CONF./CFP- Law and Society, July 4-7 2001, Budapest
Law and Society Association
and
Research Committee on Sociology of Law (ISA)
Joint Meetings, July 4-7, 2001
Budapest, Hungary
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
(Due Date: January 8, 2001)
The fifth joint meeting of the Law and Society Association and the Research
Committee on Sociology of Law (of the International Sociological
Association) will be hosted by Central European University in Budapest,
Hungary, Wednesday, July 4 through Saturday, July 7, 2001.
The Program Committee invites proposals for presentation and discussion of
all aspects of research linking law and society, whether or not they are
specifically related to the meeting theme. In addition to proposals for
sessions, individual papers, and discussions of books, the Committee is
also encouraging the continuation of the activities of last year's
collaborative research networks (CRNs) and the formation of new CRNs. In
all of these areas, proposals from scholars who have not previously
attended our meetings are especially encouraged. The setting and the theme
should provide a unique opportunity for vigorous and stimulating exchange.
THEME: LAW IN ACTION
The field of sociolegal studies has long been organized around the idea
that "law on the books" is different from "law in action." Usually this
means that law as it is experienced in the lives of people is different
from law as an abstract field of knowledge. Also, law as it is interpreted
and applied often bears little resemblance to the formal statute or written
legal code. We therefore take "law in action" as our theme this year
because it is one of the enduring and centrally important ideas of our
field.
The gap between law in action and law on the books is present everywhere,
and is clearly evident in the area we are highlighting with this year's
meeting location-in Central and Eastern Europe and states of the former
Soviet Union. "Transition" has brought with it very substantial legal
changes; social practices have struggled to keep up with (and sometimes to
keep out of the way of) law. By highlighting law in action, we hope to
focus on the way in which legal changes have (or have not) made a
difference in the lives of people who are going through political changes
and their accompanying legal transformations. "Law in action" also brings
to mind one of the great Central European contributions to the field of
sociolegal studies, Eugen Ehrlich's work on "living law."
Our theme has other meanings too.
"Law in action" calls attention to the responsibility of sociolegal
scholars in the public realm. What do we, as sociolegal scholars, have to
say about the great issues of our time? From participating in struggles for
human rights to examining the legal infrastructure of globalization, from
encouraging progressive law reform to promoting legal guarantees of equal
citizenship, sociolegal scholars bring something special to discussion in
the public sphere-a grounding of legal ideas and rights claims in social
and cultural contexts. Considering law in action can be a description of
what sociolegal scholars do.
"Law in action" also highlights the way in which law structures many
different settings from the most intimate personal interactions to
intermediate-level organizational and regulatory regimes to the largest
processes of globalization. At each level, we see how law plays a central
role in the articulation of contradictory tendencies:
both new
nationalisms and new transnational organizations, personal identity and
universalistic practices, personal experience and grand histories are
articulated through law. As both the local and the global are
simultaneously and increasingly intensified in modern experience, law is
implicated in each.
"Law in action," then, is meant to encourage reflection on the gaps between
legal rules and law-related practices, to consider our role as public
intellectuals, and to allow us to see the way in which law actively shapes
social relations at many levels.
While paper and session proposals are welcomed on any topic in sociolegal
studies, we especially want to encourage those related to our (broadly
defined) theme.
PROPOSALS, FORMATS, AND RULES OF PARTICIPATION
Session Proposals: We encourage submission of proposals for fully formed
sessions-both paper-presentation sessions and roundtable panels. Other
formats are also welcome. Those who wish to submit proposals for partial
paper-presentation sessions to be filled out by the program committee are
welcome to do so. Session proposals must include a general description of
the topic of the session, keywords classification, a list of participants,
and tentative presentation titles. All sessions are expected to have a
chair; paper sessions should have a discussant (or chair/discussant) as
well. To complete submission of the session proposal, each session
participant, excluding the chair and discussant, must separately submit the
"Participation in a Proposed Session Form," with complete contact
information, and an abstract for the proposed paper. Fully formed paper
sessions should include three or four papers. Organizers and Chairs of
sessions are charged with informing all paper presenters about their
obligations regarding presentation time limits, making copies of their
papers available to the discussant and other session participants, and
providing copies for conference paper sales.
In order to stimulate intellectual exchange, we urge that panels be diverse
in their composition. Session organizers should attempt to include
participants from different disciplines; of different ages and career
stages; from different universities or work settings; or of different
genders, races, ethnicities, and nationalities. The Program Committee
reserves the right to modify proposed sessions, in consultation with
session organizers.
Individual Paper Proposals: We welcome submissions of individual paper
proposals. The clarity of the abstract and the careful selection of
keywords will help the Program Committee place the paper in an appropriate
session. Once papers are placed in sessions, presenters are expected to
circulate their papers to the session discussant and other presenters in
advance of the meeting and to make copies available through conference
paper sales.
Book Panel Proposals: We welcome proposals for book panels, but proposers
should be aware that the competition for these slots is likely to be quite
intense and should not assume that all submitted proposals will be
accepted. We welcome proposals of three sorts: traditional author meets
readers/critics sessions that consider recent books, sessions that revisit
a classic book, or panels that consider several books on a common topic.
All proposals will be carefully screened by the Book Panel Subcommittee of
the Program Committee. Those wishing to discuss a potential proposal in
advance of submission may contact Dirk Hartog, Chair of the Book Panel
Subcommittee. Use the Session Proposal Form (electronic or fax/mail) for
book panel proposals.
Submission Procedures: Using the forms on this site, proposals may be
submitted electronically (click on respective electronic form for paper
proposal, session proposals, or participation in a proposed session), or
printed (click on respective printable form for paper proposals, session
proposals, or participation in a proposed session) and faxed to
413-545-1640 or mailed to: Program Committee, 2001 Budapest Meeting; Law
and Society Association; 131 County Circle; 205 Hampshire House, University
of Massachusetts; Amherst MA 01003-9257 U.S.A.
Rules of Participation: In order to permit participation of a large number
of people in a full program, conference attendees are limited to no more
than two appearances on the program, only one of which may be a
sole-authored paper. Exceptions will be made for session chairs and
discussants serving at the request of the Program Committee.
Language: The official conference language is English. Although proposals
for sessions and papers must be submitted in English and the program will
be printed in English, we welcome whole sessions conducted in other
languages. We regret that we lack the resources to provide translation. We
ask that those proposing sessions inform the Program Committee if they wish
to conduct their session in a language other than English so that this
information can be included in the program.
Session Discussants and Chairs: The Program Committee invites volunteers to
chair sessions and to serve as discussants in paper sessions. There is a
place on the paper proposal form to indicate willingness to volunteer.
Those who would like to volunteer as chairs or discussants, but who do not
wish to propose a paper, should submit the Paper Proposal form leaving
paper title blank but selecting appropriate keywords to identify their
areas of expertise. This will allow the Program Committee to make
appropriate assignments.
Collaborative Research Networks: The aim of the CRNs is to facilitate
dialogue and international research collaborations. CRNs will be allocated
time and space for a separate meeting either before or after the
conference. CRNs may also wish to organize open sessions during the
meetings to encourage ongoing contact throughout the conference. Anyone
interested in participating in a CRN and who has not yet identified
herself/himself to the CRN organizer should contact that organizer by email
using the links provided on the CRN page. Note that some CRNs are also
identified as RCSL Working Groups.
Anyone interested in organizing a new CRN should submit a proposal
including, at a minimum, a title, a paragraph describing the focus of the
CRN, and the name and contact information for a person (or persons) willing
to chair the CRN. Because the objective is to form a network, names and
contact information of other participants should be included as well. After
reviewing submitted information for clarity and completeness and checking
for overlap of submissions, the Program Committee will post CRN topics on
the Law and Society Association website.
Note that the deadline for CRN proposals is earlier (November 15, 2000)
than other proposal deadlines.
Deadlines:
-- for session proposals, paper proposals, and book panel proposals,
January 8, 2001
-- for proposals for collaborative research networks, November 15, 2000
Updates and Preliminary Program: Continuous updates, announcements, and
information about the meeting will be posted on this Law and Society
Association website. Anyone wishing to receive updates by email should log
on to the meeting Webboard at the LSA website (webboard is hosted by the
Center for Technology Information). Because the costs are prohibitive, a
printed preliminary program will not be issued this year. The preliminary
program will be available on the website beginning about mid-March and
updated as needed until June 1st.
Registration: When the Program Committee accepts proposals, it expects that
people will follow through with production of their papers or sessions
unless they specifically notify the Law and Society Association office
otherwise well in advance of the meeting. All participants are required to
register for the conference. Pre-registration materials will be sent in
early Spring, 2001.
Grants: A limited number of registration fee subsidies will be available to
support the attendance of those for whom the fee would be an undue
hardship-priority will be given to scholars from Central/Eastern Europe,
states of the former Soviet Union and other parts of Asia, and Africa. The
Program Committee also has resources to support participation in a CRN and
the conference of a small-number of scholars from East Europe and Latin
America. Application procedures will be provided upon request. We are also
attempting to raise additional funds to assist with travel and
accommodations costs for others but most participants should assume that
they will need to provide their own support.
For more and detailed information visit:
http://www.lawandsociety.org/
or directly:
http://www.lawandsociety.org/ann_mtg/am01/call.htm
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