Call for Papers: Constitutional Responses to the Crisis of Representation and Oligarchic Democracy

The deadline for applications is 1200 noon Central European Time 4 January 2017.

This Call for Papers is issued by the Constitution Building Programme of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), as part of a research project on Constitutional Responses to the Crisis of Representation and  Oligarchic Democracy. The project seeks to examine the problem of ‘oligarchic democracy’ and to consider whether, and how, constitutional design may provide a useful corrective to the oligarchic tendencies in liberal-democracies. 

The expectation is that the papers will inspire a focused debate around the issue of oligarchic democracy and anti-oligarchic  constitution-making. Selected  papers will be synthesized into one report that will be addressed to a mixed audience of academics and reflective practitioners in various fields of constitutional practice,  whether  as  constitutional  lawyers,  politicians,  international  advisors,  or  civil  society  activists working in constitutional reform, public policy or poverty-reduction fields. It is also intended that the best papers will be selected for inclusion in an edited volume or special edition of an academic journal. 

Papers should be written in English. The length of each paper should between 5000 and  8000 words, including all notes and references. Papers are invited in response to any aspect arising from or connected with any of the five  thematic areas outlined  in the attached Framing Document. It is expected that there will be a panel of the workshop discussing each of these five thematic areas. 

Selected applicants will be invited to present their papers at an Authors’ Workshop to be held in The Netherlands during 2017, with a view to eventual publication on the International IDEA Constitution Building website (www.constitutionnet.org). Full costs of Workshop attendance (including travel, transfers, hotel  and  per  diems  will  be  borne  by  the  organisers.  Successful  applicants  on  final  submission  of  an accepted paper will receive an honorarium of €1000. 

This is an interdisciplinary project. Applications are welcome from the fields of political theory, political science, public policy, comparative constitutional law, history, sociology, economics and any other relevant discipline. International IDEA is particularly welcoming of submissions by new scholars, PhD candidates and recent PhD graduates. We encourage innovative research methodologies and are open to considering promising papers based on preliminary findings or on research of speculative nature. 

Please apply by email to Dr Elliot Bulmer, Constitution Building Programme, International Institute for Democracy  and  Electoral  Assistance.  Email:  e.bulmer@idea.int  Informal  enquiries  by  email  are  also invited.  Applications should be made in the form of an abstract setting out the argument of your proposed paper, noting clearly which of the five thematic areas it addresses. The abstract should be written in English and should be between 350 and 500 words. Please also include a short (250-300 word) author biography.