Anders Walker at St. Louis University is organizing an interesting conference. While conferences like this are usually organized by soliciting participants, an important difference here is an open call for papers. This is a great approach, and a great opportunity for you!
Call for Papers
“Invisible Constitutions: Culture, Religion, and Memory”
Sponsored by the Center for Intercultural Studies and the Center for International & Comparative Law at Saint Louis University
March 1-2, 2012
Much comparative law scholarship focuses on technical questions of constitutional design, asking for example whether strong presidential or parliamentary systems better serve normatively attractive constitutional goals (separation of powers, federalism, rights enforcement, and so on). Missing from such literature, however, is sufficient discussion of the interpretive risks involved in abstracting constitutional texts from their larger cultural/temporal contexts, not to mention the role that those contexts play in creating constitutional meaning. For example, frameworks of practices, customs, and beliefs, including religious traditions, cultural values, and historical memories can all serve as invisible sources of constitutional law, social imaginaries that actually perform the role of invisible constitutions. To elaborate, this conference will draw scholars from different disciplines to shed light on current and past examples of “invisible” constitutions in the comparative context. Papers are welcome from any historic period or geographic space. The conference will be held on March 1-2, 2012 in Saint Louis, travel and lodging provided.
To apply, submit an abstract of 1000 words, including a one-page CV to Anders Walker, Saint Louis University School of Law, 3700 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108 or by email by January 15, 2012. All accepted papers will be published in the Saint Louis University Law Journal.
