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Daniel O'Connor, California State University, Long Beach, oconnor@csulb.edu 

“Representation and Renewal,” the 2012 APSA conference themes, are complex but critical issues that are of central concern to the New Political Science Section, founded with a commitment to progressive politics.  As always, the section is interested in research that links theory and practice, advances social justice, and empowers scholars who seek to enrich both communities and classroom experiences.

The section invites papers and panels that:
• Explore social movements seeking to create, expand, contest or defend democracy domestically, comparatively and internationally.

• Analyze the implications of democratic movements and claims for representation taking place throughout the world.  How are these movements succeeding and/or failing in their attempts to remove social, economic and political inequalities?

• Critically assess the efforts at renewal in New Orleans following the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina.  What has happened in policy areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructural development, the environment, etc.?  How do the lenses of race, ethnicity, class, age, sexual orientation, and gender inform us about the recent attempts at renewal in this important American city?

• Investigate how representation is defined and framed by various groups (i.e. racial, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, age, environmental, etc.) in their battle for achieving their goals.

• Deepen the theoretical and philosophic discussion about democracy, representation, justice and equality.

The themes outlined above are only suggestions. The Section welcomes all proposals that address the topic and advance the discourse on representation and renewal.  Although they will receive lower priority, other themes will be considered as well. We encourage perspectives that challenge disciplinary and academic boundaries. The section seeks individual paper proposals, full panels or round table discussions from scholars at different stages of their careers, including graduate students and our junior colleagues, along with activists and practitioners.  If appropriate, please indicate any another suitable APSA division(s) when you submit your proposal so as to maximize your chances for acceptance.