3rd International Conference – Social and Solidarity Economy and the Commons – Decolonizing the Solidarity Economy and Commons: Enacting the “Pluriverse”

3rd International Conference 

Social and Solidarity Economy and the Commons 

Decolonizing the Solidarity Economy and Commons: 

Enacting the “Pluriverse” 

Venue: Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Lisbon, Portugal

Date: 8th-10th November 2023 (Presential)

Organisers: Centre for International Studies (CEI-IUL) – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL) (Portugal); Centre for Social Studies (CES) – University of Coimbra (Portugal); ITES/UFAL -Incubator of Solidarity Economy at the Federal University of Alagoas (Brazil); Institute for Social Justice, York St John University (UK); Institute for Ecological Economics – Vienna University of Economics and Business (Austria)

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

The main theme for the 2023 edition of the international conference “Social and Solidarity Economy and the Commons” is the emergence of a “pluriverse” in the fields of solidarity economy and the commons. This results from the aggregation of diverse epistemologies, narratives, and strategies for social transformation that criticise and deconstruct the downsides of modernity as a social project. For Mignolo and Escobar (2010), these include a “disembeddedness”, resulting from a “marginalization of place (the here and now of social action) in the definition of social life” (p. 36). It also includes a “domination and disenchantment that came about with secularization and the predominance of instrumental reason to the normalization of life and the disciplining of populations” to “the extreme economization and technification of the world” (p. 36-7).

We invite researchers and practitioners to submit proposals for contributions to the conference. We aim to promote interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives at both theoretical, conceptual and methodological levels. Submissions might be based on formal research or on concrete activist, economic or public policy initiatives.

The conference is structured around six thematic fields:

1. Criticisms of modernity, post-material worldviews and their contribution to social movements and initiatives promoting solidarity economy and the commons;
2. Indigenous epistemologies and popular knowledges (epistemologies of traditional peoples and communities);
3. Ongoing tensions between transformation and cooptation in solidarity economy and commons-based initiatives and movements (including cultish or other forms of authoritarian dynamics based on charisma, spiritual/ideological creed or the spread of disinformation, including those of ethnonationalist, backlash social movements, reactionary and anti-democratic movements);
4. Contributions of solidarity economy, commons and community-led initiatives to emancipatory movements, deepening democracy as well as civil society-led strategies of “soft power” in international, regional and local relations;
5. Contributions of knowledge, technologies and organisational forms, developed within solidarity economy, commons and community-led initiatives, to biopolitical forms of social control (i.e. “technologies of the self”), as well as state-led strategies of “soft power” in international, regional and local relations.
6. Structural Inequalities and the challenges faced by minorities and other disadvantaged groups in the pursuit of environmental and social justice through solidarity economy and commons-based initiatives and movements. These include inequalities and challenges enhanced by the “green gentrification” that is often unintentionally caused by the presence of such initiatives, as well as state-led urban and rural planning strategies for sustainability based on commons and commoning.

Attention: For further information on each thematic field, please consult the annexed Conference Proposal.

Session on Research and Methods Design

We strongly encourage the submission of paper proposals by Ph.D. students on the methodological and ethical dimensions of research within these six fields of inquiry, with the purpose of organising a workshop on this topic for early career scholars, which will take place during the conference.

We will post regular updates about the organisation of this conference on the event’s webpage (https://ssecommons.cei.iscte-iul.pt ), as well as send them by e-mail and through the social media accounts of CEI-IUL (Facebook and Twitter). Any questions regarding organisation of the conference or participation can be sent to  ssecommons.cei@iscte-iul.pt.

Proposal Submission Guidelines

We welcome the submission of the following type of proposals:

• paper abstracts (research papers or experience reports by practitioners or activists);
• book presentation proposals on topics relevant to the five thematic fields of the conference.
• session proposals containing the name of presenters, as well as the title and complete abstract of each presentation;

All submitted proposals must have a maximum length of 800 words (including any references) and indicate which thematic field/s of the conference they address, along with five keywords. They can be submitted in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish. However, the language of presentation shall be English. They should include:

In the case of an academic paper or research proposals by Ph.D. students:

1. a) Title;
2. b) Thematic field (one of the five proposed by the conference);
3. c) Extended abstract referring to the theoretical and methodological approach, the main argument, and a brief summary of conclusions/implications for research, activism or policy-making.
4. d) Main references

In the case of an experience report by practitioners or activists:

1. a) Title;
2. b) Thematic field (one of the five proposed by the conference);
3. c) Abstract containing: a short description of the experience; a brief context analysis; innovation in political, environmental or societal terms; main challenges; future trends.
4. d) Main references

In the case of a book presentation proposal:

1. a) Title;
2. b) Thematic field (one of the five proposed by the conference);
3. c) Extended abstract referring to the theoretical and methodological approach, the main argument, and a brief summary of conclusions/implications for research, activism or policy-making.

Session proposals should include:

1. a) Title of the panel;
2. b) Thematic field (one of the five proposed by the conference), along with five keywords;
3. c) A brief (up to 300 words) statement summarising the rationale for the panel.
4. d) Individual abstracts for each presentation (maximum 800 words each), referring to the theoretical and methodological approach, the main argument, a brief summary of conclusions/implications for research, activism or policy-making and main references.

In your proposal, please indicate whether you would like to submit a full paper for online publication, with peer-review and in open-source format, in a website that the conference organisers will create for that purpose. The papers will be published during the first semester of 2024.

Please submit proposals by email to  ssecommons.cei@iscte-iul.pt . 

Important dates 

Deadline for submission of proposals – May 31st 2023

Notification of contributors – June 30th

Deadline for registration (conference presenters) – October 6th

Publication of final program – October 15th

Deadline for registration (non-presenters) – October 25th

Beginning of the conference – November 8th

Submission of full paper for peer review and publication: December 15th

Conference registration

Site: https://ssecommons.cei.iscte-iul.pt/ 

Professors/lecturers, researchers and other professionals – € 175, 00

Students (Proof of enrolment in a higher education program required) – € 75, 00

Registration is FREE for students of ISCTE-IUL, CES-University of Coimbra, UFAL and York St John University.

Steering Committee:

Ana Margarida Esteves (CEI-IUL, ISCTE-IUL)

Leonardo Leal (CEI-IUL; Universidade Federal de Alagoas– UFAL)

Luciane Lucas dos Santos (CES U Coimbra)

Tom Henfrey (Schumacher Institute, UK)

Maria Fernandes-Jesus (York St John University, UK)

Roman Hausmann (Institute for Ecological Economics – Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria)