CALL FOR PARTICIPATION- Contemporary Political Theories and Political Analysis, Oct. 20-22, 2007, Bishkek

Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies

CALL FOR PARTIC.- Contemporary Political Theories, Oct 20-22, 2007, Bishkek

Posted by: Galina Bityukova <gbityukova@bilim.kz>

Central Asian Regional Seminar Contemporary Political Theories and
Political Analysis, October 20-22, 2007, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Corporate Educational Foundation "Bilim-Central Asia"

Central Asian Resource Center

With the Support of Higher Education Support Program and Special and
Extension Projects Office of the Central European University

Invites scholars who are teaching political science and international
relations as well as all interested persons and researchers to take part in

Central Asian Regional Seminar Contemporary Political Theories and
Political Analysis
Location: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, American University in Central Asia
Time: October 20-22, 2007
Participants: 30 university level teaching scholars from Central Asian
states

This workshop aims to examine political theories and their
implications for political analysis and to explore the theoretical
foundations of political science research in the field of
democratization processes and contemporary politics in Central Asia
and post communist states.

Political developments in post-communist states have manifested a wide
spectrum of controversial democratization processes and the
establishment of hybrid regimes in which authoritarian practices
continue to co-exist with formally democratic systems.

Thus, the key challenges facing political regimes in Central Asia are
how to improve the quality of democracy, how to increase democratic
performance and political participation and in more general way - how
to convert formal democracy to the real one. These practical issues require
re-examination of democratic theories and democratization scholarship.
Which theoretical approaches are more relevant and useful to our
understanding of politics, how can we conceptualize the meaning of
political reforms and developments in contemporary societies, and what
theories are more appropriate for political science research in Central Asia?

At the same time, there have been important developments in political
and social sciences that bear directly on the issues and concerns of
democratization and policy research, such as critical theory, social
constructivism, discourse analysis, ethnomethodological inquiry,
interpretive methods, post structuralism, post modernism and feminist theory.

This seminar is organized to provide the opportunity for the exchange
and discussion of ideas relevant to these theoretical concerns and
their methodological implications for democratization and policy
studies. Special attention will be given to political research
techniques and teaching political theories at local universities.

Travel costs, board and lodging are covered for Central Asian
participants. To apply, please send a CV and a letter of interest to
the e-mail or postal address below. All applications should arrive no
later than September 21, 2007.

For inquiries, or application forms, please contact:

Galina Bityukova
Academic Leader in Political Science
Central Asian Resource Centre
Tulebaeva 31, 050004
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Tel/fax: +7-3272-597618
E-mail: carcadmin@bilim.kz, gbityukova@bilim.kz

Contact person: Anton Shaporov, CARC assistant, carcadmin@bilim.kz,
tel.: 7 (3272) 59 76 18

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