Call for Papers
Fourth Annual Great Lakes Graduate Conference in Political Economy (GLPEC)
April 30-May 1, 1999
Binghamton University
Binghamton, NY
http://sociology.binghamton.edu/glpec
The Sociology Department at Binghamton University invites papers from
graduate students for a conference to be held April 30 and May 1, 1999 at
Binghamton University.
The Contested Terrains of 'Globalization'
In recent years there has been much discussion of 'globalization' not only
in the popular media, but also in the academy itself. Nonetheless, there
exists no consensus on the meaning of the term. The intrinsic ambiguity of
the term raises a series of questions. Does 'globalization' constitute a
new phase of capitalist development? Or is 'globalization' merely a
cyclical phenomenon? Can 'globalization' be equated with the cybernetic
revolution (i.e. the rapid proliferation of communicational
technologies)?
The debate on 'globalization' has been impeded by a split between the
advocates of an 'economic' approach and the advocates of a 'cultural'
approach. Both approaches have their merits: the 'economic' approach
elucidates changes in the world-market, the division of labor, and the
interstate system; the 'cultural' approach elucidates the
homogenization/differentiation of world culture(s). Hence the question
arises: Can the two approaches be rendered commensurable? The organizers
of
the conference seek to establish a dialogue between the two perspectives;
they hope thereby to attain a more complete comprehension of capitalism's
trajectory.
Possible topics include:
i. Globalization and the Interstate System: the future of the nation-state
ii. Globalization and the Division of Labor
iii. Globalization and the Environment
iv. Globalization, Gender, and the Developmental Project
v. Globalization and the New Resistance Movements
vi. Globalization and Culture: homogenization versus differentiation
Abstracts (approximately 250 words in length) are due January 25, 1999.
Final Papers are due April 2, 1999.
Hard copy materials (including final papers) should be sent to:
Department of Sociology (Attention: Mark Frezzo and Deniz Yenal)
Binghamton University
PO Box 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902-6000
E-mailed abstracts will be accepted at the following address:
mfrezzo@compuserve.com