Call for Papers: The State – Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Political Science, Law, International Relations and Anthropology (in English)

Call for Papers

Statehood and governance have grown increasingly complex in today’s globalized, interconnected world. Traditional definitions of the state—grounded in territorial sovereignty, centralized authority, and national identity—are being reshaped by economic globalization, supranational governance, and shifting local dynamics that better respond to fluid notions of citizenship and statehood. In light of these transformations, we invite submissions for an upcoming special issue dedicated to exploring the state from an interdisciplinary perspective, particularly contributions from political science, law, international relations, and anthropology.

We seek papers that address one or more of the following themes:

1. Theoretical Overviews of the State: Contributions that offer comprehensive reviews or critiques of major theories and conceptualizations of the state. We are especially interested in works that juxtapose classical frameworks with contemporary theoretical advancements, offering insights into how key concepts have evolved in response to the changing nature of state power and sovereignty.
2. Ethnographic and Case-Based Studies: Papers presenting ethnographic research on specific forms or practices of the state in diverse contexts. These studies might explore how state authority is performed and negotiated at local levels, how bureaucratic processes embody state ideologies, or how citizens experience and interact with state institutions in everyday life, and how these dynamics are interpreted from a relational perspective.
3. Contemporary Conceptualizations of the State: Submissions that critically examine the state’s role and definition in today’s complex political landscapes. Topics may include non-territorial state functions, the state’s role within transnational regulatory frameworks, hybrid forms of governance, and cases where state structures diverge from conventional definitions. We are particularly interested in analyses that reflect on the state’s flexibility, resilience, and challenges in adapting to global political and economic pressures.

This special issue aims to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue on the shifting boundaries and meanings of the state, inviting contributions that integrate legal and political science’s institutional analysis, international relations’ focus on sovereignty and global systems, and anthropology’s ethnographic studies on everyday interactions with state power. By bringing together diverse disciplinary lenses, this collection seeks to expand and refine our understanding of the state in both theory and practice.

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts of up to 300 words and a short BIO of up to 30 words including full name, title, and institutional affiliation should be submitted by the 15^th December 2024.

Full papers are due by the 1^st June 2025.

Please submit all materials to livia.holden@univ-paris1.fr with the subject line “State Studies CFP Submission.”

Guest Editor: Livia Holden, CNRS, university Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (ISJPS)

Contact Information: For any questions or further information, please contact livia.holden@univ-paris1.fr.