The Centre for Social and Political Thought, The Department of Sociology and the The European Journal of Social Theory

presents

Confirmed Keynote Speakers:

Conference theme

The annual conference provides a forum for social and political theorists to meet to discuss topics of importance for an understanding of current times. This year's conference has a specific focus on the future of capitalism and democracy as well as a wider concern with exploring how social and political theory can move beyond the cultural turn. During the 'disciplinary'period of the midtwentieth century, there was a marked separation between social, political and cultural theory. This was followed by a more complex triangular relation in the last part of the century, influenced by the model of Foucault and a politicized cultural studies. Present writing in this area has moved beyond the 'cultural turn,' but not back to the earlier separation. The interpenetration of these domains, both at the level of theory and in political life itself, produces challenges for theory in all these areas. Central to all of this is a sense of the uncertainty about major social and political institutions that the present global economic crisis has heightened and clarified.  

This is the 9th annual conference of the ISTC

Previous ISTC conferences have been hosted in Singapore, Toronto, Tampa, Dubrovnik, Lexington, Kentucky, Knoxville, and Roanoke. In 2001 the annual conference was held in Sussex. Bringing cultural, social, and political theorists of a variety of disciplines and from a broad international background together has been an aim of all of these conferences. Participants have come from such fields as Philosophy, Film Studies, Comparative Literature, English, Geography, German Studies, Economics, Theology, and many other fields.

Deadline for abstracts extended until 1 March 2010.