Full text
Overview:
The labor movement in Turkey has never enjoyed a prominent position within Turkish Studies. Yet, labor activism in Turkey dates back to the late Ottoman Empire; it was part of the early Republican era; it played an important part in shaping the major political events and tensions during the 1960s and 1970s; and as recent May Day demonstrations highlight, state-labor relations remain an important and tense part of Turkish politics. Perhaps because of the importance of Kurdish and Islamist politics, and the global decline in Communism and leftist ideologies, the labor movement in Turkey appears to be less important today than it was during the tumultuous decades of the 1960s and 1970s. Despite the constraints faced by labor activists, the central contention of this thematic issue of the European Journal of Turkish Studies is that the labor movement has and continues to shape Turkish politics in important ways.
Consequently, this edition of the European Journal of Turkish Studies seeks to publish articles from across academic disciplines that specifically explore the impact of labor movement activism on the shaping of contemporary Turkish society and politics. Articles might focus on why and how some labor activists have succeeded in advancing their agenda, while others have failed. Recognizing that the impact of any social movement often involves more than simply identifying successful policy changes, articles might also focus on how labor movement activism has had an impact on shaping public discourse, perceptions, attitudes, and/or the framing of particular issues. In addition, articles might refocus attention on the forces that have and will continue to shape Turkish labor activism.
The primary goal of this issue is to provide space for reconsidering the labor movement in Turkey—both how it has been shaped over time, and how it has shaped political, social, and economic developments. This special issue will fulfill two additional purposes: First, the empirical content of the articles published in this issue will continue to fill in this gap in Turkish studies. Second, the labor movement itself will provide a focused context for the application of broader social science theories.
Call for Proposals:
The European Journal of Turkish Studies invites submissions of abstracts for a special thematic issue on the labor movement in Turkey. We are particularly interested in articles from across academic disciplines that apply contemporary theoretical frameworks to explain the changing nature of labor movement activism, as well as the impact of the labor movement on the shaping of politics, economics, and society in Turkey. Articles might focus on a range of topics including: obstacles and challenges facing the labor movement in Turkey; the significance of particular strikes, protests, or actions; the historical importance of May Day in Turkey; the relationship between the labor movement and major political parties; and the effects of globalization and transnational activism on the labor movement in Turkey. In addition, articles may seek to explain a range of issues more directly related to labor organizing, such as competition between unions, anti-labor campaigns, and changing strategies and ideologies within the labor movement.
Deadlines & Submission Information
Please submit proposals (abstracts of around 300 words) to Brian Mello (bmello@muhlenberg.edu) by February 1, 2009, although proposals will also be considered after this date. You should include your affiliation and appropriate contact information with your submission. EJTS generally publishes articles that range from 8,000 to 10,000 words; however, proposals for shorter pieces as well as longer articles are welcome.
* The deadline for final submission of papers is September 1, 2009 with an expected publication date of spring 2010. Papers will be reviewed by two anonymous referees.
* Please direct all inquiries and abstracts to Brian Mello (Dept of Political Science, Muhlenberg College): bmello@muhlenberg.edu
Note:
The European Journal of Turkish Studies (EJTS) is an on-line, peer-reviewed scholarly journal that has been publishing since 2004. The journal is multi-disciplinary and publishes social science papers by a range of established and junior scholars. Its primary focus is contemporary Turkey, although it also publishes material on the late Ottoman period and on other cases. EJTS publishes articles in English, Turkish, French, and German. For prior editions and more information, please see the journal’s web site: http://www.ejts.org/
References
Electronic reference
« Call for papers. EJTS Special Issue. Spring 2010.(Re)Considering the Labor Movement in Turkey », European Journal of Turkish Studies [Online], Call for papers, Online since , Connection on 12 mars 2010. URL : http://ejts.revues.org/index3132.html
Top of page