CFP: MANCEPT Workshop 2026 - Just Profit

This workshop explores the relevance of a philosophical and political theoretical debate on just profit. Most wealth is generated through corporate profit making. Together with inheritances the corporate machine and its financialization seem to be mainly responsible for the growing concentration of wealth. Against this backdrop, it is somewhat surprising that philosophical and political theoretical debates have largely focused on limiting wealth in general and on inheritance taxation, but not so much on a regulation of profits. 

One possible explanation lies in a somewhat unquestioned acceptance of the classical liberal framing of profits. According to this framing it is reasonable to regulate profits as little as possible in order to stimulate economic activity and growth, which will ultimately benefit society as a whole. Another argument is the fear of capital flight with the potential of serious disruption of economic functionalities and great welfare losses. 

At the same time, the historical failure of social democratic and liberal socialist transformations in the second half of the 20thcentury seems to be connected to a lack of profit regulation. An important case in point is the failing of the implementation of the Meidner plan in Sweden due to strong unregulated profit concentration and a corresponding political power structure.

We aim to promote interdisciplinary dialogue across political philosophy, political theory, and critical social theory. 

Possible themes include (but are not limited to): 

• Is it true that the question of just profits is not on the agenda of political theory and philosophy as much as it should be? 
• What arguments justify the non-regulation of profits in the media and political discourse?
• What to make of arguments for nonregulation of profits from the point of view of justice?
• What makes profits just or unjust?
• Is it possible to determine excess profit and how can it be done?
• What regulation of profits (if any) is required by justice?
• How would such a regulation look like and how can it be implemented?

Submission Guidelines:

• Please submit an abstract no longer than 500 words
• Please include your name, institutional affiliation, and contact
• Send your submission: to [email protected] with ‘MANCEPT 2026 Submission’ in the subject line
• Deadline for Abstracts: May 1, 2026  
• Notification of Acceptance: May 15, 2026.

Up to 15 speakers will be selected for the workshop. Each speaker will be given approximately 30 minutes to speak, followed by 30 minutes for Q&A.

Bursaries are available to help cover the conference registration fee, and participants are encouraged to apply if needed.

The workshop will take place as part of the MANCEPT Workshops in Political Theory at the University of Manchester (September 2-4, 2026).

For the panel description and details see also: https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/activities/just-profit/