Call for Papers: S17 – Exploring Global South Contributions in International Relations
Fifth Global International Studies Conference
01-03 April 2017
National Taiwan University
‘The first time World International Studies Committee (WISC) has held a conference outside Europe’
In so many ways, the discipline of International Relations (IR) had been shaped based on Western or Global Northern (specifically, the USA, the UK, Germany and France) experiences, schools and traditions of thoughts. Knowledge systems of IR in non-Western societies are seen or devalued as peripheries, metaphysical, mystical or spiritual, merely alternatives, or normatively ‘the Other’. The goal of this section of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PhISO) is to present knowledge productions and systems of IR in the Global South that equally and critically engaging with the West or Global North’s sacred standard of rationality and scientific rigor.
The section aims to serve as critical academic platform of thinking and doing IR differently and beyond the Global North’s IR enterprise on theories, methods, and praxes. It advances cosmologies of diverse ways of contemplating the ‘international’ as form of study, discipline, and reality. It focuses on theoretical, methodological, empirical, practical/policy-oriented research works and studies of IR within the context and perspective of the Global South. We accept proposals that have various methodological social science orientations but limited to specific geographies: Asia (particularly ASEAN, East Asia, and the Middle East), Africa, and Latin America.
PhISO is very keen in developing a ‘Philippine IR’ in the literature. It is PhISO’s humble contribution to the emerging non-Western IR movements such as those of the Chinese IR, Islamic IR (works of the Co-IRIS team), the surgical analyses of ‘Worlding beyond the West’ book series, religion and IR, and post-colonial IR. It aspires to trace the historical development of Philippines’ involvement in the international society, particularly that it is a founding member of ASEAN, member of Non-Aligned Movement and G77, and one of the first Asian countries to nationalized and democratized its governmental institutions. IRA hopes to present locally produced IR knowledge not only in the Philippines but also in countries within the Global South. By creating and introducing a ‘Philippine IR’, it hopes to paved the way for recognizing more subaltern voices, pluralist histories, and multi-cultural experiences in the mainstreams of International Relations. We expect to receive proposals that relates to Philippine IR.
The PhISO section in essence seeks to provide insights and scholarships that are locally produced and developed in Asia, Africa, and Latin America regardless of time or period. It opens up mutual windows of old and new boundaries, spaces and civilizational discourses of ‘holistic IR’ including shared stories, exchanges of cultural nodes, and experiences between and among the worlds of the Chinese, Indian, Asian, European, North & South American, and the Islamicate. For example, introducing IR scholars or theoreticians who lived during the golden age of Islam, or conceptual IR practices that flourished in ancient China and India which are still present today. It may also include studies on statecraft, for example, by Nizam al-Mulk’s Siyasatnama (11th century) and his influence on Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince (15th century). Or comparison of the concept on sovereignty between Christianity and Islam, and how it differs to the modern understating of territorial sovereignty.
The section is also interested in proposals that seeks to:
- present IR pedagogy, its curriculum in the Global South, and how it compares, differs and relates to Global North’s IR overall pedagogy;
- explore publishing experiences and/or difficulties of Global South IR scholars in leading English-IR publishing houses and journals;
- analyze contributions of Post-Colonial IR scholarship in the contemporary period; and
- discuss theorizing efforts of Global South IR scholars in contemplating about the ‘international’.
Proposals for panels, roundtables and papers:
We invite participants to propose papers, panels or roundtables by registering as a user and uploading the respective proposals to the conference registration system accessible here. A panel consists of four or five papers (minimum/maximum), one or two discussants and a chairperson. Linked panels on a common theme can also be proposed and should be marked accordingly. Up to four panels can be linked in this fashion. A roundtable consists of up to 8 participants and a chairperson. Each panel and roundtable lasts for 105 minutes. Paper-givers will have approximately 12 minutes for their presentation, as will the discussant(s). Chairpersons of both panels and roundtables should leave approximately 30 minutes for discussion from the audience.
Papers will be given in English and will have to be uploaded on the conference registration system. Powerpoint presentation is possible. A paper will be allocated by the Programme Committee to an appropriate panel, tabled, or rejected. A tabled paper is an official contribution to the Conference but one that will not be discussed in a panel due to the exigencies of time, space or topic. Panel proposals should include an international element among its participants or the Programme Committee may exercise its prerogative to include such an element. It is expected that paper givers will circulate their papers to all other participants on their panel in a timely fashion.
The Conference is open to all members of any WISC member organization and to others with similar interests in the scholarly and practical aspects of international studies. The Programme Committee reserves the right to refuse permission to participate. Decisions of the Programme Committee are final.
- 01 July 2016: Deadline for submissions of panels, roundtables, and papers
- 01 October 2016: Latest date for communicating acceptance / rejection decisions
- 1-3 April 2017: 5th Global International Studies Conference, Taipei
To apply for the travel grant, please fill out the WISC Travel Grant Application Form. WISC travel grants are intended to supplement other sources of funding for individuals attending a WISC-sponsored event. They are not meant to cover all the expenses involved. Travel grants are only provided to individuals who are presenting research results, normally in the form of an academic paper. They are awarded primarily on the basis of need.
This applies especially to (a) scholars from countries with low salaries and/or low budget institutions; (b) graduate students / PhD candidates; and (c) junior scholars whose institutions may not provide travel support. In general applicants will be preferred when financial assistance will have a positive impact on their ability to attend the academic event. Applicants will be asked to indicate both the estimated total as well as the minimum amount needed to actually attend the respective event.Send your application for travel grant at wisctaiwan@gmail.com.
Please take note that during the submission of your contribution, please tick the following topics:
- Teaching IR in a non-Western context
- The Possibilities of a Global IR
- International Relations in (South) East Asia
- Other
and write in the keywords: PhISO
In addition, please add a remark stating that your contribution is ‘to be included for the section of PhISO‘. Please do not forget to email us at conference@phiso.org that you submitted your abstract*. Thank you.
*200 to 300 words only. An abstract is a brief summary/in-dept analysis that constitutes the issue (research problem), framework (theoretical/conceptual), method(s), and conclusion of your thesis/paper.
Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO) 