The German Historical Institute in Washington, DC, has issued a call for papers for “Financialization: A New Chapter in the History of Capitalism?” to be held at the GHI on June 12-13, 2015. The conveners of this workshop are Hartmut Berghoff (Washington, DC), Kenneth Lipartito (Miami), and Laura Rischbieter (Berlin). The call for papers states:
This workshop seeks to summarize the state of the art of research on financialization and aims to develop a trans-disciplinary research agenda for the future. Though this conference emphasizes history, it is open to scholars from all disciplines. Junior scholars are especially encouraged to apply. Submissions may address but are not limited to the
following topics:
Potential presenters should send a title, a short abstract (max. 500 words), and a short CV to Suzanne Fabricius by December 31, 2014. In the case of acceptance, expenses for travel (economy class) and accommodation will be covered, though participants are encouraged to defray organizing costs by soliciting funds from their home institution. Inquiries may be addressed to Laura Rischbieter.
The term “financialization” is understood by most authors to refer to the shift since 1970 from industrial to finance capitalism, a shift that had profound social and political repercussions. Over the past few decades traditional industrial economies became dominated by financial capitalism. Financial services now constitute a large and increasing share of output in the world’s most advanced industrial nations. Financial institutions have grown to enormous size, magnified by various mechanisms of financial leverage. Capital markets have gained the ability to influence and limit national economic priorities. Financialization also influences corporate behavior in a profound way. Companies are increasingly seen, and managed as, portfolios – similar to portfolios composed of financial securities. . . . Despite all these trends and new developments, the interplay between an ever more dominant capital market and the economies and societies of the Western World and beyond has not been sufficiently investigated.
- Financialization of the Modern Corporation
- Innovation Cycles and Crisis
- Financial Markets and the State
- Varieties of Capitalism and Political Changes
- Local Manifestations of Financialization
- Mediation, Interpretation, and Identity
Potential presenters should send a title, a short abstract (max. 500 words), and a short CV to Suzanne Fabricius by December 31, 2014. In the case of acceptance, expenses for travel (economy class) and accommodation will be covered, though participants are encouraged to defray organizing costs by soliciting funds from their home institution. Inquiries may be addressed to Laura Rischbieter.