 |
 |
CALL FOR PAPERS Does God Matter? Representing Religion in the European Union and the United States Aston Centre for Europe, Aston University, 12-13 November 2010 The European Union has largely been considered an economic and political project in which religion has only a small role to play. However, political mobilisation related to the drafting of the European Constitution and the increasing presence of religious groups in Brussels after 1992 have inserted the representation of religion into the decision-making process. For the first time in the history of European integration, the Lisbon Treaty institutionalises the dialogue between the European Union and religious actors in the most important document of the acqui communautaire. This conference focuses on the political mobilisation of religious actors in Europe and compares the types and impact of religious representation in the European Union and the United States. Papers are invited to address (trans)national case studies on one of the following themes: - the history of relations between religious communities and European institutions; - religious values in European and American politics; - religious representation in Brussels and Washington; - religion and international organisations; - church-state relations in the EU and the US; - European and American lobbying ethics; - religion, politics and law in the EU and the US; Confirmed speakers: - Grace Davie, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Exeter University; - Kenneth Wald, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of Florida; - Laura Olson, Professor of Political Science, Clemson University, South Carolina; - Jeffrey Haynes, Professor of Politics, London Metropolitan University; - John Madeley, Senior Lecturer in Government, London School of Economics; - Michael Sutton, Emeritus Professor of Modern History and Politics, Aston University. Suggestions for panels and additional themes are welcome. Proposals for papers of 15 minutes duration (around 500 words), along with a short biography, should be sent to Dr Lucian Leustean ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) by Friday 11 June 2010. In order to stimulate discussion, the papers will be circulated in advance to participants no later than 1 November 2010. The conference is part of Dr Leustean’s ESRC project on ‘The Politics of Religious Lobbies in the European Union’. Venue The conference will take place at Aston Business School Conference Centre which is around 15-20 min walk from Birmingham New Street Station (the main station) or 5-10 min by taxi. The journey from London Euston to Birmingham New Street takes around 1 hour 25 min with trains every 20 min. Birmingham International Airport is 10 minutes from Birmingham New Street Station by train. For more details on maps and directions see our website. Financing There is no registration fee for attending the conference. Paper givers will be offered overnight accommodation at Aston Business School Conference Centre and meals on both days. Please note that the conference cannot cover travel costs. More details http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lss/research/centres-institutes/aston-centre-europe /projects-grants/religion-eu/conference/ ................................................ Dr Lucian Leustean Lecturer in Politics and International Relations School of Languages and Social Sciences Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK Tel. 0121 204 3767 [log in to unmask] ---------- End Forwarded Message ---------- ---------------------- Julian Rivers Professor of Jurisprudence and Warden of Wills Hall University of Bristol [log in to unmask]