ECPR General Conference 2014

Sep 3, 2014 | University of Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland

Particular panels of interest include The Political Economy of Large-Scale Land Acquisitions: Water Security and Food Sovereignty: Increasing concerns about scarcity of water resources and arable land have incentivised investor groups from capital-rich, resource-poor countries to engage in large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in resource-rich, capital-poor countries. A web of facilitating factors such as international investment and trade policies, national development strategies of investor and target countries, local traditional governance mechanisms and differential endowments with natural, financial and technological resources enabled such land deals. However, contrary to realizing ‘win-win-potential’, LSLAs have been heavily criticised for exacerbating existing stresses to local water and food systems in target countries. The attempt to devise more inclusive and rights-based governance of LSLAs requires a precise understanding of the nexus between LSLAs, water and food systems with particular attention to the political, cultural and institutional aspects that shape power relations within and across governance levels. However, the exact nature and multi-level interaction of factors that facilitate specific types of LSLAs as well as the exact mechanisms through which LSLAs impact local food and water systems in target countries remain unclear.

The Political Economy of Large-Scale Land Acquisitions: Institutional Diagnostics: In recent years, large-scale land acquisitions (LSLA) have altered land-based property rights in many agricultural systems. Promoters conceive LSLAs as a strategy to alleviate poverty through international transfer of capital and technology, increased agricultural productivity and new agricultural markets. In contrast, critics point to elite capture, loss of local livelihoods and cultural values, increased food insecurity and human rights violations as consequences of LSLAs. The many varieties of the “new rush for land” continue to challenge the development of middle-range theories that would explain divergent trajectories and outcomes of LSLAs. Thus, LSLA research is inconclusive about local, national and international governance options that would secure legitimate use and transactions of agricultural land in specific socio-economic, cultural and biophysical settings. A diagnostic research approach has been suggested as an effective way forward if a research field is in such a condition. A diagnostic method for LSLAs profiles the essential features of specific problems of LSLAs in particular contexts and seeks to devise governance options that match with specific LSLA problems.”

The ECPR's General Conference is its largest event, often bringing together some 2,500 political scientists from throughout the world. Demand has meant that from Glasgow in 2014, the General Conference will be an annual event, with the 2015 Conference taking place in Montreal – the ECPR’s first ever event to be held outside of Europe.

The academic programme takes the traditional format of Sections, organised around a common theme or major research question. Each Section then contains between three and eight Panels, each addressing a specific question. For Glasgow, 66 sections have been accepted, which equates to over 300 Panels. With a truly international attendance expected, which crosses all sub-disciplines of political science and indeed all career stages, presenting a Paper provides the opportunity to benefit from invaluable discussion and debate. Alternatively, participants can simply observe and still take advantage of the full conference experience.

The key to a successful conference is teaming a challenging academic content with a stimulating plenary timetable, which also includes social functions that facilitate effective networking. The General Conference does just this through round tables, a plenary lecture and an interesting social programme. The fact that the General Conference is held in the university buildings of a different city each year, means that participants can truly experience both academic and social life in a different country throughout the event.

The 2014 General Conference will be held at the Main Campus, University of Glasgow, Adam Smith Building, G12 8QQ, Scotland.