63rd Political Studies Association Annual International Conference
Date: 25-27 March 2013
Location: City Hall Cardiff
The Party's Over?
The theme of the 2013 Political Studies Association Annual Conference, The Party's Over?, speaks to a number of senses in which assumptions and modalities that have hitherto underpinned political life, and political analysis, may no longer be sustainable.
The collapse of the developed world's dominant macro-economic growth models have brought down with them the assumptions of prosperity that underpinned the main political agendas of both right and left. What political-economic options remain viable?
The apparent inability of mainstream politics to offer solutions, beyond endless austerity, to current problems offers to contribute further to the long-term decline in the popularity and social reach of leading political parties in many states. What future is there for representative politics?
A dominant feature of political life for half a century has been European integration. As one of the most visible manifestations of that process, the Euro, now struggles for its very existence, what prospects – if any – does this project still have?
As the dominance of the 'West' over global politics is rapidly eroded, what implications do the movement of power and wealth eastwards have for global politics? And what will replace Pax Americana?
The crisis of esteem faced by much of the established news media, symbolised and crystallised by the Leveson Inquiry, has perhaps obscured a longer-term, deeper collapse of the economic basis underpinning much of the conventional news media. How will future generations be informed about politics? And what forms of politics will these media favour?
What does Political Studies have to say about these, and many other, questions that arise from a sense that, in many respects, The Party's Over?
If you need a more personal touch Stephen Thornton, Roger Scully or Richard Wyn Jones will be able to provide some more info as they have been involved in the organisation of it.
