Session: "Between idea(l)s and reality: labour as non-state actor in international relations"
In connection with the European Social Science History Conference (ESSHC) on 27 February - 1 March 2008 in Lisbon, Portugal (see: [url]http://www.iisg.nl/esshc/[/url]), we are organising a session on the role of non-Communist labour organisations at the international realm. Labour´s involvement in international relations since the first half of the twentieth century has been interpreted in distinctive ways: some authors emphasise the national-political factors that stimulated labour leaders to participate in global affairs, while others highlight the labour organisations´ economic interests that motivated them to demand to be taken into account by state leaders and diplomats. In this session we attempt to emphasise the role of non-Communist labour organisations as non-state actors in international affairs. By doing so, we treat labour organisations as more or less independent bodies, which attempted, more often than not unsuccessfully, to shape the world according to their own idea(l)s.
Papers on any aspect of the history of labour´s involvement in international affairs, and in particular their role as non-state actors, are welcome. Proposals should include a 250-word abstract of the paper stating the relevance of the topic, the methodology and an abbreviated curriculum vitae of the author(s). Please send the relevant documents by April 1, 2007 via e-mail to:
Magaly Rodríguez García
Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Free University of Brussels
Brussels - Belgium
E-mail: [mailto]mrodrigu@vub.ac.be[/mailto]
Dr. Jasmien Van Daele
International Institute for Labour Studies
ILO Geneva - Switzerland
E-mail: [mailto]Jasmien.Vandaele@ugent.be[/mailto]