2: Foundations of Political Theory

Leslie Paul Thiele, University of Florida, thiele@ufl.edu

The name of this section, Foundations of Political Theory, might suggest things stable, primary, and well-established, perhaps even essential, unchanging, and monolithic. Nevertheless, over the years contributors of papers and panels have rightly focused as much on innovation in political thought as continuity within the tradition.

This year, the division welcomes a wide range of presentations, including critical assessments of time-honored concepts and theorists. In keeping with the theme of this year's conference, however, we particularly encourage submissions that address the accelerated change and growing complexity of our times. The attention given to the fast-paced movement that characterizes contemporary life is increasingly matched by concerns for "sustainability" in the environmental and social arenas, as the preservation of ecologies, cultures, communities, values, rights, and opportunities gains a heightened importance in the face of rapid transformations and disintegrations at both local and global scales.

We hope to see contributions that illuminate the challenges faced by scholars, citizens, activists, and statespeople navigating the complex interdependencies of these beckoning and threatening personal and political landscapes. As always, we welcome contributions that demonstrate originality in their range of theoretical concerns, comparative assessments, substantive foci, methodological approaches, and presentation formats.