CFP: The Politics of Responsibility

Theme: The Politics of Responsibility
Type: 3rd Annual St Andrews Graduate Conference in International Political Theory
Institution: School of International Relations, University of St Andrews
Location: St Andrews, Scotland (United Kingdom)
Date: 28.–29.5.2015

The notion of responsibility sits at the nexus of the ethical, legal and political. At this complex juncture of theoretical horizons, scholars must continuously explore, problematize and debate what responsibility means, who owes it to whom, from whence it arises, and
so on. In an effort to expand the academic discourse on and around responsibility, the 3rd Annual St Andrews Graduate Conference in International Political Theory (IPT) cordially invites papers related to this most contested theme.

The Conference is drawn to IPT as a way of exploring how the prism of social and political thought can be engaged to relate meaningfully to the existing and ever-changing realities of international politics. In an effort to challenge the predominant modes of thinking about
responsibility in the greater fields of political theory and global politics, we especially (but not exclusively) welcome papers touching upon the following topics:

- Ethical versus political dimensions of responsibility
- Responsibility in historical perspective
- Sources and boundaries of responsibility (inclusion versus   exclusion)
- Non-western versus western conceptions of responsibility
- Theological versus (post)secular notions of responsibility
- Metaphysical versus post-metaphysical notions of responsibility
- Structural violence and responsibility
- Responsibility without power
- Institutionalisation of responsibility; accountability; legitimacy
- Transitional justice – punishment versus forgiveness, guilt and   shame
- The politics of recognition and its relation to responsibility
- Freedom, responsibility and justice
- The responsibility of theorists and practitioners

We encourage paper proposals from postgraduate students from various disciplinary backgrounds and welcome contributions from normative, historical, conceptual and comparative perspectives.  We aim to offer an opportunity for postgraduate students to present and discuss their work in a stimulating and friendly academic environment, among peers with similarly oriented research interests.

The accepted papers will be arranged into panels of up to four papers, with each presentation lasting no more than 30 minutes to ensure ample time for discussion. Panels will be chaired by faculty members with St Andrews postgraduate students acting as discussants.

Please send an abstract of 500 words with your personal details (name, institution, phone number and e-mail address) to [email protected]. The deadline for submission is the 27th of February 2015. Notification of acceptance will be given by 13 March 2015, whereupon the selected participants will be asked to submit their papers by 15 May 2015.

For any further queries please contact us at [email protected].

The Conference registration for the participants is free of charge. Unfortunately, we are unable to reimburse travel and accommodation expenses.

Keynote speaker:
Professor John Dunn (University of Cambridge)

Conference website: