[ecrea] CFP: Participatory Politics? Conference May 2012

Participatory Politics? Relationships, Partnerships and Co-Creation in
Politics: the Gap between Theory and Practice
Date: 10-11 May 2012
Location: Kingston University -- London. Conference Fee £65.
Deadline for abstract submission: 15 Jan 2012
Email to send abstracts to: (politicalmarketing2012 /at/ gmail.com) 
<mailto:(politicalmarketing2012 /at/ gmail.com)>
Conference web site: http://politicalmarketing2012.wordpress.com/
It has been suggested that the connection between citizens and those 
seeking to govern is now broken, displaced by a culture of consumerism 
and an obsession with celebrity culture. This is a global phenomenon.
The decline of partisan attachment to agents of the political 
establishment or participation in democratic processes is visible in 
nations across the world. However, this apparent disengagement does not 
appear to signal the death of engagement as we find a variety of types 
of political participation occurring, demonstrating that under the right 
conditions citizens can be mobilised into political activism.
Accordingly both marketing and public relations theory has moved on from 
instrumental concerns with the dissemination of information and 
messages, to the co-creational approach where voters and politicians are 
the co-creators of shared interpretations and objectives. Yet, political 
communications remains largely one-way and relationships with political 
parties and governments asymmetrical.
Through a combination of panels and round table discussions featuring 
both academic and practitioners, this conference explores the nature of 
relationships between citizens and their elected representatives and 
considers how the future may necessitate a more partnership based and 
co-created politics.
We want to examine the concept of political engagement and the extent to 
which existing channels meet the needs of citizens and invite papers 
that respond to the follow questions:
    What does 'political engagement' really mean in the twenty-first
    century?
    What are the root causes of political disengagement and have the use of
    PR and political marketing techniques actually undermined the political
    system as it stands today?
    Are citizens likely to demand more access to the political process and
    how do we understand these demands?
    Can political organisations give a greater say over decisions while
    retaining identity?
    Is there a movement towards alternative mechanisms for having a voice?
    Due to the asymmetry, is democratic politics under threat from
    alternative protest movements and, looking to the future, can
    developments in technology facilitate relationships and partnerships in
    the political arena?
We invite paper proposals of no more than 1,000 words that explore 
aspects of the questions posed above. Papers can cover any aspect of the 
relationships between citizens and politics and use theories from any 
relevant discipline: political marketing, political communication, 
political science, sociology and psychology
A number of the best papers will be selected for publication in a 
special edition of the International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary 
Sector Marketing.
Regards
*Dr Scott Davidson*
*Senior Lecturer in Public Relations and Media*
*De Montfort University*