This paper session aims to bring together scholars who adopt a sociological perspective to the study of international organizations (IOs). IOs have historically been studied by jurists and later by political scientists through the prism of theories in international relations (IR). In the past two decade, growing scholarship in IR has shifted the focus to analyzing IOs as actors in IR in their own right. To this end, scholars have not only developed new methodologies, traditionally used by anthropologists and organizational sociologists, but have also embraced sociology as a discipline and more precisely the field of organizational sociology. In this way, IOs have been studied as bureaucracies, as organizations within which various actors compete, which comply and produce norms and values. Nowadays, organizational sociology provides a fascinating basis to study IOs not only from within, but also with respect to their environment in a dynamic perspective.

The 2021 Congress of the Swiss Sociological Association (SSA)

Introducing the congress

Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty takes as a starting point the health pandemic that erupted in 2020, which led societies across the world to cope with disruptions in the provisioning of goods and services, means of livelihood, and fundamental freedom – not least, that of movement. The crisis also revealed global and local inequalities, translated into who has the right to live or not, and raised new questions around (in)justice in the contemporary world. In light of the turmoil experienced, as a globalized society and within our communities, this congress emphasizes the relevance of social and environmental justice in the making of a fair society, asking the question: in times of uncertainty, what does it mean to live a good life in a just society?

For the first time, the Congress of the Swiss Sociological Association will be hosted in Geneva, through a partnership between the University of Geneva and the Haute Ecole de Travail Social de Genève (HETS GE/HES-SO), and with the participation of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Convenors

Leah R. Kimber, University of Geneva; Fanny Badache, University of Lausanne

Argument

This paper session aims to bring together scholars who adopt a sociological perspective to the study of international organizations (IOs). IOs have historically been studied by jurists and later by political scientists through the prism of theories in international relations (IR). In the past two decade, growing scholarship in IR has shifted the focus to analyzing IOs as actors in IR in their own right. To this end, scholars have not only developed new methodologies, traditionally used by anthropologists and organizational sociologists, but have also embraced sociology as a discipline and more precisely the field of organizational sociology. In this way, IOs have been studied as bureaucracies, as organizations within which various actors compete, which comply and produce norms and values. Nowadays, organizational sociology provides a fascinating basis to study IOs not only from within, but also with respect to their environment in a dynamic perspective.

For this session, we encourage submissions which delve into issues pertaining to IOs whether it be directly (e.g. by using a specific IO as a case study), or indirectly (e.g. by tackling NGOs with ties to IOs), from an organizational perspective. The objective is to give an opportunity – for scholars anchored in the discipline of sociology or for those whose framework speaks to organizational theories – to find a conducive environment to further pursue an upcoming field which holds the promise for deep insight into the world of multilateralism. Ultimately, the aim is to build constructive and lasting bridges between disciplines and perspective and to identify peers with whom to continue developing innovative theoretical contributions to answer salient issues in times where IOs and multilateralism at under threat for their lack of legitimacy for instance.

Sublission guidelines

Please submit your proposal to Leah R. Kimber, leah.kimber@unige.ch and Fanny Badache, fanny.badache@unil.ch                       

Deadline for submissions:  January 29, 2021

Abstracts length: maximum ~500 words