Leadership, Power and Masculinity: from Antiquity to the Contemporary World
Autorité Politique Pouvoir et Masculinité – Web
University of London Institute in Paris, 5th and 6th September 2014
Convenors: Sean Brady (Birkbeck College, University of London), Christopher Fletcher (Université de Paris 1 Sorbonne), Rachel Moss (Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford), Lucy Riall (Birkbeck/European University Institute, Florence).
The historical study of high politics, power, authority and government remains largely, and almost uniquely untouched by questions of masculinities and gender. It is in an effort to challenge this last bastion of ‘gender blindness’ that the University of London Institute in Paris presents its groundbreaking conference ‘Leadership, Power and Masculinity: From Antiquity to the Contemporary World’, and invites scholars interested in exploring new approaches to these fields and/or in applying a gender analysis to the study of high politics, to submit abstracts for consideration as a paper for this event in Paris in September 2014. The conference, along with a related publication, aims to ‘gender’ questions of leadership, power and authority across a long-time span. The hope is to incorporate scholarship from ancient history, medieval history, early modern history, modern and contemporary history, and non-Western history (especially that of geographical regions touched by Western imperialism).
Papers are welcome on all aspects of leadership, power and authority, including areas where government is broadly defined – for example in ancient Rome or the middle ages – and encompasses rule of self and rule of the household, as well as rule of communities and rule of the nation. This conference also aims to focus on leadership and its relation to masculinities in formations as diverse as gangs, illegal militias and secret societies. Such formations are often inimical to legitimate government and prevailing models of masculinity, and they can form powerful counter-hegemonic masculinities, particularly where government and social structures are weak, and represent alternate forms of authority that are particularly attractive to young men.
What can we discover by focusing on ideas and images of masculinity at moments or sites of interaction: of acts of government and negotiation, of authority and powerlessness, of obedience and rebellion? Through its exploration of broad themes such as masculinity and national government, masculinity and local rule, masculinity and intimate authority, this conference seeks to bring scholars of diverse fields and periods together, and to provide a new forum for discussion on ways to ‘gender’ this most traditional of historical subjects.
Timetable
Thank you to those applicants who submitted abstracts by the original ‘soft deadline’ of 30th September. The response thus far has been tremendous. This has allowed us to apply this week (first week in October) for some additional sponsorship for this conference.
Abstracts – final deadline 1st November 2013
Decision to accepted delegates: January 2014
Conference: 5th and 6th September 2014
Draft articles by September 2015
Publication: 2016 or early 2017
Please send your abstract to s.brady@bbk.ac.uk; christopher.fletcher@univ-paris1.fr; rachel.moss@ccc.ox.ac.uk; Lucy.Riall@EUI.eu
Leadership, Power and Masculinity: from Antiquity to the Contemporary World. 