International Conference at the European Trade Union Institute Brussels, Belgium
February 13 and 14, 2025
With a keynote lecture by Ursula Huws (University of Hertfordshire)
Contact Information
Richard A. Bachmann (North America and Global South Contact): ribachm@umich.ed
Michele Santoro (Europe Contact): santoromichele7047@gmail.com
In recent years, the Big Tech industry has garnered increasing attention as a panacea for societal challenges. Various technological fixes and automation solutions promise to solve the ecological crisis, democratize education and access to information, enhance global connectivity and provide resources and platforms for job creation, economic growth and the development of new industries. Nevertheless, while emphasis has often been placed on the creation of value through innovation in the tech industry, it is equally crucial to address the phenomenon of value extraction–i.e., the exploitation of various labour activities and scarce material resources–to grasp the social, political, economic and environmental implications of automation and technological advances.
We invite scholars from diverse disciplines—including history, philosophy, environmental studies, ecology, sociology, anthropology, economics and related fields—to contribute their insights and expertise. We encourage interdisciplinary perspectives to foster a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationships between technology, capitalism, society, labour and the environment. More specifically, we seek contributions that address the following questions:
- What are the social consequences of job displacement and how does the potential mass automation of labour due to Big Tech innovation contribute to it?
- To what extent does automation impact and exploit the environment and its resources? And what are the hidden labours of environmental exploitation?
- What is the relationship between the social and environmental impacts of automation and technological developments?
- How has automation been implemented, discussed, and resisted in the past, and how do past experiences differ from contemporary ones?
- What is the effect of automation on creating precarious working conditions and labour? How have automation and IT developments shaped capital accumulation?
- What are the impacts of technological innovation on gender relations and norms and labours of care?
Please submit your proposal of no more than 400 words as well as a short bio of no more than 150 words, via the URL above.
For co-authored papers, please identify a first author. If accepted, the first author will be presenting the co-authored paper at the conference.
The submission deadline for proposals is Friday, November 1, 2024.
We will send out acceptance notifications by mid-November. We will prioritize notifying participants who will need a visa to travel to Brussels. Please let us know below if you will need a visa so we can prepare supporting documentation in a timely manner.
We also strive to make limited funds available to accepted participants (first authors) to cover travel and accommodation expenses. Preference will be given to scholars from the Global South. We will be in touch about the details with accepted participants.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Richard A. Bachmann (North America and Global South Contact) at ribachm@umich.edu or Michele Santoro (Europe Contact) at santoromichele7047@gmail.com.