Public Administration Theory Network 2013: Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals: “Governance and the Utopian Imagination” – Public Administration Theory Network
This year's meeting of the Public Administration Theory Network (PAT-Net) seeks to re-engage “the utopian imagination” and invites contributions from across the social sciences, humanities, and fields of professional and community practice that critically explore the intersection of contemporary governance, utopia, and the human impulse to make better worlds.
*About the Public Administration Theory Network*****
The Public Administration Theory Network (PAT-Net) is an international network of professionals concerned with the advancement of public administration theory. The Network was formed in 1978 by a group of scholars who were seeking an alternative venue to develop and talk about public administration theory.
*Administrative Theory & Praxis* is the official peer-reviewed journal of PAT-Net. For more information on PAT-Net and past conferences, and the upcoming conference visit www.patheory.net
*26th Annual Conference
*Pre-Conference Workshop*****
*San Francisco, CA*****
*May 30-31, June 1-2, 2013*****
*Proposal** Deadline: November 15, 2012*****
*Hosted by University of San Francisco + California State University-East Bay
Though the term is most famously associated with Thomas More's *Utopia* (1516), the basic idea of imagining another, better world (*eutopia,* good place) that does not yet exist on Earth (*utopia*, no-place) is one with a long, rich history that touches perhaps all human societies and cultures. However over the course of the twentieth century, in some discourses utopianism and the utopian imagination came to be viewed as dangerous. They became associated not with dreams of a better world but with the most nightmarish, violent aspects of modernity and state-led efforts to make those dreams an actuality. In the wake of the collapse of state socialist projects and the rise in recent decades of what some call “market utopianism,” there has been a resurgence of interest and debate in the social sciences and humanities regarding utopian thought and the practical construction of “real utopias.” These efforts reconsider the role of utopian thought in human life in light of this history and seek workable alternatives to contemporary political, social, and economic governance.****
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This year's meeting of the Public Administration Theory Network (PAT-Net) seeks to re-engage “the utopian imagination” and invites contributions from across the social sciences, humanities, and fields of professional and community practice that critically explore the intersection of contemporary governance, utopia, and the human impulse to make better worlds. We encourage proposals in these four broad topic areas: ****
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*I. Theoretical re-engagements with “utopia” that explore questions, such as:* ****
–Can “utopia” be productively rehabilitated in light of history and critique? Or is it inextricably linked with Western hegemony and violence?**
–How can or should traditions from the Global South, indigenous and native peoples, Asia, and elsewhere inform a re-examination of “Western” theories and experiences of utopianism?****
–What role can or should government and public administration play in today's utopian imaginings? ****
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*II. Historical and/or genealogical analyses that explore utopia's intersection with:* democracy, capitalism, liberalism, dystopia, colonialism, human nature, race, gender, sexuality, (anti-)globalization, innovation.****
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*III. Critical explorations of contemporary sources of “utopian” and “dystopian” narrative and imagery and their relationship to matters of governance, such as:* technology, management, environmentalism, economics, film, literature, philosophy, religion.****
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*IV. Theoretically informed case studies that analyze the practical and institutional possibilities of moving from “utopian imagination” to building and governing “real utopias” and “intentional communities.”*****
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*Program Information*****
Questions about program substance or proposals for panels, papers, and roundtables should be addressed to the Program Committee Chair, Thomas Catlaw, at <patnet2013@gmail.com>.****
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*Proposals for Panels, Roundtables, and Papers*****
Submissions addressing the theme of the conference could be in the form of full or partial panels, roundtables, or papers. All proposals should be sent by *November 15, 2012* to <patnet2013@gmail.com> *.* The Program Committee invites proposals in one of the following formats: ****
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*Panels*****
Proposals should include: ****
– A brief description of the panel and its relation to the conference theme, not to exceed 150 words in length.****
– An abstract of each participant’s proposed paper, not to exceed 150 words in length and including title, participant’s name, organizational
affiliation, and e-mail address.****
– Names, organizational affiliations, and e-mail addresses for the convener and moderator/discussant.****
– In order to ensure time for discussion, the preferred panel includes 3 papers and a discussant or 4 papers and a moderator.****
*Roundtables*****
Proposals should include:****
– A brief description of the roundtable and its relation to the conference theme, not to exceed 150 words in length.****
– Listing of each participant, including participant’s name, organizational affiliation, and e-mail address.****
– Names, organizational affiliations, and e-mail addresses for the conveners and moderators.****
*Individual Papers*****
Proposals should include:****
– Title of paper.****
– Name(s) of author(s), organizational affiliation(s) and e-mail address(es).****
– An abstract not to exceed 150 words in length, which describes the substance of the paper and relation to conference theme.****
All proposals should be sent to *patnet2013@gmail.com*<
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Please note that if the proposal does not include a convener or moderator/discussant the program committee will make assignments as needed. Potential participants with ideas for alternative session formats may contact the program chair to explore them.****
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*Paper Submission and Web-posting*****
Papers should be submitted in PDF format by *May 1, 2013* and authors should indicate whether they wish to have their papers posted to the conference website. All authors should distribute their papers to co-panelists and discussants by *May 1, 2013*.****
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*Publication Opportunities*****
*Administrative Theory & Praxis* (ATP) is the journal of the Public Administration Theory Network. Presenters at the conference are encouraged to submit their papers for publication consideration by ATP. Panelists are encouraged to propose symposia based on the topics of their panels. Those interested should contact the editor, Larry Luton, at lluton@ewu.edu.
The *International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior* (contact: Art Sementelli; email: sementel@fau.edu), and *Public Administration Quarterly* (contact Aaron Wachhaus; email: wachhaus@psu.edu) have also expressed interest in providing publication outlets for conference participants.****
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*Pre-Conference Workshop:Writing and Reviewing for the Profession*****
*Thursday May 30, 2013*****
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This year's pre-conference workshop seeks engagement from current doctoral students and recent PhDs (less than 2 years post-degree) on the topic of scholarly writing and reviewing. The workshop is designed to allow participants to work collaboratively in small groups with established scholars to review, discuss, and critique their draft research manuscripts, *including* papers to be presented at the conference. In doing so, the workshop also aims to provide an opportunity to hone the skills of giving and receiving constructive feedback through the process of peer review.****
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One month prior to the workshop, participants will email their draft manuscripts to the program chair who will distribute the papers to small-group members and established scholars. Participants will be asked to read and prepare written peer reviews on the papers they receive. During the workshop's first session, groups will discuss each paper. The reviews themselves will also be discussed in order to develop capacities for critical and constructive reviewing. In the second session, participants will join each other in a large-group discussion of the workshop experience. ****
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While all participants are not required to submit a manuscript for comments, all will be asked to prepare reviews of manuscripts submitted by their group members prior to the workshop. Interested participants should contact program committee chair, Thomas Catlaw (patnet2013@gmail.com), by *November 15, 2012* to express their interest. When doing so please state whether a paper would be contributed to the workshop and provide a one-page description of the anticipated paper. More details on the workshop agenda and preparation will be provided in the fall. ****
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*Funding for Students*****
Funding assistance will be available to a limited number of students. Additional details will be provided as they are available. To sponsor the conference and make additional scholarships available, contact Thomas Catlaw (patnet2013@gmail.com) or Gleb Nikitenko (nikitenko@usfca.edu). ****
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*Conference Information*****
The pre-conference workshop will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2013. A welcome reception will be held in the evening of May 30. Conference sessions begin Friday, May 31 and end at noon on Sunday, June 2. A special private tour of San Francisco City Hall will be available to conference participants in the afternoon of June 2. Additional information about the hotel, registration, and conference events will be provided as it becomes available. Questions about the hotel, registration, or conference events should be sent to the Site Committee Coordinator, Gleb Nikitenko (nikitenko@usfca.edu).****
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*Conference Program Committee*****
Thomas Catlaw, Chair ****
Jeannine Love****
Kym Thorne****
Craig Wickstrom****
Lisa Zanetti****
Staci Zavattaro****
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*Conference Site Committee*****
Jennifer Eagan, Co-Chair****
Richard Greggory Johnson III, Co-Chair****
Catherine Horiuchi****
Gleb Nikitenko****
*More Information*****
Information on this call, the hotel, registration, and the conference site may be found at www.patheory.net
