Local life worlds are increasingly permeated by global norms and global knowledge, which challenge local institutions and authorities. This is especially true for the so-called non-western states, in which international development programs contribute to spreading and implementing the ideas of „good development“. In particular, this includes introducing human rights standards, anticorruption programs, or ideas of social responsibility. So far research has focused mainly on the horizontal, that is, formal dissemination of norms. Vertical localization of global institutions and their often controversial local understanding as well as the practice of implementing and translating global institutions are less wellresearched. Localization, or embedding of global institutions in the local social environment, brings about a number of challenges, conflicts and obstacles. Some relevant, often discussed examples for this are the introduction of women’s rights, the inclusion of previously marginalized groups, or the creation of new property regulations in the framework of international development projects.
The aim of the conference is to develop key elements of an interdisciplinary theoretical perspective on localization processes and the University of Marburg welcomes proposals for papers from the fields of sociology, political science and law on one side and anthropology on the other side. Contributions should be based on empirical research on various topics from all world regions. The conference will be divided into two distinct parts, a classical scholarly conference with pre-designed panels, presentations and discussions as well as a “non-conference” which lacks a fixed agenda but will be participant driven, i.e. the participants decide on the content and the course of the day. They can address unsettled questions from the previous conference-sessions, but also propose new topics. Any format is permitted. Attendees are encouraged to present or facilitate a session or otherwise contribute to the event. International top-level scholars and experts from the field of development aid shall engage actively with young scholars (both PhD students and postdocs). The organization especially encourages the application and attendance of researchers with practical expertise in the field of development cooperation for contributions to the „non-conference“.
Due to the conference format, the organization invites two different kinds of applications. They invite (1) potential contributors to the classical conference to submit a 400-word abstract, and (2) other interested scholars and experts to submit a CV and a motivation letter of 400 words, which lays out the motivation for participation and possible contributions to the success of the event. All participants are expected to attend both parts of the conference. Click here for more information on application details.
Deadline: 15 February 2015.