[ecrea] CFP_ Eleventh International Conference of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) - CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE CITIZEN

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Eleventh International Conference of the International Society for Third 
Sector Research (ISTR)
University of Muenster
Muenster, Germany
July 22 - 25, 2014

Deadline for Submissions: 25 OCTOBER 2013
This notice serves to invite interested parties to submit abstracts for 
contributions to be made at the 11th International Conference to be held 
at the University of Muenster, Germany, from 22 to 25 July, 2014.

ISTR and the Conference
Founded in 1992, the International Society for Third-Sector Research 
(ISTR) is universally recognized as the international academic 
association of researchers engaged in the study of civil society, the 
nonprofit sector, philanthropy, and related fields. The mission of the 
society is to promote research and education in these fields. Society 
members are drawn from many disciplines. Multi-disciplinary, 
inter-disciplinary and increasingly trans-disciplinary research efforts 
abound.

Much work has been done over the past twenty years to establish a 
responsive scientific community and an active intellectual commons 
internationally and regionally. The original third sector research has 
expanded to include important research efforts on the social economy, 
social investment, and social entrepreneurship and enterprise. A vital 
link in all this has been the focus on civility and on understanding the 
role of different actors in creating and sustaining civil society. In 
these endeavors researchers and interested others have come together 
around shared concerns for addressing societal issues. A major event on 
the Society’s agenda is the bi-annual international conference. Ten 
conferences have so far been held – in places as diverse as Pécs, 
Hungary; Mexico City; Geneva; Dublin; Cape Town; Toronto; Bangkok; 
Barcelona; Istanbul; and most recently Siena, each attracting an average 
of 600 senior and junior academics from all over the world as well as 
practitioners in the field and interested observers from other academic 
disciplines, politics, public administration and the corporate world.
For the purposes of the ISTR International Conference, the third sector 
is broadly defined, including, for example: NGOs, non-profit 
organizations, voluntary associations, social economy organizations, 
community organizations, self-help and mutual organizations, civil 
society organizations, foundations, philanthropy, and other 
manifestations of civil society globally and locally, for example 
networks and social forums, unions, religious organizations, 
co-operatives, and volunteering.

ISTR’s Eleventh International Conference in Muenster, Germany, offers a 
unique opportunity for learning and debate in an environment of rigor, 
reflexivity, authenticity and creativity. Muenster, home to one of 
Germany’s most prestigious state universities, will provide an excellent 
venue to examine the role of third sector studies as an integrative 
science with short term and long term objectives geared towards 
understanding and addressing societal concerns using a range of 
methodologies, designs and methods.

The focus of the 2014 conference
CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE CITIZEN
In recent years, the future of society as such has become a pressing 
concern. While security issues seemingly dominate government action, 
more and more nation states are coming under pressure from their own 
citizens. Some political analysts have diagnosed a crisis of 
representative democracy and argued for a stronger role of civil 
society. Citizen action, citizen initiatives, and protest movements have 
gained in importance. Citizen participation has become a key issue for 
governments, with a plethora of different meanings attached to it. 
Furthermore, the question of what civil society can bring to the table 
in attempting to attack the global challenges of the 21st century, has 
become a point of particular attention. While some governments and the 
corporate sector would like to see civil society primarily in the role 
of service providers, citizens are increasingly aware of the political 
mandate of civil society.

Given this scenario, the conference will attempt to address and discuss 
the following issues:
· theoretical frameworks and boundaries of civil society
· collaborative governance and civil society
· civil society and citizen participation – addressing public issues
· philanthropy and giving
· volunteering
· the role of protest movements
· the role of civil society in the context of revolutionary developments
· legitimacy vs. legality of civil society action
· developments in government policy and the regulatory environment
· policy-making: the contribution of civil society
· civil society and democracy
organizations, civil society organizations, foundations, philanthropy, 
and other manifestations of civil society globally and locally, for 
example networks and social forums, unions, religious organizations, 
co-operatives, and volunteering.

ISTR’s Eleventh International Conference in Muenster, Germany, offers a 
unique opportunity for learning and debate in an environment of rigor, 
reflexivity, authenticity and creativity. Muenster, home to one of 
Germany’s most prestigious state universities, will provide an excellent 
venue to examine the role of third sector studies as an integrative 
science with short term and long term objectives geared towards 
understanding and addressing societal concerns using a range of 
methodologies, designs and methods.

Abstracts not meeting these requirements will be declined by the ISTR 
Conference Committee.
Please note that while abstracts can be submitted in English, French or 
Spanish, the language of the conference in English and presentations are 
to be conducted in English.

Submissions for Panels, Papers and Posters
All panel, papers and poster proposals for the Conference must be 
submitted using ISTR’s online submission service.
To submit your paper or poster abstract using this service, go to the 
ISTR website – www.istr.org/Muenster 
<http://www.istr.org/link.asp?e=(becky.lentz /at/ mcgill.ca)&job=1036565&ymlink=1696694&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eistr%2Eorg%2FMuenster> 
- and follow the link for ‘Submit a Proposal.’

Special Note on Panel Submissions
A panel submission is a proposal for a coordinated set of papers 
(usually 3 or 4 in number) all dealing with a particular topic or issue. 
Please note that panel proposals require an abstract identifying and 
justifying the theme of the panel as well as a full abstract for each 
panel paper. Panel proposals that do not include full abstracts and 
author information for each paper will not be considered. The person 
submitting the panel proposal must be willing to act as the panel 
coordinator and ensure that all proposed paper presenters commit to 
attending the conference.
Please note that papers which are part of a submitted panel cannot be 
submitted separately as an individual submission. If the abstract is 
submitted twice by the same author it will be rejected.

Special Note on Posters and Poster Abstracts
A poster proposal is an alternative to presenting a full research paper. 
New researchers in particular are invited to share work-in-progress by 
means of a poster if they wish. This is an opportunity to display a 
poster about completed and/or ongoing research. Posters will be 
displayed throughout the conference and a designated session will be 
scheduled in which participants can meet with authors to discuss their 
work. Full instructions on poster formats will be provided to those 
accepted for presentation.

Review of Submissions
All submissions satisfying the basic requirements (paper, panel, or 
poster) will be subject to a blind review by at least two independent 
reviewers who will not have knowledge of the name of the author or of 
other reviewers. Only submissions of sufficient academic quality and 
that are relevant to the conference themes will be accepted for the 
Conference.
Abstracts not meeting these requirements will be declined by the ISTR 
Conference Committee.
Please note that while abstracts can be submitted in English, French or 
Spanish, the language of the conference in English and presentations are 
to be conducted in English.

Submissions for Panels, Papers and Posters
All panel, papers and poster proposals for the Conference must be 
submitted using ISTR’s online submission service.
To submit your paper or poster abstract using this service, go to the 
ISTR website – www.istr.org/Muenster 
<http://www.istr.org/link.asp?e=(becky.lentz /at/ mcgill.ca)&job=1036565&ymlink=1696694&finalurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eistr%2Eorg%2FMuenster> 
- and follow the link for ‘Submit a Proposal.’

Special Note on Panel Submissions
A panel submission is a proposal for a coordinated set of papers 
(usually 3 or 4 in number) all dealing with a particular topic or issue. 
Please note that panel proposals require an abstract identifying and 
justifying the theme of the panel as well as a full abstract for each 
panel paper. Panel proposals that do not include full abstracts and 
author information for each paper will not be considered. The person 
submitting the panel proposal must be willing to act as the panel 
coordinator and ensure that all proposed paper presenters commit to 
attending the conference.
Please note that papers which are part of a submitted panel cannot be 
submitted separately as an individual submission. If the abstract is 
submitted twice by the same author it will be rejected.

Special Note on Posters and Poster Abstracts
A poster proposal is an alternative to presenting a full research paper. 
New researchers in particular are invited to share work-in-progress by 
means of a poster if they wish. This is an opportunity to display a 
poster about completed and/or ongoing research. Posters will be 
displayed throughout the conference and a designated session will be 
scheduled in which participants can meet with authors to discuss their 
work. Full instructions on poster formats will be provided to those 
accepted for presentation.

Review of Submissions
All submissions satisfying the basic requirements (paper, panel, or 
poster) will be subject to a blind review by at least two independent 
reviewers who will not have knowledge of the name of the author or of 
other reviewers. Only submissions of sufficient academic quality and 
that are relevant to the conference themes will be accepted for the 
Conference.



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