AccueilPost-soviet dis-integration and dis-connections (1991-2016)

AccueilPost-soviet dis-integration and dis-connections (1991-2016)

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Publié le mercredi 22 juin 2016

Résumé

25 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this conference aims at investigating its transversal consequences from two original standpoints: patterns of integration/disintegration combined to logics of connection / disconnection. These issues have various expressions in societal, normative, linguistic, regional or international fields. The conference will hence tackle a general question: how do political choices, economic contingencies or social phenomena foster or disrupt all kinds of links throughout the post-soviet area?

Annonce

Organisation

  • CERI
  • IFEAC
  • IFG
  • Paris 8

Rationale of the conference

25 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, this conference aims at investigating its transversal consequences from two original standpoints: patterns of integration/disintegration combined to logics of connection / disconnection. These issues have various expressions in societal, normative, linguistic, regional or international fields.

The conference will hence tackle a general question: how do political choices, economic contingencies or social phenomena foster or disrupt all kinds of links throughout the post-soviet area?

In this respect, interdisciplinary dialogue might prove extremely productive.

Analytical framework: dis-integration or dis-connection?

This conceptual framework paves the way for stimulating analysis both in geopolitical and sociological terms.

As a matter of fact, « integration » is a classical feature of geopolitics and IR, especially when « regional multilateralism » is concerned (Myllonas 2012). Here, one can examine the creation or fragmentation of integrated cooperation among states. Since 1991, post-Soviet countries strove to maintain economic and political links, such as the CIS, even if bilateral and regional formats were privileged (Duchêne 1993): GUAM, Eurasian Economic Union etc.

Nowadays, there is no forum which would gather all of the former Soviet republics. Some countries have sought to keep connections with Russia (Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Tadjikistan, Armenia), while others have chosen a more disconnected path (Parmentier 2014), such as Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan or Georgia. Finally, some have focused on European integration (Baltic states), European Neighborhood Policy (Moldova) or neutrality (Turkmenistan). Of course, in this respect, Ukraine is even more problematic and its case has to be investigated thoroughly. In the meantime, mini-lateral formats started to become significant, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Consequently, it seems that fragmentation is prevailing. In response to that, integration projects have emerged, notably the Eurasian Economic Union, now comprising five member States, with Tajikistan negotiating its participation.

These evolutions confirm theoretical hypotheses, such as Höttne & Söderbaum’s (2000), who posit that the emergence of sovereign states, based on nation-building, consolidates domestic territories and generates inward policy orientation, hence a lower level of regional integration. But after a first declining phase, a more outward move can  be observed in terms of economic cooperation or political negotiation. Krapohl & Fink (2013) also demonstrated that historical or cultural links were never sufficient for such integrative dynamics: there must be some logic of market creation. But within the broad post-Soviet space, some states have developed links with China, others with the EU, which results in centrifugal trends. In Central Asia, inter-state trade only represents 3% of total trade, while various international actors such as China with its Silk Road Belt or the US with the New Silk Road Initiative push for more extraversion.

In the meantime, information networks followed a process of reconfiguration. The circulation of people and goods did change as well. This situation questions the legacy of infrastructures and flow patterns dating back to Soviet times, which were relying on a specific territorial setting. Due to the centrality of its cyberspace infrastructure, Russia is now at the core of digital flows, and has become a truly global data hub, controlling significant shares of the digital economy in post-Soviet states.

But is there still a post-soviet space? As we have just seen, geopolitics and IR demonstrate that scholars might better get rid of the concept or at least reconsider its relevancy. For that particular matter, sociology can be of great help: what about family relations, religion, daily merchant life or national identities (Eriksen 2007)? The concept of

« integration » is deeply rooted in sociological tradition thanks to Durkheim, who used it to enlighten social ties, by distinguishing organic and mechanical solidarity. On the one hand, feudal societies are based on a similarity principle, on the other hand, modern societies rely on interdependence among people and groups, because of the division of labor in society. Shared believes and practices allow the affiliation to common goals and generate solidarity. But when socialization vectors change, with the implementation of new linguistic policies for instance, this can induce frustration or unease. This conference will be an opportunity to revisit this approach within post-soviet societies.

Moreover, Parsons (1937) analyzed integration of cultural norms as a fundamental basis for social groups. Integration and disintegration phenomena hence have an explanatory value, for example, to comprehend relations between small businesses and the government (Özcan 2010). This conference will thus invite scholars to trace connections between segments of society: Facebook, VKontatke, Instagram and Twitter have an impact on domestic life or citizenship in authoritarian settings, while politicians, such as in Kazakhstan, actively promote e-government,

Human groups experience various dynamics which make them more or less integrated, consistent etc. Connection and disconnection, integration or disintegration lie at the very core of social, political and economic processes. When looking over all human societies identified by archeology since millennia, one discovers that 80% of them were finally disintegrated. Indeed, our two conceptual frameworks are fit to reopen stimulating debates about raises and falls of empires or civilizations (Teune 2011).

Expected themes for paper proposals

Building upon these considerations, a variety of topics can be tackled through the lenses of integration/disintegration and connection/disconnection. Paper proposals, drawing on recent fieldwork, opening new theoretical prospects or offering comparisons are particularly welcomed.

Here is a indicative list of potential topics

  • Regional integration and multilateral diplomacy (EEU, SCO, CSTO etc.)
  • The integration of post-soviet states in the globalization of the economy
  • Articulations between socio-economic integration, consumption and citizenship
  • Migration flows and their impact on family structure in countries of departure, as well as social integration in countries of arrival
  • Connections with global digital networks and state control of the web, smartphones etc.
  • Ethnic, linguistic, sexual, religious minorities and their social integration
  • Protest and discontent, social mobilization
  • Religious integrism and fundamentalism
  • Social stratification, generational issues and how people view social change
  • Citizens’ connectedness and collective action through social media

Calendar

July 1st: deadline

for submitting abstract and CV to colloque.25ans@gmail.com

July 15: acceptance notification

September 30: deadline for submitting papers November 21-22: conference in Paris

Working languages

English & Russian

Scientific committee

  • Karlygash Abiyeva (CERI-Sciences Po)
  • Bayram Balci (CERI-Sciences Po)
  • Adrien Fauve (CERI-Sciences)
  • Olivier Ferrando (IFEAC)
  • Kevin Limonier (IFG – Paris 8)

Bibliography

  • Gérard Duchêne 1994. Intégration ou désintégration économique dans l’ex-URSS. Revue économique 45(3), 575-588.
  • Emile Durkheim 1968. Les formes élémentaires de la vie religieuse, Paris : PUF.
  • Thomas Eriksen 2007. Globalization the Key Concepts. Oxford: Berg Publishers.
  • Björn Hettne / Fredrik Söderbaum 2000.“Theorising the Rise of Regionness,”New Political Economy 5(3), 457-472.
  • Sebastian Krapohl /Simon Fink 2013.“Different Paths of Regional Integration: Trade Networks and Regional Institution-Building in Europe, Southeast Asia and Southern Africa,”Journal of Common Market Studies 51(3), 472-488.
  • Harris Mylonas/ Emirhan Yorulmazlar, “Regional Multilateralism: The Next Paradigm in Global Affairs,”CNN, 14 January 2012.
  • Florent Parmentier 2014. Les chemins de l’État de droit. La voie étroite des pays entre Europe et Russie, Paris: Presses de Sciences Po.
  • Talcott Parsons1937.The Structure of Social Action, McGraw-Hill, New York.
  • Henry Teune 2011. “Politcial integration”, in Betrand Badie, Leonardo Morlino, Dirk Berg- Schlosser (eds), International Encyclopedia of Political Science, London: Sage.
  • Gul Berna Özcan 2010. Building States and Markets. Enterprise Development in Central Asia, London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Lieux

  • Salle de conférences - Sciences Po-CERI : 56, rue Jacob
    Paris, France (75006)

Dates

  • vendredi 01 juillet 2016

Mots-clés

  • integration, disintegration, connection, disconnection, post-soviet state

Contacts

  • Adrien Fauve
    courriel : colloque [dot] 25ans [at] gmail [dot] com

URLS de référence

Source de l'information

  • Nathalie Tenenbaum
    courriel : nathalie [dot] tenenbaum [at] sciencespo [dot] fr

Licence

CC0-1.0 Cette annonce est mise à disposition selon les termes de la Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universel.

Pour citer cette annonce

« Post-soviet dis-integration and dis-connections (1991-2016) », Appel à contribution, Calenda, Publié le mercredi 22 juin 2016, https://doi.org/10.58079/ve1

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