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First Call for Papers: The Reassertion of the State in Russia: A
Challenge to Transition Orthodoxies?
Session at the Royal Geographical Society-Institute of British
Geographers Annual Conference 2007
28 - 31 August 2007, London
Sponsored by: Post-Socialist Geographies Research Group
Convenors:
Peter Lindner (Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germany)
Martin Müller (Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany)
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Abstract:
"Since Putin was elected President of the Russian Federation in 2000
Russia's visibility in the international arena has increased
significantly: Russia has pushed through its full status as a G-8
state and insistently pursues membership in the WTO. This new
assertiveness of Russia in world politics has been felt by Ukraine,
for example, where Russia reacted to the perceived violation of its
national interests by applying increasing political and economic
pressure. At the same time, in domestic politics the state has stepped
up control of mass media, increased its share in key economic sectors
and set up four projects of national priority in the areas of housing,
health, education and rural development.
These new developments reflect the reassertion of the Russian state
internationally as well as domestically. They question wide spread
assumptions which saw Russia in a process of transition towards a
Western model of the state and the economy and spell out the case for
critically rethinking the teleology underpinning much of the
literature on post-socialist transformation. For our session we
therefore invite theoretically informed papers which reflect on the
new role of the Russian state in relation to society and economy, from
the global down to the local level, and seek to challenge the
orthodoxies of Western transition thinking."
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Papers on these issues are welcomed from any discipline as long as the
session aims are addressed. Inter-disciplinary papers are encouraged.
Please send titles and abstracts (max. 200 words) to Peter Lindner
([log in to unmask])
and Martin Müller ([log in to unmask]) by 31 January.
There will be an on-line abstract submission process available through
the RGS website in a short while.
You can find more information about the conference at:
http://www.rgs.org/
and follow links to:
Home * What's On * Conferences & seminars * Annual International Conference
Or click on:
http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/ConferencesAndSeminars/Annual+International+Conference/Annual+International+Conference+2007.htm
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