Call for Papers: "Interdisciplinary Doctoral Symposium Democracy, Rule of Law and Human Rights in Europe and the World in Times of Contestation"

The Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies (GGS), the Centre for the Law of EU External Relations (CLEER), the Geneva Centre d'Études Juridiques Européennes and European Papers: A Journal on Law and Integration will organising an interdisciplinary Doctoral Symposium titled 'Democracy, Rule of Law and Human Rights in Europe and the World in Times of Contestation' in Leuven on 20-21 September 2018.

The Doctoral Symposium will consist of one day and a half of presentations by, and discussions with, PhD researchers, in interaction with senior academic experts, and a half day public session with presentations and discussions between invited senior scholars and practitioners from the EU institutions.

Symposium Directors are Prof. Dr. Enzo Cannizzaro (Rome), Prof. Dr. Christine Kaddous (Geneva), Prof. Dr. Ramses Wessel (Twente) and Prof. Dr. Jan Wouters (Leuven).

Theme of the Symposium
The European Union’s (EU) commitment to the pursuit of a ‘principled’ foreign policy is well-grounded in the provisions of the EU Treaties. The implementation of this commitment, however, has been found wanting in numerous instances, making scholars frequently question the way and the extent to which values and ideals, such as the promotion of the rule of law and human rights, clash with material interests in EU external relations. Faced with a hardening international environment and domestic crises, the EU appears to be adjusting some of its rhetoric and action: the 2016 Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy, for example, speaks of the ‘principled pragmatism’ which should guide the EU’s external action in the years ahead. The Symposium will address, in addition to the EU’s acts and omissions abroad concerning the trinity of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, problems and challenges regarding the EU’s internal capacity on safeguarding democracy, human rights and the rule of law within its own Member States, and relating to its promotion of these values and principles on the international stage. It will also examine how current contestation of the European project and of a rules-based and cooperative international order may affect the EU’s ability to promote and uphold its core values, both within and beyond its borders. The nature and impact of this multifaceted legitimacy crisis will thus be taken into account, looking into the constraints and opportunities this may hold for the EU as a global actor and the challenges the EU faces in regaining the trust of European citizens. 
 
The Symposium welcomes contributions from various disciplines of the humanities and social sciences (law, political science, political economy, ...) in order to address the research theme in a comprehensive and multi-faceted fashion. Contributions from different fields concerning a particular research topic will be combined in panels in order to foster interdisciplinarity.

The full call for papers can be acceded here

When?
Deadline for abstract submission: 2 July 2018 
Notification of acceptance: 16 July 2018 
Final papers due: 14 September 2018 
Symposium: 20-21 September 2018