Hellenic Political Science Association Democracy at a Crossroads: Threats and Challenges at the Dawn of the 21st Century

Dates: 19-25 May, 2008
Proposal Deadline: February 1, 2008
Location: Athens, Greece     
Website: politikinet.gr

All over Europe (and beyond) the meaning and precise empirical referents of ‘democracy’ are once again at the forefront of scholarly debate and controversy. This time, however, not for heralding yet another ‘democratisation wave’, but for reasons uninspiringly prosaic. Although as formal institutional arrangement at the regime level democracy continues to enjoy near-unanimous appeal and endorsement, equally pervasive has been a sense of inefficacy and overall institutional malaise. Reflecting this general despondency scholars such as Peter Mair have recently claimed that what we are presently witnessing is the massive ‘hollowing of western democracy’ —a process involving, among other things, the retreat and internal disarticulation of parties, voter apathy and disengagement from conventional politics, and rampant political cynicism.

Though widely recognised, such problems are seldom dealt with in most conventional accounts, including those undertaken from within a ‘multi-level governance’ perspective —an approach boasting novel and lasting solutions to the dilemmas of European integration. Ironically, nowadays the exact opposite seems to be the case. Especially in the wake of the latest EU enlargement, critics charge that EU governance, far from holding the keys to breaching extant impasses is, indeed, part of the problem: representation and accountability deficits; perpetually uncontrollable and unaccountable institutions; merely cosmetic —virtual—‘processes’ and procedures.

At the same time, precisely because of the pressing nature of the problems, the quest for alternative ‘models of democracy’ is in full sway, both theoretically and practically. If official/institutional democracy is in trouble, what of democracy ‘from below’?

In exploring these issues, the 8th Conference of the Hellenic Political Science Association seeks to enhance our collective understanding of both the threats and challenges facing democracy at the dawn of the 21st century. The conference comprises three basic themes:

I. Democratic theory, crisis, alternatives

The first theme is about theoretical issues, both classical and modern:

How does theory address contemporary democratic deficits? What exactly is the promise of ‘radical democracy’ in its multiple forms and projected manifestations (e.g., direct, participatory, deliberative, consensual etc), and in what ways does it differ from more conventional varieties (liberal, electoral, representative, etc)? Are these genuine differences or are we merely witnessing facile (and often vague) rhetorics? What is the precise nature of the quest for a ‘better democracy’?

II. Democracy as extant institutional arrangement: malfunctioning, challenges

The second thematic focus is on institutional performance in a comparative perspective.

What is distinctive about contemporary democratic procedure, and how are we to evaluate institutional efficacy and effectiveness? Is democracy influenced by waning territoriality in the decision-making process and how? Is it threatened by the decline of the welfare state, widespread corruption, and the emergence of anti-political attitudes and practices (far-right populism, religious fundamentalism, terrorism)? What is the role of special population categories, such as gendered subjects and immigrants?  What difference, if any, do distinct systems of representation (pluralism, resilient corporatism, &c.) make, and how is the overall political environment influenced/shaped by mass-media gigantism? What is the meaning of ‘democratic quality’ in the early 21st century, and how best to organise the discussion about it?

Seeking answers to the questions of this section, the conveners primarily invite theoretically informed empirical papers. In this context we look forward to having a panel with colleagues from the ‘new democracies’ of Eastern Europe, including the Balkans.

III. Democracy within Society: Problems and Challenges

Democracy, however, does not exist —when and where it exists— solely at the regime level. Democracies function (or are being sought after) also within society —amongst citizen groups and voluntary associations. The conference’s third thematic section aspires to highlight democratic projects (and problems) within a wide variety of such organisations —political parties, trade unions, social movements and NGOs.

40 years after the May 1968 contentious cycle democracy within civil society continues to constitute an extremely complex and variegated research area, highlighting both the general problems the conference is concerned with (e.g., the organisational opaqueness of ‘cartel partiers’) as well as the solutions being tried out (e.g., experimenting with deliberation and non-hierarchical networks). How is one to approach issues pertaining to representation, participation, and accountability, and what is the relationship between collection action and democratisation?

The Organising Committee invites papers and/or panel proposals in any one of the 3 thematic foci (theory, institutions, society), but also at their intersection (e.g., re: the ways in which contemporary collective action influences the functioning of the political system). As the Hellenic Political Science Association is keen in helping develop theory in social & political science, comparative proposals are particularly welcome.

The Conference will take place in Athens, Greece, during the 2nd fortnight of May 2008 (the week of 19-25 May). The deadline for submitting a title and abstract (of up to 400 words) is 1 February 2008.  For submission details, see the website listed above.  All proposals will undergo blind peer review under the auspices of the Organisation Committee.