The Junior Scholars Blog has now moved to the main ISPP website. You can find us at http://www.ispp.org/jsc/blog/

University of Edinburgh: Chancellor’s Fellowships
http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk/vacancies/index.cfm?fuseaction=vacancies.detail&vacancy_ref=3015150

The University of Edinburgh, a global top 20 University located in one of the world`s fine cities, is making a major investment in the future of its academic staff with the appointment of prestigious tenure-track Fellowships across all disciplines. These 5-year Fellowships are intended to support outstanding candidates at the start of their independent academic career. Up to 100 positions are available.

A Chancellor`s Fellow will already show the ability to conduct world-leading research and exhibit clear potential to become an international leader in their discipline. The Fellow will be able to concentrate on research in the first instance, acquiring the full duties of University Lecturer across the period of the Fellowship. Subject to satisfactory review at the end of 3 years, the Fellow will move to an open contract on the University academic staff.

Appointment will normally be made on the Lecturer scale (£36,862 – £44,016), dependent on experience, and in exceptional circumstances a more senior appointment may be made. Some positions are available with immediate effect and it is expected that successful applicants will be in post from August 2012.

Applications containing a detailed CV and a 1-page outline of a proposed research programme should be made online at http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk to meet one of the closing dates below. General advice may be obtained by emailingchancellorsfellows@ed.ac.uk and specific details may be obtained from the appropriate Head of School.

Salary Scale: £36,862 – £44,016

The School of Social and Political Science has listed the following priority areas, though applications from all areas will be considered if a case can be made:

British and/or Comparative Public Policy
Environmental Policy
Health Policy
International Development (including political economy and economics of Development)
International Relations (development/political economy, especially Latin America or East Asia)
Justice and Human Rights
Sustainable Development (including the developing world)

CALL FOR PAPERS
Second International Sociological Association (ISA) Forum of Sociology, Buenos Aires
August 1-4, 2012

Submissions are invited for the Roundtable “Transcending the national borders: Social forces and socio-political identities in international politics,” organized by the Research Committee on Political Sociology for the 2nd ISA (Int’l Sociological Association) Forum of Sociology, Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 1-4, 2012.

The panel will discuss issues related to social determination of international relations, understood not so much as relations between states but as relations between peoples, identified through their numerous class, group, gender, national and broader societal affiliations. Abstracts of up to 300 words are to submitted online until December 15, 2011 at: http://isaconf.confex.com/isaconf/forum2012/cfp.cgi

Please find the detailed description of the Roundtable 2 under the Session N at: http://www.isa-sociology.org/buenos-aires-2012/rc/rc.php?n=RC18

Mikhail A. Molchanov
Associate Professor
Department of Political Science
St. Thomas University
Canada

7th Annual American Graduate School in Paris (AGS)
Graduate Student Conference
The Roles and Challenges of Diplomacy in the 21st Century: Inclusion and Exclusion in a Globalized World
April 19-20, 2012
Paris, France

Call for Proposals Deadline: January 23, 2012
Final Notice of Acceptance: March 5th, 2012
Final Paper Submission Deadline: April 2nd, 2012

Conference Theme
Since its induction, diplomacy is at the core of international relations and holds primary responsibility for the development and implementation of foreign policy. It is recognized that the work of traditional diplomacy, focused principally on bilateral relations between states and working in conjunction with international and multinational organizations, remains an essential core of state conduct in international relations. However, profound changes in the foreign policy environment after the end of the Cold War and especially in the 21st century have challenged the approach and implementation of conduct in foreign relations. As globalization continues to push governments toward interdependence and cooperation, the field must reassess the application of diplomacy. Central to these shifts are evolving transnational challenges on policy agendas, including but not limited to, changing security paradigms after the attacks of September 11, 2001, environmental issues and natural disasters, popular democratic movements of the Colored Revolutions and the Arab Spring, and the global financial crisis. The increasing significance of non-state actors and organizations in the international system pose a challenge to traditional paradigms of bilateral statecraft. These challenges put into question the conduct of traditional diplomacy and add significant new functions and activities to the diplomat’s portfolio. It is under these tenants that scholars must critically question whether the shifts in systemic order, dynamic new actors and transnational challenges can be addressed by traditional approaches to diplomacy and whether they endorse inclusion or expose exclusionary practices.

Conference Subthemes
In order to promote research and discussion regarding these trends and the challenges or roles of diplomatic approaches in the 21st century, the AGS invites proposals for papers falling into, but not limited to, the following general themes:
§ Polarity and the international systemic: shifting paradigms of power and diplomacy
§ Relevancy of the state in the international system and diplomacy
§ Diplomacy and the emergence of non-state actors in the international system (i.e. role of international and non-governmental organizations, civil society, and the private sector)
§ Diplomacy and the role of democratic transition and regime change
§ Inclusive and exclusive politics of recognition and legitimacy in the international system
§ Projections of state power: hierarchy amongst great powers, the core and the periphery
§ Transversal politics and the reframing of diplomatic perspectives
§ Emergence of non-traditional approaches and sectors: multi-track and public diplomacies
§ Interdependence, diplomacy and the globalized World
§ Transnational global challenges: cooperation or entrenchment (i.e. International terrorism and security, financial crises, resource management, environmental issues and natural disasters)
§ Diplomacy’s role in advocacy of societal challenges in the 21st century (i.e. gender and identity issues, poverty, public health, environmental issues, and migration or immigration)
§ Statecraft in conflict: preventative diplomacy and conflict management§ Media, communications, and their role in diplomacy and dissemination

Submitting an Abstract Proposal
We cordially invite graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral scholars from a wide spectrum of disciplines to submit abstract proposals appropriate to the above themes. The research may be of either a theoretical or empirical nature. While the purview of this conference focuses on the effect of emerging challenges on diplomacy, relevant abstract proposals on work contributing in a broader sense to the debate will be considered. The conference will be held in English. Submitted work should also follow this guideline. Proposals up to 600 words in length should be sent by no later than January 23, 2012 in electronic form to conference@ags.edu. The subject line of the cover email should be entitled “AGS Conference 2012 Abstract Proposal Submission” and your name. Your abstract proposal should include your tentative paper title, research question and a 600 word abstract proposal outlining your topic focus and expected findings. We also request within your abstract proposal to include your name, university or institution of affiliation, degree(s) earned or in process and substantive concentration of your academic work. Notification of acceptance by the conference committee will be made on a rolling basis; however applicants will be notified later than March 5th, 2012. Final papers are to be submitted by April 2, 2012 for review by the committee to be considered for publication.

Registration Fee and Conference Grant
All accepted presenters will be required to pay a 25 euro registration fee. While the expenses in association with participation, including accommodation, transportation, and personal costs are the explicit responsibility of the applicant, AGS will be offering limited financial grants for noteworthy applicants. If you are interested, please note in your submission email, including a brief paragraph describing your financial needs. All applicants noting interest in applying for the grant will be notified at a later date with more details. For any questions on the conference or submission, please contact Ryan Godfrey, Student Conference Coordinator or Dr. Ruchi Anand, Conference Faculty Advisor at conference@ags.edu.For more information about the American Graduate School in Paris, please consult our website at http://www.ags.edu.

The AGS School for International Relations and Diplomacy
The 7th Annual AGS Graduate Student Conference, hosted by the School of International Relations and Diplomacy, will be held on April 19-20, 2012 at the American Graduate School in Paris, located in the sixth arrondissement. AGS is an institution of higher learning offering both Graduate and Doctoral degrees in the fields of International Relations and Diplomacy. For more information please feel free to consult our website at http://www.ags.edu.

The Junior Scholars Committee has just issued its Fall 2011 newsletter. It has a wealth of information for us – please make sure you read it! A copy is attached for your convenience: JSC news fall 2011 final-1

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
14th Jena Workshop on Intergroup Processes, June 28th – July 1st 2012, Germany
“Group and Identity (trans)formation – Analyzing the roots of what WE are”

Group membership is an essential aspect of our identity. Groups provide values, beliefs and norms for our behaviour. They define our place in society and differentiate us from others. While the effects of salient intergroup contexts have been extensively studied, the processes driving the formation of social groups and social identities are yet to be understood. Social categorization into “us” and “them” has long been regarded as the via regia for understanding shared social identities. However, we assume that processes emerging among individuals foster the formation of groups such as common action, mutual knowledge and coordination, and mutual recognition among others.

The aim of the 14th Jena Workshop is to bring together researchers who are interested in research that focuses on processes that help understanding why and how social groups form and transform. The workshop aims to stimulate further theorizing and empirical research in this field. In this context, we would like to discuss several questions, such as how do social groups emerge (e.g., social markers, communication between individuals, opinion-based groups)? Which factors facilitate or hinder group and identity formation (e.g., entitativity, cohesion, mutual recognition)? Which processes explain how people change identities (e.g., intergroup contact, leadership and entrepreneurs of identity)? Do group representations differ as a function of how its social identities form? What positive outcomes does group formation convey? How does group formation work in a global society (e.g., internet-based groups) and how can we stimulate identity formation that tackles societal problems (e.g., climate change) and other applied contexts (e.g., organizational mergers)?

Following the tradition of the Jena Workshops on Intergroup Processes, the format of this medium‐size meeting is single‐session, with a strong focus on intensive discussion of unresolved underlying issues reflected in the schedule. We want to highlight that “work-in-progress” is greatly valued, and preferred to summaries of already published data. The meeting will have about 35 participants. A central aim of this conference is to get together junior and senior researchers. Therefore, we encourage junior researchers to submit presentation proposals. Two participants per paper are welcome (e.g., a PhD student and her/his supervisor). The meeting will take place from June 28th – July 1st 2012 at Schloss Oppurg (Germany), a picturesque historical castle close to Jena and Weimar.

Researchers interested in participation are invited to submit a 200 word summary of their proposed presentation by February 28th, 2012, to Gerhard Reese (gerhard.reese@uni-jena.de). A participation fee will be charged. In the preceding years, this fee was around 90€ for PhD Students, and 180€ for Post-Doc participants, including accommodation and full board. Gerhard Reese and Thomas Kessler (Thomas.kessler@uni-jena.de) are happy to answer any inquiries related to the workshop.

5th Global Conference: Forgiveness
Wednesday 11th July 2012 – Friday 13th July 2012 Mansfield College, Oxford, United Kingdom

Call for Papers:
This inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary conference project seeks to investigate and explore the nature, significance, and practices of forgiveness. Asking for or granting forgiveness can be a routine part of everyday life, but the nature of forgiveness as a personal, cultural, and even international practice can be complex. The acts of stating an apology and asking for forgiveness have also become part of a spectacle: witness moments of national significance to break with past wrongs. Forgiveness raises a variety of questions that touch on a vast array of academic disciplines anthropology, literature, history, philosophy, psychology, political science, etc. In cases of significant transgressions, social tensions, and even international conflicts there are questions of what counts as forgiveness and how it moves from the level of individual to community, national and international relationships. This conference will look at the full range of this complexity. To encourage innovative trans-disciplinary dialogues, we welcome papers from all disciplines, professions and vocations.

Papers, presentations, reports and workshops are invited on issues on or broadly related to any of the following themes:

1. Questions of Definition
~ What is forgiveness?
~ What sorts of behaviour require people to seek forgiveness?
~ Who can grant forgiveness? Can there be meaningful third party forgiveness?
~ Who benefits from forgiveness and how?
~ Can forgiveness be required of someone? Can it ever be wrong to offer forgiveness?
~ Can we forgive an ongoing evil?

2. Psychological Perspectives
~ The emotional effect of victimization and the role forgiveness can play in either exacerbating or mitigating such feelings ~ The nature of self-forgiveness ~ Barriers to people’s ability to forgive transgressors ~ How a willingness (or unwillingness) to forgive can be a measure of self- worth or self-respect ~ Issues related to the psychological burden of not forgiving ~ What happens after the forgiveness is granted?

3. Legal and Political Perspectives
~ Forgiveness for past crimes of individuals ? rehabilitation, second chances, and pardons ~ How forgiveness can play a role in criminal legal proceedings ~ Forgiveness as a part of social reconstruction following civil wars or systematic social injustices ~ How forgiveness can be required or granted in relationships between nations ~ Seeking forgiveness on behalf of others: righting historic wrongs ~ Difficulties connected with political forgiveness: collectiveness, performative meaning of forgiveness declarations, etc.

4. Social, Cultural and Literary Perspectives ~ The role forgiveness plays in different cultures ~ Differences in perceptions of the importance of forgiveness in different societies ~ Forgiveness ceremonies as important cultural practices ~ How questions of forgiveness are used in literature ~ Forgiveness in cinema, film, tv, radio and theatre ~ The role of the arts as catalyst or hindrance for actual cases of forgiveness ~ Forgiveness and the media

5. Religion and Forgiveness
~ Distinctions between secular and religious notions of forgiveness ~ The role of forgiveness in religious practices ~ How religious beliefs can promote forgiveness ~ How religions can be barriers to forgiveness ~ Rituals of forgiveness and their importance

6. Issues, Connections and Relations
– The relationship between forgiveness and restitution
– The relationship between forgiveness and retribution
– The relationship between forgiveness and compassion, mercy or pity
– The relationship between forgiveness and reconciliation
– The relationship between forgiveness and personal growth

Papers on any other topic related to the theme will also be considered.

The Steering Group particularly welcomes the submission of pre-formed panel proposals. Papers will also be considered on any related theme. 300 word abstracts should be submitted by Friday 13th January 2012. If an abstract is accepted for the conference, a full draft paper should be submitted by Friday11th May 2012. Abstracts should be submitted simultaneously to both Organising Chairs; abstracts may be in Word, WordPerfect, or RTF formats with the following information and in this order:

a) author(s), b) affiliation, c) email address, d) title of abstract, e) body of abstract, f) up to 10 key words

E-mails should be entitled: FOR5 Abstract Submission.

Please use plain text (Times Roman 12) and abstain from using footnotes and any special formatting, characters or emphasis (such as bold, italics or underline). Please note that a Book of Abstracts is planned for the end of the year.

All accepted abstracts will be included in this publication. We acknowledge receipt and answer to all paper proposals submitted. If you do not receive a reply from us in a week you should assume we did not receive your proposal; it might be lost in cyberspace! We suggest, then, to look for an alternative electronic route or resend.

Joint Organising Chairs:

Charles W. Nuckolls
Department of Anthropology,
Brigham Young University,
USA
Email: administrator@utahvalleycommons.com

Rob Fisher
Network Founder and Leader
Inter-Disciplinary.Net
Freeland, Oxfordshire,
United Kingdom
Email: for5@inter-disciplinary.net

The conference is part of the Probing the Boundaries programme of research projects. It aims to bring together people from different areas and interests to share ideas and explore various discussions which are innovative and exciting.

All papers accepted for and presented at this conference will be eligible for publication in an ISBN eBook. Selected papers maybe invited for development for publication in a themed hard copy volume(s)

For further details of the project, please visit:
http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/probing-the-boundaries/persons/forgiveness/

For further details of the conference, please visit:
http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/probing-the-
boundaries/persons/forgiveness/call-for-papers/

Please note: Inter-Disciplinary.Net is a not-for-profit network and we are not in a position to be able to assist with conference travel or subsistence.

Graduate students are invited to apply to speak at the 2012 SPSP Political Psychology Preference to be held in conjunction with the annual SPSP meeting in San Diego, California on January 26th.

Two speakers will be selected to present 15-minute talks on work relevant to political psychology that will not be presented at the regular SPSP conference. To apply, please email a 250-word abstract (excluding identifying information) and copy of your CV to politpsych.spsp@gmail.com by November 15th. Applicants will be notified of a decision by December 1st.

More information on the preconference website.

We are eager to share with you information about our Implementation Research Institute, a NIMH training grant that provides fellowships for junior/mid-level investigators who are interested in utilizing implementation science to advance mental health services. We would appreciate your passing the attached announcement to people from your organization/listserve. Below is a brief overview:

* Applications for the 2012-2013 cohort should be submitted electronically between November 01, 2011 and January 21, 2012
* Fellowships will be awarded for 2 years
* Fellows will receive training, mentorship, help preparing proposals, travel to annual NIH conference on dissemination and implementation research, travel to a funded implementation research project, pilot project funding, and access/involvement with implementation research experts.

We are honored and excited to have this opportunity. We believe it will help rapidly increase the expertise in the dissemination and implementation field. Thank you for any help you are able to provide in getting the word out about this opportunity. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us (iri@brownschool.wustl.edu). See more information in the IRI Handout to print – 2011 version 10-26-2011.

The 14th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Justice Research (ISJR) will be held on September 9-12, 2012 at COMAS – The College of Management Academic Studies, Israel’s leading academic college.

The Call for Abstracts for speakers and poster presentations is open until the end of January 2012.

Under its general theme, “Social Justice in a Complex Reality”, the conference seeks to foster discussion and dialogue within the following sub-themes:
1. Inter-generational justice, including young-old conflicts, future generations, sustainability and ecology, and the future workplace; 2. Inequality, including legitimation of (in)equality; and 3. Globalization.

For more information visit the conference website