CfA: International Symposium on Democratization & Conflict Studies
29-30 August, 2016, Tbilisi, Georgia
Organized by the Centre for Social Studies with support of Georgian American University
Description
In the second half of 20th century, transitions from authoritarian rule and establishing democratic regimes has gained critical importance for the study of politics in southern and east-central Europe and in Latin America and have also attracted growing interest in sub-Saharan Africa, in various parts of Asia and in all ex-communist countries (Whitehead, 1998). We have witnessed enormous political and social changes in post-totalitarian life of Spain, Portugal and Greece after the historic breakdown of totalitarian military and political elites in 1970s which ended up with successful process of democratic transition. However, many countries from third wave of democratization and particularly countries of ex-communist bloc suffer serious difficulties and troubled challenges in the process of democratic transformation. Certainly, many countries of post-socialist Europe maintained the process of democratization as successful story but we also see recent democratic backlashes in Poland and Hungary which apparently makes success story kind of unfinished. Also, solid part of post-soviet countries are on controversial way of democratization affected by many factors including hybrid, authoritarian or semi-authoritarian regimes, political violence, religious extremism, ethnic and territorial conflicts and etc.
Aims of Symposium
Symposium aims to bring together in Tbilisi academics, activists and professionals interested in studying the state of democracy and conflicts across the globe. Symposium aims to discuss the topics related with development, conflict resolution process, modernization, peace building and reconciliations process, and many other topics that are essential of today’s democratic transformation. With this symposium we aim to establish close contacts and cooperation among the scholars and professionals worldwide.
Topics of Symposium
The scholars, practitioners and professionals are invited to submit their papers on following topics:
- Democratization as a discipline of political science: theories and problems
- Regime changes in contemporary world
- Citizens, institutions and values in today’s democratic and undemocratic societies
- Problems and various forms of inequalities in West and in rest
- Democracy protests in today’s world
- External factors of democratization in post-totalitarian realm
- Ethnic, religious and territorial conflicts: their social consequences and implications on democracy
- Nationalism, political violence and populism in post-socialist Europe
- Culture and religion as failure or success for democracy
Proposals for panels (3×20 minutes) are also welcome, as are proposals for the papers that draw attention to recently published work which relates directly to areas of conference themes
Eligibility
The conference is open to the academics, practitioners and professionals working in the field of democratization, democracy promotion, conflict resolution and peace building process
Costs
Conference participation fee is 100 EUR and it includes:
- Allacademics and educational materials
- Refreshments during the conference
- City tour in Tbilisi
Additionally, participants will be proposed with list of the hotels which provide discounts for conference participants
Application
For participation in conference please submit your CV and Abstract (200-250words) until 30thof June 2016 to the following e-mail address: conference.uni@gmail.com
Applicants will be notified about the selection results by 10th of July, 2016
Time & Venue
29-30August, 2016
Georgian American University
8 MerabAleksidze Street, 0160, Tbilisi Georgia
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Marina Muskhelishvili – Professor of Political Science, Director of the Centre for Social Studies
Prof. GiaJorjoliani – Professor of Political Science, Tbilisi State University. Member of the Parliament of Georgia
Prof. Zaza Rukhadze – Professor of Law, Dean of the School of Law, Social Sciences and Diplomacy at Georgia American University
Working Language of Conference
English
Contact Person
Bakar Berekashvili
Lecturer in Political Science
Georgian American University