June 14th, 2024 – London School of Economics – Sir Arthur Lewis Building – SAL.LG.04
Can Socialism survive without an international(ist) vision? Can such a shared vision even exist? The issue of a distinct left-wing international thought seems relatively overlooked in contemporary academic work and politics, with profound implications for public life. Over the last few years, for example, the European and global Left have dealt with the war in Ukraine and the recrudescence of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without the aid of any shared moral and political horizon.
This conference intends to explore how socialist thinkers and activists approached the concept of internationalism, aimed to develop a distinct international perspective, and apprehend Europe’s position in the world during the 80 years between the Paris Commune and the explosion of the New Left.
The first objective is to increase understanding of the different traditions in leftist politics among civil society organizations and political movements so that they can better tackle issues in international politics. We will bring together scholars, journalists, and politicians to disentangle the complex relationship between history and current affairs. We invite submissions from people inside and outside academia: graduate students and academics in history, government, international relationships, and related disciplines, as well as political activists and commentators.
If you’re interested in submitting a proposal for papers, here are some themes you may want to consider:
– The history of socialist international organizations.
– Socialism, federalism, and nationalism.
– Changing ideas of Europe in the socialist vision.
– Socialist internationalism and questions of colonialism, post-colonialism, and imperialism.
– The transnational dimension of the social question.
– Socialists in government between domestic and international obligations.
– Environmental Justice and Socialist Internationalism.
– Migration, Refugees, and Labor Solidarity.
To apply, please send an email to socialistideasconference@gmail.com with a proposal and an academic CV. The abstract should be no more than 300 words for papers that will be 20 minutes long. Please make sure to submit your abstracts by March 31. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of the month.