AAG 2017 - Call for Papers
The Economic Geographies of Post Conflict and New Born States
Nick Williams (University of Leeds) and Tim Vorley (University of Sheffield)
One of the most pressing challenges in post-conflict economies and new born states is (re-)establishing strong and stable economy, which can provide an important basis for social development, and with it hope. Indeed economic stability is widely understood as a prerequisite for the continued peace and security of nations. However, in post-conflict economies, and new born states in particular, economies and economic systems are understandably embryonic and fragile. Academic debate has centred on the role of governments and non-governmental organisations in the reconstruction process, but there is a need to incorporate a wider range of perspectives and with different voices.
Post-conflict economies face a number of challenges in tackling legacies of war. Policy must be holistic in tackling social and economic barriers so that inclusive approaches for creating opportunities are realised. While the literature on transition economies is well-established (Galbreath, 2005, 2009; Estrin and Prevezer, 2011; Welter and Smallbone, 2011), much less is understood regarding the specifics of social and economic development in post conflict and new born states. The legacy of war often means that social development is fragmented, with ethnic and sub-national tensions often persistent (Yannis, 2009).
At the economic level, post-conflict economies often contain environments which are hostile for undertaking economic activity, with weak formal institutions and poor enforcement of laws, regulations and property rights (Hoxha, 2009). These weaknesses are caused by the nature of conflict and are exacerbated within newly independent states which previously lacked strong institutions at the national level. Yet there can also be cultural resistance to policy reforms, with the mindsets of the population focused on the opportunities available and the rules and regulations in place under the previous regime (Estrin and Mickiewicz, 2011). This cultural resistance can be slow to change and represents a key challenge to creating a dynamic economy which supports the discovery and exploitation of new ideas.
.The aim of these sessions are to explore the economic geographies of post conflict and new born states. We invite conceptual, methodological and empirical contributions that explore the economies of post conflict spaces and new born states. Papers may relate to but not limited to the following debates:
• Economic policy in post conflict and new born states
• Enterprise in post conflict and new born states
• Aid and intervention in post conflict and new born states
• The role of social entrepreneurship in post conflict and new born states
• Economic reconstruction in post conflict and new born states
Those interested in participating should direct questions and submit an abstract of no more than 250 words to [log in to unmask] and [log in to unmask] 1st October 2016. Selected participants must also formally submit their abstract to the AAG by the October 29th 2016 deadline and share their PIN when registered.
References
Estrin, S. & Mickiewicz T. (2011) Entrepreneurship in transition economies: The role of institutions and generational change. In Minniti, M. (Ed.) The Dynamics of Entrepreneurship (Oxford University Press Oxford)
Estrin, S. & Prevezer, M. (2011) The role of informal institutions in corporate governance: Brazil, Russia, India, and China compared. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 28(1), 41-67
Galbreath, D. J., 2005. Nation-Building and Minority Politics in Post-Socialist States: Interests, Influence and Identities in Estonia and Latvia. Ibidem Verlag. (Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society 8)
Galbreath, D. J., 2009. Putting the colour into revolutions? The OSCE and civil society in the post-soviet region. Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 25 (2&3), 161 - 180.
Hoxha, D. (2009) Barriers to doing business in Kosova: an institutional approach. International Journal on Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 8(2), 186-99.
Welter, F. & Smallbone, D. (2011) Institutional perspectives on entrepreneurial behaviour in challenging environments. Journal of Small Business Management, 49(1), 107-125.
Yannis, A. (2009) The politics and geopolitics of the status of Kosovo: the circle is never round. Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, 9(1/2), 161-170.
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