Religion and Politics

Social Science History Association 2015 Annual Conference
Baltimore, Maryland, November 12-15, 2015

Conference Theme:
“Pluralism and Community: Social Science History Perspectives”

SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 14, 2015

The Religion Network of the Social Science History Association invites proposals for papers, panels, and book sessions for the 40th annual meeting of the Social Science History Association in Baltimore, Maryland, November 12-15, 2014.  We also are looking for volunteers to serve as panel chairs and discussants.
 
The SSHA is the leading interdisciplinary association for historical research in the US, providing a stimulating venue for explorations of how social processes unfold over time. The Religion Network serves as the home within the organization for scholars interested in religious history, religious mobilization, religious change, and religion’s effect on social and political processes. Our network is interdisciplinary and cross-national in scope, and embraces all scholarship that examines how religion intersects with other social processes in historical perspective.
 
We encourage the participation of graduate students and recent PhDs as well as more established scholars from a wide range of disciplines and departments. Graduate students are eligible to apply for financial support to attend the annual meeting (see http://www.ssha.org/grants). Further details about the association, the 2015 annual meeting, and the call for proposals are available on the SSHA website: www.ssha.org.

The deadline for paper and/or panel submissions is February 14th, 2015.

We welcome and encourage papers and panel proposals on a wide array of issues related to the historical study of religion and society. While complete panel proposals (consisting of 4-5 individual papers, a chair, and a discussant) are preferred, we also seek out high-quality individual paper submissions. Panels and papers may address the topics below, or any other relevant and related topic examining religion in a historical context:
 
·         Religious Pluralism and Community
·         Religion, Ethnicity, and Nationalism
·         Empire, Missions, and Global Religious Encounters
·         Religious Minorities and the Public Sphere
·         Religion, Education, and Diversity
·         Secularization and Secularism
·         Religious Identities
·         Religion, Science, and Medicine
·         Religion and Law
·         Religion and Genocide

Please use the SSHA's web conference management system to submit your papers and panel proposals. Paper title, brief abstract, and contact information should be submitted at http://prod.sshaconference.org/people/login. Please do not hesitate to contact the Religion Network representatives with any questions, comments, or for help with submissions.

Thank you, and we look forward to a stimulating set of panels at this year's SSHA meeting.

Ates Altinordu (atesaltinordu@sabanciuniv.edu)
Damon Mayrl (dmayrl@clio.uc3m.es)
Sam Nelson (scnelson0@gmail.com)
Philip Gorski

SSHA Religion Network Representatives

Notice forwarded by the Chair:

SSSR
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
CALL FOR PAPERS
2015 Annual Meeting
October 23-25, 2015
Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Spa, Newport Beach, California
 
Pluralization of Religions, Cultures, and Research Methods in an Era of Globalization

Globalization, the increasingly rapid and extensive processes of movements of people, capital, and culture, is reshaping religion and society. Religious and cultural pluralization confronts individuals, groups, and states with new challenges to maintain boundaries and preserve unity. To address changing contexts, researchers of religion are adopting a variety of new research methods.
 
The theme of the 2015 SSSR conference focuses on these phenomena of pluralization and globalization and welcomes scholars to address contexts in which many “sacred canopies” are now plausible, state control of religion is less feasible, and the transnational ties of religious groups have thickened and extended. In addition, new sources of data have pushed scholars to use new research methods employing spatial techniques, “big data,” or mixed methods.
 
Proposals for panels and papers on any topic in the scientific study of religion are welcome. However, we especially invite proposals that address the pluralization of religion and culture in a period of globalization.

Suggested topics include studies of:

• the impact of globalization and pluralization on religious practices or institutions in North America, Europe, the Mideast, Asia, Latin America, and Africa;
• the impact of local cultural groups or institutions on global religious practices;
• how the state addresses the increasing number of imported and newly-forming religions;
• how states, groups, and individuals have dealt with the rise of new religious practices due to immigration and transnationalism; and
• topics that make use of new types of data and research methods.

All session and paper proposals must be submitted via the on-line submission system of the SSSR’s web site, www.sssrweb.org, which opens February 2, 2015. A session proposal requires: 1) session proposer’s full contact information; 2) a session title; and 3) an abstract of not more than 150 words describing the goal of the session and how the session will contribute to the scientific knowledge of religion. Individual paper proposals require the name(s) of the author(s), first author’s full contact information, an abstract of not more than 150 words that succinctly describes the question(s) motivating the research, the data and methods used, and what the paper expects to contribute to the knowledge or understanding of religion.
 
Newport Beach, California offers the largest recreational harbor on the west coast, with miles of aquatic sports activities, as well as stunning natural parks and coves. The city is also notable for the origin of the 1960s Jesus People Movement and because it was Newport Beach’s St. James Church that generated publicity for joining an African branch of the Anglican Church when the Episcopal Church ordained its first openly gay bishop.
 
Submissions Open: February 2, 2015 (see http://www.sssrweb.org)
Submissions Close: March 31, 2015
Decision Notification: April 30, 2015
 
Please direct questions to: Carsten Vala, Program Chair (cvala@loyola.edu)
Giuseppe Giordan, co-chair for Europe (giuseppe.giordan@unipd.it)
Sung Gun Kim, co-chair for East Asia (sg97kim@gmail.com)
Rachel Rinaldo, co-chair for Islam (rar8y@virginia.edu)
Sinisa Zrinscak, co-chair for Eastern Europe (sinisa.zrinscak@gmail.com)
—
Carsten T. Vala
Associate Professor of Political Science
Loyola University Maryland
4501 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210

410.617.2426
Humanities 250K

魏忠克，博士
马利兰州罗耀拉大学
政治系

Notice from the Chair:

The 10th Annual Patuxent Forum will be held at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, St. Mary’s City, Maryland on April 22, 2015. The Center for the Study of Democracy and The Patuxent Partnership jointly present this forum, which includes a mix of international representatives, policymakers, academics, government officials, and other interested parties.

We are soliciting paper proposals for our 2015 topic: “Religion in Civil Society: Lessons from Policies Past and Present.”  Discussion of these issues is particularly fitting at St. Mary's City, the site of Maryland's first capital, settled by Catholics. Considering this legacy, the forum will contemplate precedents and current policies.

Proposed Conference Topics: 1)   How have past policies shaped religious tensions today in specific nations? 2)   What is the role of religious plurality in modern democracy? 3)   How and when should Western nations (1) engage, and (2) provide humanitarian assistance to religious groups? 

Paper proposals should be emailed to Adrienne Dozier, Program Assistant, Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, at  adozier@smcm.edu, and should include a title, institutional affiliation, and short abstract of no more than 150 words. Proposals are due by February 9, 2015. Travel and lodging accommodations will be provided for panelists.