[TimorLesteStudies] PIPSA 2016 Call for Papers EXTENDED DEADLINE - Abstracts now due 29 February

[Michael Leach]

Note that PIPSA includes papers on Timor-Leste in their conference program.

From: CAP - Pacific Islands Political Studies Association [mailto:pipsa.ssgm at anu.edu.au]
Sent: Friday, 12 February 2016 11:43 AM
To: CAP - Pacific Islands Political Studies Association
Subject: PIPSA 2016 Call for Papers EXTENDED DEADLINE - Abstracts now due 29 February


Pacific Islands Political Studies Association
PIPSA 2016
Alofi, Niue, 12-15 July

'Political Change in Oceania: Local, National and Regional Challenges'

Call for Papers

The Executive of the Pacific Islands Political Studies Association and the Niue Chapter of PIPSA, in conjunction with the State, Society and Governance in Melanesia (SSGM) program at the Australian National University and the Niue Chapter of PIPSA, is pleased to announce that the PIPSA 2016 conference will be held in Alofi, Niue from 12-15 July 2016.

Call for Papers
Proposals for both individual papers and themed panels in the form of an abstract of up to 300 words on any aspect of the general theme are hereby invited. All abstracts should be submitted to pipsa.ssgm at anu.edu.au<mailto:pipsa.ssgm at anu.edu.au>

Individual papers are also invited for a special panel on 'Pacific Regionalism in the Twenty-First Century' (see below).

All abstracts (including those for the special panel) should be sent to pipsa.ssgm at anu.edu.au<mailto:pipsa.ssgm at anu.edu.au> cc to stephanie.lawson at mq.edu.au<mailto:stephanie.lawson at mq.edu.au> no later than 29 February 2016. Don't forget the cc!


Special Session: Pacific Regionalism in the Twenty-First Century

Convenors: Stephanie Lawson and Steve Ratuva

Regionalism (or regionalization) is one of the most dynamic forces in contemporary global politics, and most states are enmeshed in one or more regional organizations, along with a host of non-state actors. Most activities revolve around economic, developmental and/or security issues and have given rise to both formal and informal institutions to address common problems, challenges, interests, opportunities and aspirations.

While some regional projects, especially economically driven ones, may be relatively open-ended, culturalist approaches emphasize internal cohesion and homogeneity and therefore tend to emphasize issues of identity.  Among Pacific island states this has occurred both at a pan-Pacific and sub-regional level, as manifest in such formulations as the 'Pacific Way' on the one hand, and organizations based on the Melanesia/Polynesia/Micronesia divide on the other. Australia and New Zealand are part of the region geographically but are regarded as 'outsiders' on cultural grounds - New Zealand's substantial indigenous Polynesian population notwithstanding. This, combined with a perception of hegemonic tendencies on the part of Australia in particular, has generated much speculation over their future role in the region. France, too, is under pressure from anti-colonial nationalist/indigenous movements in both French Polynesia and New Caledonia while the US presence continues to generate its own set of challenges, especially in Micronesia.  At the same time, actors such as China and Indonesia continue to make their presence felt at all levels and may well come to have a very substantial impact on future regional dynamics.

All of these issues, and many others beside, have implications for the future of regional relations, regional security, regional architecture and broader interactions in the global sphere of politics and raise many questions for scholars of Pacific island politics. These include, but are not limited to:


*                     What have been the main drivers of regional and subregional organization in the Pacific islands in both the formal state and non-state sectors?

*                     How have the legacies of colonialism and the Cold War influenced processes of regionalization in the contemporary period?

*                     How have pan-Pacific and sub-regional ideologies evolved, what agendas have they served and what are their strengths and their limitations?

*                     To what extent have non-state actors and civil society groups contributed to the dynamics of regional relations and key regional agendas (women's rights, the environment, education, health, etc.) and what is their likely future role?

*                     How have recent trends in media and communications, including social media, contributed to contemporary regional and/or sub-regional dynamics?

*                     How have new actors such as China and Indonesia, among others, impacted on regional politics and what challenges do they pose for Australia's and New Zealand's role in particular.

*                     Is the existing regional architecture fit for purpose in terms of the political, economic and social challenges, including the range of vital human security concerns, facing the island states in the twenty-first century?

Abstracts should be marked 'special session' and submitted to the general PIPSA email address.

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