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The Centre of Southeast European Studies at the University of Graz, together with the Consortium of European Symposia on Turkey (CEST), is delighted to invite paper submissions for a Symposium from October 1-3, 2015 at the University of Graz.The Symposium on Populism, majoritarianism and crises of liberal democracy seeks to identify and discuss, in comparative perspective, the root causes, dynamics, effects and modes of "illiberal governance". We use the term "illiberal governance" in a heuristic fashion rather than as a normative claim. Such modes of governance are increasingly identifiable not only among those regimes classified as hybrid or authoritarian but also among established liberal democracies.Abstract submissions should engage with one of the following Symposium themes:Democracy, authoritarianism and hybrid regimes: A critical assessmentWhich are the main conceptual debates on hybrid forms of governance distinct from both dictatorship and liberal democracy? What is the explanatory power of concepts such as 'Illiberal Democracy', 'Majoritarianism', 'Competitive Authoritarianism'?Crises of liberal democracy: Causes and effectsWhat are the crises of liberal democracy and to what extent are they responsible for the rise in populist, majoritarian, illiberal modes of governance? What are the socio-economic, political, cultural, historical and institutional factors that give rise to these governance modes? How can we factor in issues of path-dependence and exogenous impacts?Modes of governance (1): Grand narratives, ideologies and alliancesHow do their proponents legitimate and popularise illiberal modes of governance? How are alliances made and unmade? Religion, class, gender, ethnicity, nationalism.Modes of governance (2): Forms of control and accumulation of powerHow do illiberal systems accumulate, maintain and lose power? Modes of governance through political institutions, media and education.Modes of governance (3): Political economyHow do illiberal systems accumulate wealth? Modes of production, networks of appropriation and dispossession, forms of distribution.We welcome applications from all fields related to the study of society and politics, with a particular interest in comparative work and cross-regional approaches. Comparative work on countries including, but not limited to Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Greece, Macedonia and Italy is particularly encouraged. We would also like to stress our interest in historical studies on authoritarian regimes, transitions from and back to authoritarianism and a critical debate on the conclusions, which can be drawn from those historical cases for our understanding of illiberal modes of governance today.Applicants are invited to submit an abstract of 500 words, a one-page CV and a publication list (if applicable) of no more than one page. The submission deadline is 4 May 2015. Please make sure to indicate which theme your abstract seeks to contribute to.Convenors: Kerem Öktem, Florian Bieber, Karabekir AkkoyunluWho can apply? PhD Students, Post-Docs and academics. Advanced Master students may apply, if their proposal is based on fresh empirical work.Submission deadline: 4 May 2015Submission requirements: 500 word abstract, one-page CV, publication list.Submission mailbox: CESTSymposium@gmail.comSuccessful applicants will be informed mid-May 2015.Expenses: Travel and accommodation expenses of selected participants will be fully funded.Submission of papers: Draft papers will have to be submitted by mid-September.Publication: We will support the publication of the best papers.Please consult Dr. Karabekir Akkoyunlu for further information: karabekir.akkoyunlu@uni-graz.atThis Symposium is convened as part of the Consortium for European Symposia on Turkey (CEST). CEST is committed to the study of modern Turkey by bringing together the expertise of leading European research institutions: Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, London School of Economics , SciencesPo, Stockholm University, Universität Hamburg, University of OxfordPlus d'infos