Transnational social policies reformist networks

CFP: a conference in Geneva, May 2009

Transnational social policies reformist networks and the International Labour Organization 1900-1980
Prof. Sandrine Kott (Université Genève), Dr Isabelle Moret Lespinet (Université ParisX, IDHE)

15.05.2009-16.05.2009, Genf
Deadline: 30.09.2008

As the International Labour Organization (ILO) celebrates its 90th anniversary, the objective of this conference is to reflect upon the activities of the ILO and those of other international actors who have undertaken to organize and promote global social regulation.

The analytical framework of this conference puts forward three dimensions:

Firstly, the conference will aim at situating the ILO's activities within the longue durée of social reform, and within a changing social context. This broad contextualization should help to better understand the social, political, intellectual and diplomatic logic that was at the root of the ILO's creation, and influenced its activities throughout the 20th century.

Secondly, the conference intends to highlight and explore the diversity of actors involved in reform activities and in social and economic regulation on a global scale. Beyond the institutional actors (governments, unions, employers and workers), special attention should be paid to less visible players: international civil servants, experts and activists from a variety of backgrounds, as well as national or international social and political networks.

Eventually, we would welcome papers which will explicitly focus on the more or less long-term impacts of the expertise and normative elaboration activities of reform associations, INGOs and the ILO - as well as their limitations - by focusing on two angles. They should measure the effects of these transnational norm production processes on debates, legislation and national social realities, as well as the role played by "technical missions" in the exportation of such norms.

Furthermore, papers should examine the makings, circulation and appropriation mechanisms of "universal" references in the treatment of issues such as unemployment, health, women and child labour, social security, etc.

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More information:
[url]http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/termine/id=9537[/url]