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Call for Applications Theme: Political Order and the Ethics of Peace Type: Annual Seminar Institution: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy (RVP) Location: Online Date: 15.8.–16.9.2022 Deadline: 30.5.2022 __________________________________________________ Thematic Description The global political order is today confronted with one of its most serious, and dangerous, crises since 1945. The violation of international norms and the massive scale of suffering and destruction have prompted vigorous and unprecedented forms of cooperation aimed at attaining a peaceful resolution. The outcome of the crisis remains uncertain, however, and it is clear that the terms of the problem need to be confronted and better understood. At issue is the complex relation between the modern state—which remains the supreme form of political organization in virtue of its ability to organize economic production, channel aspirations for self-determination, and wage war on a large scale—and the ongoing historical project of limiting violence and promoting coexistence through transnational norms and structures. Watershed moments in the formation of an international order include the Peace of Münster in 1648, the Vienna Congress in 1815, the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, the foundation of the United Nations in 1945, the proclamation of the Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the Treaty of Rome of 1957, and the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The inter-state system, as developed in the context of both the assertion of state sovereignty and the rise of economic globalization, forced states to face challenges both internally, from their own populations, and externally, in connection with the challenges of international cooperation and competition. The Westphalian model of state sovereignty posited each state’s equal entitlement to rule in its own territories and to enjoy immunity from interference by others. However, the «security dilemma» of the state placed all major states of the world in a process of actual or potential conflict with one other. Over time, efforts to articulate cosmopolitan standards of international law, the rights of peoples, and human rights have placed checks on the capacities of states to exercise violence. However, not even the development of the United Nations system has fundamentally altered the logic and structure of the Westphalian model. Hence, the international community of states continues to face challenges at numerous levels, from the technological to the ecological, the organizational to the juridical, and the cultural to the civilizational. The 2021 international seminar dealt with the ambiguities, the challenges and the virtues of ideas such as the nation, the state, globalization, and governance. On this basis, the upcoming 2022 international seminar will focus on issues associated with the above-mentioned challenges. Specifically, it will study political and global realities from both a theoretical and a practical perspective, exploring inter-state relations, the causes of war, and strategies for peace. Particular attention will be devoted to efforts beginning early in European modernity to develop juridical norms and institutions designed to sustain an international order capable of resisting the conflict of interests among nations-states. Besides analyzing major aspects of the development of world societies, especially in the West, the seminar will make systematic inquiries into the intricate relationships between state and law, justice and sovereignty. The promise of peace ethics will be explored by studying how the concept of order can be applied to the different fields of international relations. Relevant authors from ancient, modern and contemporary times will be studied in order to illuminate different sides of the debate on the seminar thematic. The 2022 international seminar invites scholars across the world to gather in the spirit of a Symphilosophieren of Ancients and Moderns, in an effort to tap into the sapiential resources of humanity across cultures and civilizations so that we can search together for a deeper understanding of the workings of political order, the challenges of governance for the common good, and the prospects for world peace. Methodology This annual seminar will proceed with the following characteristics: 1. A maximum of 15 scholars from different countries around the world will be selected to take part in the seminar. 2. As an interdisciplinary and intercultural initiative, the seminar shall draw not only upon contemporary capabilities of various realms of humanities and social sciences but also from the richness of cultural traditions represented by seminar participants. 3. The duration of the seminar will be 5 weeks (August 15 to September 16, 2022) and participants will be asked to be present for the entire five weeks in order to develop a well-integrated community of research, as participants are encouraged to practice mutual understanding in order to achieve lasting forms of academic friendship and cooperation. 4. Seminar participants will present their well-developed papers in the last week of the seminar. Papers should focus in a rigorous and innovative manner on the theme of the seminar. The final version of the paper must reflect in an adequate manner the readings and discussions to be held during the seminar in order to be considered for publication. Application for Participation Since the pandemic started in early Spring 2020, the current situation is still unclear. After careful deliberation and consideration, the 2022 seminar will be held online. Those who would like to apply for the 2022 seminar should email the required application material by May 30, 2022 to: cua-...@cua.edu Notification of acceptance (or rejection) will be announced on June 10, 2022. Upon confirmation of participation, a preliminary set of readings will be made available for preparation. The seminar will be conducted in English. Those who are interested in participating in the 2022 international seminar should email the following materials (Word and/or PDF format): 1. CV describing the applicant’s education, professional positions and activities; 2. List of applicant’s publications; 3. Statement of interest and motivation to participate in the seminar; 4. Abstract (300-500 words) of the research paper that the applicant intends to present during the seminar and subsequently submit to RVP for publication (a basic bibliography must be included). Website of the seminar: http://www.crvp.org/seminars/2022/2022-Seminar.html __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: https://interphil.polylog.org InterPhil List Archive: https://www.mail-archive.com/interphil@list.polylog.org/ __________________________________________________
