CALL FOR PAPERS
Agency, gender and world economic development
European Social Science History Conference (ESSHC) , Vienna (23-26 April 2014)
Does ‘agency’, the power of individuals to make meaningful decisions about how they live their lives, contribute and result in greater economic development? And is the reverse also true? Do gender inequalities affect this process? Can we find a link between historical developments (e.g. the advent of literacy) and institutions (laws, family systems, political systems) which promoted agency and the actual economic developments in the countries of the world? Nobel Prize laureate Amartya Sen already argued that the ‘freedom’ to realize one’s potential is a major determinant and contributing factor of economic development and well-being. Agency is a multifaceted concept. Its scope incorporates a multitude of domains, extending to the political and economic spheres as well to areas of the household and life cycle. This session tries to incorporate all aspects of human agency and its link to development from a historical perspective.
We invite proposals which deal with the concept of agency throughout history.
Given the crucial role of women in socialization and education of the next generation, this session also intends to look at gender differences in agency and their impact on economic development. The interaction between agency and economic development can be examined at two, interrelated levels: at the micro level of household and family formation (are men and women allowed and able to make their own choices) and at the macro level of the state (are people allowed and able to be involved in the political decision making process?). We hope to contribute significantly to the important debates among social scientist and historians about these links.
Details
Interested applicants are invited to send a proposal of no more than 400 words to the corresponding organizer, Lotte van der Vleuten (at l.vandervleuten [at] let.ru.nl). The deadline for the proposal is May 6th, 2013.
Notification of acceptance will be given no later than May 15th. Accepted abstracts will be sent to the ESSHC organizers along with this session proposal. For any questions or information, please contact l.vandervleuten [at] let.ru.nl. The accepted applicants are required to send the full paper by April 24th, 2014.
This session is made possible by the project: Agency, Gender, and Economic Development in the World Economy, 1850-2000
* http://www.cgeh.nl/agency-project
* http://www.cgeh.nl/sites/default/files/AgencyEfficiencyWorldEconomyv10…
For further information about the European Social Science History Conference please visit: http://esshc.socialhistory.org
[Cross-posted, with thanks, from EH-Net]