Call for Papers

The theme of the 2013 Colloquium – "Bridging Continents, Cultures and Worldviews" – is very timely for the EGOS Marxist studies sub-theme. Over the last three years, this sub-theme has focused primarily on articulating specifically Marxist approaches to organization studies.

Building on this foundation, the 2013 sub-theme encourages submissions that explore bridges between Marxist and other theoretical approaches, in particular submissions that focus on the themes of the Colloquium: 

• Bridging Continents: Marx was one of the earliest theorists of globalization, writing famously with Engels in the Communist Manifesto that "[T]he need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over the whole surface of the globe." Since then, the Marxist tradition has been rich in studies of globalization in its economic, political and cultural forms. We thus encourage submissions that compare, contrast, and engage dialogue between Marxist and other organizational approaches to globalization.
• Bridging Cultures: Marxists have made enduring contributions to cultural theory – whether through older work such as that of Lukacs and the Frankfurt School, or through more recent work by scholars such as Terry Eagleton, Stuart Hall, and Omi and Winant. This tradition offers insights into emergence and consequences of cultural diversity. We encourage submissions that put these insights into dialogue with other theoretical perspectives on cultural diversity in organizations and society.
• Bridging Worldviews: Marxist social theory has a long history of both deconstructing and integrating other philosophical currents (e.g. Spinoza, Plato, Kant, Husserl, etc.), theoretical problematics (e.g. debates on Marxism, feminism and race theory), disciplinary approaches (e.g. Marxist interventions in sociology, political science, economics and cultural studies), and methods (e.g. rational choice Marxists, humanist Marxists, etc). This tradition offers productive insights into both the challenges and promise of integrating diverse worldviews. We welcome submissions that compare and contrast Marxist approaches to these issues with other approaches.

This EGOS sub-theme has become a gathering point for organizational scholars working with Marxist ideas. We therefore invite Marxist submissions on any of these topics, as on any of the other dimensions of organization studies where a Marxist approach might be fruitful.

In selecting papers, the convenors will give priority to papers that either (a) enrich our understanding of the empirical world of organizations based on strong Marxist theoretical foundations, or (b) enrich Marxist theory in a way that promises deeper understanding of that world. We are not dogmatic in an attachment to any specific kind of Marxism – all kinds are welcome.

Please note: The overall EGOS Call for short papers asks for short papers under 3000 words, but this sub-theme encourages longer submissions so we can better assess the fit with our program.

If the "short paper" is accepted by the convenors, the full paper will need to be uploaded on the EGOS/Colloquium website by May 31, 2013.