Call for papers

University American College Skopje is proud to initiate the fifth annual academic research conference on European integration

EUROPE AFTER THE LISBON TREATY

Skopje, Macedonia

Thursday 20 May 2010

This inter- and multi-disciplinary one-day conference seeks to explore the controversy surrounding the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and its consequences for the future of European integration. The underlying assumption is that the Lisbon Treaty should be an important milestone of the EU institution-building in the years to come. It poses serious questions about the world’s biggest economy and the most successful global paradigm of political integrations thus far.

Is Europe evolving into a federation of states as euro-sceptics persistently claim? What should be the contribution to the future shape of the organization by the various schools of thought and political orientations: so-called federalists, unionists and euro-sceptics, “wideners” and “deepeners”, democrats and conservatives, liberals and greens. Could it become political and economic role-model for other regional organizations throughout the continents? Will Europe assume a bigger role in the world? Or the world affairs are to be decided largely within an emerging axe of power – G2, Washington and Beijing occupying the central spots? What will be the likely consequences of the Charter on Fundamental Rights which has not been accepted by all? The Lisbon Treaty broadens the scope of competencies of the European Parliament - the only EU institution enjoying direct electoral legitimacy. It also improves the EU’s voting system, restructures EU external action services and creates a more permanent presidency of the European Council. The critical challenge now ought to be to make it all work.

As a hosting academic institution we aim to emphasise and explore the contribution that academia can make to catalyse an adequate response to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Major issues to be addressed include:

·    The impact of the Lisbon Treaty upon the procedural side of the European integrations, and upon the very substance of key European policies, as well. What are the real, not only preferred, benefits from the Lisbon Treaty in streamlining common European efforts in key areas – economy, energy stability, human rights, and well-being of the people? What are the strong and weak points of the document, and the dormant loopholes in the ratified solutions?              

·    What are the potentials of the post-Lisbon EU in forging more efficient common response to financial and economic recession of similar proportions as the last one?

·    The Lisbon Treaty has removed formal impediments to enlargement, but can it really consolidate the political will to support this process and avoid enlargement fatigue? What does it foretell about the course that candidate and potential candidate countries could eventually take? The Western Balkans as the last EU integrational dilemma or forerunner for further enlargement? The Republic of Macedonia’s eventual contribution to the multiethnic and multicultural  European code of conduct.

·    Are documents or political rationale of the EU more important pre-requisites for accepting a full membership of Turkey or Ukraine and for establishing a common economic and energy area with the Russian Federation?

·    Is it possible for a multilateral treaty dealing primarily with procedural and normative aspects to alleviate the democratic deficit of European institutions (Commission, Councils, Committees)?

·    Can America and Europe in the multi-polar world become a genuine force for change, or remain an alliance for hegemony, as some would claim? What are the potentials for global cooperation of post–Lisbon Europe and the USA under the Democrats? Are they irreversibly drifting apart or coming together again?

·    Input of common European security and defense policy in balancing the world order and providing stability and prosperity for the European citizens.

·    Doing business in Europe after the Lisbon Treaty. Legal framework for monetary policies, competencies and the status of corporate managers, fiscal adjustments and economic nationalisms as a prevailing long-standing doctrine.

·    International and domestic marketing, regional and across the ocean associations versus or together with the EU (OSCE, NATO, CEFTA, EFTA, NAFTA).

·    Building the pan-European identity after the Lisbon Treaty (constitutional patriotism, effects of educational processes, blending of cultures and architectural styles, multilingual societies and states, European Chapter of Human Rights).

By tradition, key speakers and high level officials from the country and from abroad are invited to address the conference.

The working language of the conference is English. Looking to encourage an informed dialogue, we welcome papers (no less than 3000 words) by scholars and professionals from any discipline including but not limited to international relations, economics, law and political sciences, sociology, philosophy, and cultural studies. PhD students are also encouraged to take part. 300 word abstracts can be submitted by email to conference@uacs.edu.mk. Abstracts should be written in Word or RTF formats, font Times New Roman size 12, following this order: author(s), affiliation, email address, title of abstract, body of abstract, key words.

Due to overwhelming response to previous conferences, this year the number of participants presenting at the main sessions will be limited to those who submit papers of highest quality and relevance. In addition, short poster sessions may be organised for other selected participants. All papers need to be submitted and will be peer-reviewed prior to the conference. Selected papers will be considered for publication as conference proceedings in an ISBN e-book. To avoid copyright infringements, the organizing committee will review and publish original works which are not currently under consideration elsewhere. The papers that are accepted will require a release form in order to be published in the proceedings book. University American College Skopje will cover all costs for editing and publishing. No fees will be granted to the authors.

Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the University American College Skopje on as-needed basis only for a limited number of selected presenters who need to submit a bursary form.

For abstract & paper guidelines, conference programme and other updates please visit our web page: http://www.uacs.edu.mk/conference

Organising Committee:

Dr. Clarisse Molad, UACS Vice Dean, e-mail: molad@uacs.edu.mk

Dr. Stevo Pendarovski, e-mail: pendarovski@uacs.edu.mk

Dr. Ivan Dodovski, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at the UACS e-mail: dodovski@uacs.edu.mk