CALL FOR PAPERS
February, 2018 (final date tbc)
London, UK
Call for Papers:
The New Colonialism: The American Model of Human Rights
Organised by Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), UK (www.ihrc.org.uk)
OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION:
In a heightened era of American Exceptionalism under an overtly chauvinistic President and administration, IHRC is convening a conference to unmask the more systemic problems that undergird US Exceptionalism. In particular this conference will focus on the Americanisation of Human Rights, and the praxis of human rights, arguing that they have become a tool of US led foreign policy rather than a transformative discourse that seeks to liberate individuals, groups and indeed large sections of society who are oppressed by unjust systems.
The conference will be convened in two parts:
(i) The US Model and Praxis of Human Rights
How has advocacy and narrative changed over the last fifty years?
How does it need to change to tackle manifest injustice in the contemporary era?
Issues for possible discussion:
Institutionalisation of American Exceptionalism in International Organisations e.g UN, Security Council, World Bank, IMF, WTO
The War on Terror
The War(s) on Drugs
The roll out of COINTELPRO type measures and its impact on global human rights advocacy
Americo-centrism
The Double Standards of American Exceptionalism and the American Discourse of Human Rights
American Exceptionalism as a Domination Policy of Human Rights
American Globalisation of Human Rights
Americanisation of Human Rights
Americanisation, Power, Hate Policy and Human Rights
(ii) The US as a failed state.
How and what do current modes of human rights narrative and praxis mask internal injustices, indeed the contradiction at the heart of the US State?
Issues for possible discussion:
The Prison Industrial Complex
Guantanamo and the Guantanamisation of the US
Black, Latina, Indigenous and other Narratives of Oppression and Liberation
Call for papers:
We would like abstracts by 15 November. If accepted, we expect the full text by January 15. The word limit is 4,000 – 6,000 words. All successful papers will be published in the proceedings of the conference and / or a subsequent book based on the theme of the conference.
Formatting, style guides and other details will be sent upon receipt of abstracts.
Some successful submitters will be invited to speak at the London conference. If your paper is chosen, your flight and accommodation will be covered, and a per diem provided.
The conference will be held in London, UK. If there are any restrictions on you travelling to the UK, you are unavailable on the dates of the conference, or you will require visa to attend, please indicate this when you submit your abstract.
DATES
- Abstract Submission for the Conference: 15 November 2017
- Official Acceptance Letter: 20 November 2017
- Conference Draft Paper Submission: 31 December 2017
- Final paper submission: 15 January 2018
- The Conference Date: either 10 or 17 February 2018
- Selected Papers for Publication: May 2018
Please submit the following information for abstract submission:
- Author full name;
- Affiliation;
- Email address: a university email address should be provided if relevant;
- Abstract in Word format;
- Title of your paper;
- A short bio, 100 words.
To: ashiya@ihrc.org
ABSTRACT AND PAPER SUBMISSION:
If your abstract is accepted, a draft paper of around 4000–6000 words is due 31 December 2017.
For any questions on the submission process, please email
There is no fee for this conference.
