Call for papers

Labor and the Public Sphere

Special issue of Labor Studies Journal

in coordination with the 2012 United Association for Labor Education conference

The Labor Studies Journal invites paper proposals on the theme of labor and the public sphere.

Recent attacks on public sector unions and collective bargaining rights have ignited a firestorm of debate and resistance, while forcing to the surface fundamental questions about the labor movement’s relationship not only to public sector workers, but to public policy and institutions, public debate, the macro-economy, and democracy itself. “Austerity” agendas continue to explicitly couple attacks on labor rights (in the public and private sectors) with attacks on public education, public services, and government. At the same time, recent worker-led resistance to repressive regimes abroad has illustrated the deep relationships between labor movements and the creation of new public spheres and democratic structures.

In the context of these ongoing domestic and international struggles, we welcome papers addressing topics including but not limited to the following:

·         The role of public sector unions in the political economy

·         Public sector unions and public sector collective bargaining

·         Responses to attacks on public sector workers, unions, or labor rights

·         Unions and public life, public action, public discourse, or public institutions

·         Unions and democracy, worker political organizing, civic engagement, or voter participation

·         Labor and public education

·         Labor and “austerity”: privatization, tax cuts, “structural adjustment,” erosion of public institutions and services, etc.

·         The workplace in relation to public space: How can organizing at work relate to the transformation of democratic practices and public activism (or vice versa)?

·         International comparisons or case studies

Papers submitted will be considered for presentation at the United Association for Labor Education Conference to be held in Pittsburgh, PA, March 21-25, 2012. Papers accepted and presented at the conference will then be eligible to undergo the peer review process for possible publication in a special conference issue of Labor Studies Journal.

Please send electronic copies of 3-5 pp. manuscript proposals by December 5, 2011 to the guest editors listed below. Full-length manuscripts are expected by the time of the conference in March. Manuscripts will be peer reviewed following the conference.

Katherine Sciacchitano
National Labor College
ksciacchitano@nlc.org

Jennifer Sherer
University of Iowa
jennifer-sherer@uiowa.edu

 

THE RUTGERS JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY: Emerging Areas in Sociological Inquiry CALL FOR PAPERS, 2011
The Rutgers Journal of Sociology: Emerging Areas in Sociological Inquiry provides a forum for graduate students and junior scholars to present well-researched and theoretically compelling review articles on an annual topic in sociology. Each volume features comprehensive commentary on emerging areas of sociological interest. These are critical evaluations of current research synthesized into cohesive articles about the state of the art in the discipline. Works that highlight the cutting-edge of the field, in terms of theoretical, methodological, or topical areas, are privileged.


RJS invites submissions for its second annual edition, which will focus on Knowledge in Contention.  

                                    
*Papers and abstracts must be submitted by October 15, 2011.


Some overarching questions you might consider are:
·         How do controversies surrounding knowledge claims emerge, escalate, and achieve closure?
·         How is expertise acquired and established, and what are the tensions between credentialed and/or lay perspectives?
·         How do contentious debates affect the generation of knowledge, and how are such debates resolved, mediated, institutionalized, or suppressed?
·         What role does power play in the ability to create legitimate bodies of knowledge, resolve conflicts, and win battles between contentious perspectives?
·     Are there certain social structures, conditions, practices, organizations, individual actors, or environments that are more likely to generate contention over the form and substance of knowledge?

Areas we are especially interested in include:
*Ways of knowing *Knowledge Production *Deliberation, decision-making, and uncertainty management *Boundary work *Professional debates and credibility contests *Contentious discourse and narratives *Biomedical ethics *Tension between social and biological perspectives *Science and religion in debate *Claims-making in social movements *Community disputes over knowledge and values *State legitimation of knowledge claims *Transnational knowledge flows *Inequality and resistance in knowledge production *Diffusion of ideas and innovation *Institutional supports and impediments to knowledge production *Technological advancement and the meaning of progress *Epistemological disputes in the social and natural sciences *The challenges of mixed methodologies *Objectivity versus activism in research
 
Guidelines: We accept original reviews of relevant research, but we do not accept empirical research papers. Reviews must not be under review or elsewhere published at the time of submission and should be no more than 10,000 words, including references, notes, tables, figures, acknowledgements and all cover pages. The first page should contain a title, author’s affiliation, a running head and approximate word count. The second page should contain the title, an abstract of no more than 250 words and should not contain the names of the authors. Papers should be double-spaced, using Times New Roman font size 12, with 1.25” margins on all sides. All references should be in ASA style (see ASA guidelines). All documents should be submitted as email attachments to RJS@sociology.rutgers.edu and must be MICROSOFT WORD DOCUMENTS.  For further submission guidelines, see our guide for contributors at http://sociology.rutgers.edu/RJS.html.

--
MANAGING EDITOR:
Lauren Murphy                  
Department of Sociology
Rutgers University

EDITORS:
Kathryn Burrows, kburrows@sociology.rutgers.edu
Jorie Hofstra, jhofstra@sociology.rutgers.edu

The Rutgers Journal of Sociology: Emerging Areas in Sociological Inquiry provides a forum for graduate students and junior faculty to present well-researched and theoretically compelling review articles on an annual topic in sociology. Each volume features comprehensive commentary on emerging areas of sociological interest. These are critical evaluations of current research synthesized into cohesive articles about the state of the art in the discipline. Works that highlight the cutting edge of the field, either in terms of theoretical, methodological, or topical areas, are privileged. See http://sociology.rutgers.edu/rjs.html.

Please note that this job is anticipated to begin December 1, 2011 or soon thereafter.

Job Announcement

Associate Research Director

Florida International University, Miami.

The Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy (RISEP), the research arm of the Center for Labor Research and Studies invites applications for a non-tenure-track research faculty position to be appointed Fall 2011. We are searching broadly for candidates to fill the position of associate research director with expertise in labor movements, the sociology of work, and cognate fields. Possible areas of focus might include: immigration, political economy, public policy, labor history and law, organizing and collective bargaining. The ideal candidate would be trained in multiple social science research methodologies, have excellent writing skills, and grant proposal development and writing experience,  as well as experience with one or more of RISEP’s research foci.  RISEP’s areas of research focus are: 1. Workers Rights and Economic Justice; 2. Civic Engagement, Human Rights and Social Movements; and 3. Equitable Urban Development. The Labor Center offers a full curriculum  in Labor Studies and the successful candidate will make teaching contributions to that curriculum, offering one or two courses on topics such as Labor and the U. S. Economy, Organizing, Labor and Globalization, Labor History, Labor Law, and/or Collective Bargaining. RISEP has a strong commitment to applied research in collaboration with progressive community based organizations and grant development, teaching and undergraduate intern mentoring. Research is geared toward partnering with the campaigns, movements and strategies to improve the conditions of Florida’s working men and women, their families and communities.

Applicants should have firm expectations of a completed Ph.D. in Sociology or another appropriate social science by January 2012 and be eager to join a highly committed, lively and hard-working staff of applied social science researchers.  Applications received before October 30 will receive full consideration. The starting date for this position is December 1, 2011 or soon thereafter. Applications should include a CV, letter of application, publications or samples of written work. If the candidate is invited to interview, three letters of reference will also be required. Electronic applications are strongly preferred and can be sent  to Carol Dutton Stepick at Stepick@fiu.edu or paper copies may be mailed to her at  RISEP; Center for Labor Research and Studies; Florida International University; Miami, Florida 33199.  The successful candidate will be subject to a background check, including a criminal history check. Florida International University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages minorities and women to apply. This position is eligible to join the faculty union and receive all benefits available to in unit faculty.

Assistant Professor of Sociology
08-06-2011 Final

The University of Missouri-Kansas City seeks an assistant professor of sociology to start Fall Semester 2012.  The ideal applicant will have training in qualitative methodology; research area is open.  The Sociology Department has undergraduate and master's programs in sociology as well as a growing undergraduate anthropology minor; opportunities exist to participate in the university-wide Interdisciplinary PhD Program as well.  This position will teach core sociology courses including the undergraduate capstone course and graduate qualitative methods, advise students at all levels, and serve the mission of the University.

Required Qualifications: A Ph.D. in sociology with expertise in qualitative methodology; demonstrated teaching excellence and evidence of or potential for research productivity. Preferred: Interest in implementing “high impact” student learning experiences such as undergraduate research opportunities, internships, and/or service learning; experience in assessment of student learning; and demonstrated grant funding success.

Direct questions about this position to the chair of the search committee, Deborah B. Smith, Search Chair, smithde@umkc.edu
UMKC (www.umkc.edu) engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. The University of Missouri-Kansas City recognizes that a diverse faculty, staff and student body enriches the educational experiences of the entire campus and greater community. To this end, UMKC is committed to recruiting and retaining faculty, students and staff who will further enrich our campus diversity and making every attempt to support their academic, professional and personal success.  UMKC is an equal access, Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is fully committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff.  Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must state their current visa and residency status.  

Application Deadline: Wednesday October 5, 2011. Apply online: http://www.umkc.edu/hr/career-opportunities/job-posting-search-academic.aspx.  Please combine all materials (CV, cover letter, statement of teaching philosophy, two publications, and contact information for three references) into one document and upload as your resume attachment (11MB maximum). Limit document name to 50 characters.

Assistant Professor of Sociology
7-07-2011 Final

The University of Missouri-Kansas City seeks an assistant professor of sociology to start Fall Semester 2012. The ideal applicant will have training in demography with specialization in urban or aging/gender/life course studies but we invite applications from demography scholars in all subjects. The Sociology Department has undergraduate and master's programs in sociology as well as a growing undergraduate anthropology minor; opportunities exist to participate in the university-wide Interdisciplinary PhD Program as well. This position will teach core sociology courses including the undergraduate capstone course and both undergraduate and graduate statistics, advise students at all levels, and serve the mission of the University.

Required Qualifications: A Ph.D. in sociology with expertise in demography; demonstrated teaching excellence and evidence of or potential for research productivity. Preferred: Interest in implementing “high impact” student learning experiences such as undergraduate research opportunities, internships, and/or service learning; experience in assessment of student learning; and demonstrated grant funding success.

Direct questions about this position to the chair of the search committee, Deborah B. Smith, Search Chair, smithde@umkc.edu

UMKC (www.umkc.edu) engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life
and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and
campus life experience. The University of Missouri-Kansas City recognizes that a diverse faculty, staff
and student body enriches the educational experiences of the entire campus and greater community.
To this end, UMKC is committed to recruiting and retaining faculty, students and staff who will further
enrich our campus diversity and making every attempt to support their academic, professional and
personal success. UMKC is an equal access, Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is fully
committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must state their
current visa and residency status.

Application Deadline: Tuesday September 27, 2011. Apply online: http://www.umkc.edu/hr/career-
opportunities/job-posting-search-academic.aspx. Please combine all materials (CV, cover letter,
statement of teaching philosophy, two publications, and contact information for three references) into
one document and upload as your resume attachment (11MB maximum). Limit document name to 50
characters.

The Department of International Relations at Boston University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level, beginning in September 2012 and subject to final budgetary approval.

Area of specialization: International Relations of Latin America. Applicants should have a research specialization in contemporary Latin America, with a focus on either (a) foreign policy and U.S.-Latin American relations, or (b) issues of transnational relevance such as economic development, migration, crime, and civil society. We welcome applications from all relevant disciplines, including political science, sociology, history, and international affairs. Position requires commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching, as well as research. Publications and teaching experience required. Ph.D. must be completed by the time of appointment. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Please submit curriculum vitae, graduate transcripts, samples of written work, and three current letters of recommendation to: Chair, Latin America Search Committee, Department of International Relations, Boston University, 152 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215. Applications must be received no later than October 1, 2011. The Department of International Relations is committed to multidisciplinary, policy-relevant research and teaching.

Boston University is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity employer.

The College of Arts and Sciences of the University of La Verne invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The appointment will begin August 2012. Areas of expertise are open, but preference will be given to strong candidates whose teaching and research interests complement existing areas of sociological expertise in the department and who are able to teach core courses such as introductory sociology, statistics, research methods, and senior thesis.

Responsibilities include teaching six four-unit classes per year, advising and mentoring undergraduate students, maintaining an independent research program, and appropriate committee work. Successful candidates must possess a Ph.D. in sociology at the time of appointment and demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to excellent undergraduate teaching and research.

The University of La Verne is an accredited private institution of higher education located in one of the most intellectually and culturally vibrant and diverse areas in the United States. As a place to live and to do research, few places can match Southern California. ULV is a Hispanic Serving Institution where over sixty per cent of the students are Latina/o, African American, Asian American, or Native American. Many of the institution’s students are first-generation college attendees, and professors are personally engaged and committed to helping all students to achieve their academic and professional goals.

Salary will be commensurate with experience and internal departmental equity. Benefits of employment include a comprehensive health and wellness plan, tuition remission program for employee, spouse, and dependent children, and a generous 10% contribution to the University’s 403B retirement plan. La Verne is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to academic excellence and diversity. Women and minorities are highly encouraged to apply.

Review of applications will begin November 1, 2011. Applicants must submit their curriculum vitae and a cover letter that includes a brief statements of the her/his teaching philosophy and research agenda, teaching competency and interests, and the names and affiliations of three references in Word or PDF format to jobs@laverne.edu or Human Resources, University of La Verne, 1950 Third Street, La Verne CA 91750. Reference position #3119.

Call for papers
New Voices in Labour Studies: Looking back/moving forward: Challenges for labour organizing in an era of global austerity and economic crisis
March 2-3, 2012

Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal, Québec

Workers at home and around the world are being saddled with the burden of saving capitalism in the context of the current global economic crisis through sweeping austerity measures and further attacks on trade unions and working people. More and more people are forced to contend with precarious working conditions, not least migrant workers and new immigrants who face multiple forms of economic, political and social exclusion in labour-receiving states such as Canada.

But from within their workplaces, trade unions, communities and as part of larger social movements, workers are fighting back. We invite paper proposals that critically theorize the politics of the current challenges for labour organizing, trade unionism and other forms of collective action undertaken to fight for workplace justice and broader forms of social change. We also invite paper proposals that place these processes in historical perspective, using history to shed light on contemporary problems.
Potential topics might include:

• The organization of migrant workers
• Workers in the labour movement
• Job insecurity and its impact on trade unionism
• The challenges of neoliberal globalization for workers and their organizations
• Resistance to austerity policies
• The challenges of organizing in the service sector
• Threats to the traditional strongholds of organized labour (public sector, manufacturing)
• Alliances between the labour movement and other social movements
• Rebuilding the struggle against capital

This list is by no means exhaustive and all proposals which fit within the overall theme of the conference are encouraged.

The conference is designed to provide a critical interdisciplinary venue for “new voices in labour studies”. Preference will be given to senior Ph.D. students and scholars who completed their Ph.D. in the last six years, as well as labour organizers and researchers from outside of the academy. Co-authored papers by academic researchers and labour activists are encouraged. Current and recent graduates will have the opportunity to meet emerging voices in the field and interact with more senior scholars as well as labour organizers and union activists.
The conference will take place at L'Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montréal on March 2-3, 2012. Presentations can be made in French or English. The two-day event will include thematic panels, and an informal evening social event to be held at Montreal’s Immigrant Workers Centre.
Proposal Submission: November 30, 2011
• Title of paper and a 100-150 word outline of the paper to be presented
• List of degrees, including discipline and starting with the most recent (maximum four lines)
• List of positions, starting with the most recent (maximum ten lines)
• Publications, starting with the most recent (maximum ten lines)


Conference website:   
    (EN): newvoicesinlabour.mcgill.ca
    (FR): travailetsyndicalisme.mcgill.ca

Please send your proposal and supporting information to newvoiceslabour2012@gmail.com<mailto:newvoiceslabour2012@gmail.com>.
Submitters will be notified on the status of their proposal by mid-January 2012.
For more information, please contact:
Thomas Collombat (tcollombat@gmail.com<mailto:tcollombat@gmail.com>)
or
Aziz Choudry (aziz.choudry@mcgill.ca<mailto:aziz.choudry@mcgill.ca>)

Conference Organizers:
Aziz Choudry (McGill), Thomas Collombat (UQAM), Léa L. Fontaine (UQAM), Steve Jordan (McGill), Jean-François Mayer (Concordia), Yanick Noiseux (Université de Montréal), Eric Shragge (Concordia), Sid Ahmed Soussi (UQAM).

Wesleyan University.
The Department of Sociology invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level, beginning July 1, 2012. We seek candidates with research and teaching expertise in the fields of either economic sociology or criminology/incarceration/law & society. While we are open to a variety of approaches, we especially encourage applications from candidates who use quantitative methods. Applicants should have a Ph.D. and demonstrated excellence in teaching
and research. Wesleyan is a highly selective liberal arts college with strong support for teaching and
research; the teaching load is two courses per semester, and Introductory Sociology must be one of the
four courses taught each year. Application materials should be sent as PDF email attachments to: https://careers.wesleyan.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51455.

Include cover letter, curriculum vitae,
three letters of reference, writing sample, statement of current research, and documentation of teaching
experience, including course syllabi and student evaluations (if available). Applications received after
September 30, 2011 may not be given full consideration. Wesleyan is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups.

Purpose
The Law and Society Association, in collaboration with the American Bar Foundation and the National Science Foundation, seeks applications for the Law and Social Science Dissertation Fellowship and Mentoring Program (LSS Fellowship).

Awards
Fellowships are held in residence at the American Bar Foundation in Chicago, IL, where Fellows are expected to participate in the intellectual life of the ABF, including participation in a weekly seminar series. LSS Fellows will receive a stipend of $27,000 per year beginning fall 2012. Fellows will attend LSA annual meetings in both years of the fellowship and the Graduate Student Workshop in the first year of the fellowship. Fellows will receive up to $1,500 for research and travel expenses each year. Relocation expenses up to $2,500 may be reimbursed one time.

Eligibility
Third-, fourth-, and fifth-year graduate students who specialize in the field of law and social science and whose research interests include law and inequality are invited to apply. Fellowship applicants should be students in a Ph.D. program in a social science department or an interdisciplinary program. Humanities students pursuing empirically-based social science dissertations are welcome to apply. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply.

Application Materials Required
Applicants should submit: (1) a 1-2 page letter of application; (2) a 2-3 page description of a research project or interest that relates to law and inequality (broadly defined) with a statement of how the applicant became interested in the research topic; (3) a resume or curriculum vitae; (4) a writing sample (a paper written for a graduate-level course or dissertation prospectus); and (5) three letters of recommendation from faculty members (including one from the faculty member who will serve as the departmental liaison – typically the applicant’s advisor). If you are also applying for the American Bar Foundation Doctoral Fellowship, please indicate so in your cover letter.

Applications for this fellowship must be received no later than December 1, 2011.

Please apply online by clicking on the Fellowships tab at www.americanbarfoundation.org. Direct all application questions or concerns to Kathryn Harris, Administrative Associate for Academic Affairs and Research Administration, (312)988-6515 or kharris@abfn.org.

For more information regarding the fellowship, see www.lawandsociety.org or contact Mary McClintock at LSA, mcclintock@lawandsociety.org or Laura Beth Nielsen at the ABF, lnielsen@abfn.org.