“Sociology Frontiers at the LSE”
Sociology Department Annual Conference
Cumberland Lodge, 25-27 January 2013
– CALL FOR PAPERS –
We would like to invite all PhD students in the Department of Sociology to use the opportunity to
present their work at the annual sociology conference at Cumberland Lodge. The conference provides a
safe and enjoyable place for students to present their ideas to an audience of their peers and an
opportunity to develop and refresh their thinking through discussions. This year the focus is reflecting
on sociological frontiers and reflecting on the LSE’s own strengths in responding to these challenges.
Over the past two years the Department of Sociology has been restructuring its research clusters,
and this conference will be an exciting opportunity for post-graduates to engage with these new
clusters and reflect on how their own work fits within them. Papers are invited which address the
issues raised in any of the cluster descriptions and which pose challenges to research
There will be two keynote talks, one by Bridget Hutter, Head of Department, on ‘Social Science
Perspectives on Risk Regulation’; and another by Mike Savage, Doctoral Programme Director,
entitled ‘Is the discipline of sociology in crisis?’ There will be sessions for each of the four clusters in
the LSE Department of Sociology. Academic members of the clusters will be in attendance to act as
discussant to student papers.
Economies, Risk and Technology (Proposed discussant: Judy Wajcman)
This cluster develops key areas of sociology in original and critical ways, bringing together cutting
edge sub-disciplines in the sociology of economic life, science, technology and society, the sociology
of money and finance, and risk regulation. Methodological innovation and theoretical advancement
are central to our work in these areas.
Urban Change, Space and Connection: (Discussant: Suzi Hall)
This addresses the scale and dynamism of processes of urban transformation. The research employs
social, spatial and visual approaches to explore and analyse contemporary urban conditions, and to
conceptualise urban futures. We examine the physical and social shaping of environments,
infrastructures, institutions and localities as they emerge in relation to cultural hierarchies, modes of
power and ordering, and forms of inclusion and exclusion.
Human Rights, Violence and Injustice (Discussant: Ayca Cubucku)
This develops a strong intellectual tradition in the department related to political sociology and the
sociology of human rights; Key themes include human rights; violence; injustice and inequality. This
cluster is associated with Centre for Human Rights.
Politics, States and Movements (Proposed discussant: Menali Desai)
This considers the social bases of parties and movements, especially the origins, development and
contemporary fortunes of social democratic parties and labour movements, and different forms of
party and cleavage formation in the democratic world; state transitions and democratisation, especially
transitions from authoritarian rule in the wake of political violence, the colonial and post-colonial
state, and the development of political and economic democracy; political ideologies, especially the
evolution and impact of liberalism and conservatism, neo-liberalism and nationalism in the
developing world, and contemporary developments in major traditions of British political thought.
Presenters: Please submit an abstract of 200-250 words to K.Bellman@lse.ac.uk by the 7th of January
2013, indicating which of these four themes your paper might fit into. If you would like to discuss your
abstract in advance please feel free to email your queries. You will be notified if your submission has
been successful by the 15th of January 2013.
Registration: The cost of the weekend, which is highly subsidized by the Department, is £45 for
bookings made by the 31st of December 2012, and £65 for bookings made on or after the 1st of
January 2013. This includes accommodation, meals and travel by coach. For registration please go to
the eshop website. There will be a small number of bursaries sponsored by Cumberland Lodge and the
Department of Sociology. Application forms can be obtained from the Sociology admin office (S219a).