy; Towards a Radical
Democratic Politics (Verso: London, 1985, with Chantal Mouffe), New
Reflections on Revolutions of Our Time (1990), and Emancipation( s) (1996).
Laclau’s discourse theory have made major contributions in the field of
politics, but also history, literary studies and sociology, as well as area
studies. This is his first visit to Finland.

The conference seeks to discover different cases, logics and phenomena in
the construction of ‘us’ and ‘them’. Papers addressing nationhood and
populism are particularly sought for, but other ‘we’ groups may also be
studied, with focus on either empirical or theoretical problems - or a
combination of both.

The aim of the conference is to allow a truly interdisciplinary forum for
the study of these questions. The conference language is English.
Abstracts for presentations (ca. 150 words) should be emailed to the
conference organiser by 15 March 2007.

The conference is organised by Emilia Palonen on behalf of the Academy of
Finland funded research project Nations and Their Others: The Finns and the
Hungarians since 1900, led by Heino Nyyssönen. It is supported by the
Aleksanteri Institute, the Department of Government and the Collegium
Helsinki at the University of Helsinki.

Contact:
Dr. Emilia Palonen,
University of Helsinki
emilia.palonen@ helsinki. fi
emiliapalonen@ yahoo.co.uk
(please use both addresses)
Tel. +358 40 5077198

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