From Tomáš Havlíček, Masaryk University:
Call for Papers
4th
Annual Nomos Conference at Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
“Of course, we
have all read, and all do read Capital. For almost a century, we have been able
to read it every day, transparently, in the dramas and dreams of our history,
in its disputes and conflicts, in the defeats and victories of the workers’
movement which is indeed our only hope and our destiny.”
(Althusser,
Balibar, Rancière and Macherey, Lire le Capital 1965, 3)
“God is dead;
Communism is dead. It is, at best, the legacy code of the Chinese ruling class.
But that does not exhaust the imaginal faculty of the subordinate classes,
whose vulgar energies may even in this practico-inert world have some surprises
in store.”
(Wark, Capital is
Dead 2019, 142)
Sixty years ago, Reading
Capital offered a transformative reading of Marx’s Capital,
reorienting the way scholars, activists, and theorists viewed the role of law
within capitalist society. For Althusser, Balibar, Rancière, and Macherey, a
genuine understanding of Marx’s critique demanded a lens that brought economic
and material forces to the forefront, highlighting how law is not a neutral
arbiter of justice but a structure deeply embedded in the capitalist mode of
production. Law, they argued, functions not simply as a regulatory tool but as
a fundamental mechanism through which capital exercises control, manages class
conflict, and reproduces its power.
From a Marxist
perspective, law is inseparable from the political economy because it arises
from, enforces, and perpetuates the relations of production. Under capitalism,
legal frameworks are designed to safeguard property rights, enforce contracts,
and legitimate private ownership—all of which are essential to the maintenance
and growth of capital. Marx’s critique demonstrated that law, rather than
standing apart from economic interests, actually facilitates the accumulation
of wealth and the entrenchment of class hierarchies. This insight remains
profoundly relevant in our own time, as capitalism morphs into new forms and
faces systemic crises.
Today, as we
grapple with stark inequalities, environmental collapse, and rising
authoritarianism, the relationship between law and political economy demands
renewed scrutiny. Wark’s declaration that “Capital is dead” reflects a
contemporary frustration with the ability of traditional critiques to fully
capture the complexities of modern capitalism, which has evolved into a global
network of finance, data, and extraction. Yet, as Wark also suggests, the
imagination and energies of the subordinate classes remain powerful. This
conference takes up the challenge of exploring how Marxist critiques of law can
help us understand and resist the transformations of capitalism today. What
does it mean to read Capital in a world where economic power is
concentrated in the hands of a few corporations and states, where wealth
inequality is extreme, and where legal systems often seem complicit in
perpetuating social and environmental injustices?
This conference
invites scholars to return to the materialist critique of law within political
economy, examining how law continues to serve as a critical tool in maintaining
economic power structures. From the foreclosure crisis and austerity measures to
labour law and environmental deregulation, the impact of law on economic and
social life remains profound. By revisiting Reading Capital’s Marxist
approach, we seek to explore law not as an abstract system of rules but as a
living, evolving force that both reflects and shapes the contradictions of
capitalism.
Key topics
discussed include:
1.
Illiberalism and Authoritarian Resurgence in Contemporary Constitutionalism
The resurgence of
authoritarian and illiberal tendencies in various regions, from Eastern Europe
to South America and parts of Asia, reflects a critical shift in global
politics. The rise of “illiberal democracies” challenges the assumption that
constitutionalism inherently supports liberal democracy. Analysing these
developments helps us understand the fragility of constitutional norms and the
ways authoritarian leaders can exploit legal mechanisms.
Key questions:
·
How do illiberal regimes use constitutional frameworks to
solidify power while undermining democratic principles?
·
In what ways are courts, laws, and constitutional
amendments leveraged to stifle dissent and limit civil liberties?
·
What is the role of global legal and political institutions
in responding to these shifts?
2.
Materialism, New Materialism, and Ecological Redefinitions of Legal-Economic
Relations
With the climate
crisis and environmental degradation at the forefront of global challenges,
legal scholars and economists are increasingly called to rethink economic
models that prioritize profit over ecological sustainability. New materialism
brings fresh perspectives on the interconnectedness of social, economic, and
environmental systems, potentially inspiring laws that recognize the rights of
nature, integrate ecological costs, and reshape economic responsibilities.
Key Questions:
·
How does new materialism redefine the legal-economic
relationship by emphasizing non-human actors (e.g., the environment,
technological systems)?
·
How is environmental rhetoric co-opted by dominant
capitalist ideology to perpetuate existing power structures, and in what ways
is law complicit in supporting this 'greenwashing' of capitalism?
·
How does law mediate the economic power of technology
companies, whose systems have become infrastructural and almost autonomous
within capitalist economies?
·
What new legal structures could emerge to reflect
interconnected, ecological models of economy and law?
3. The Role
of Utopian and Dystopian Imagination in Law and Political Economy
Utopian and
dystopian visions allow us to imagine positive or negative legal systems and
political scenarios outside the constraints of current neoliberal or capitalist
structures. By drawing on both hopeful and cautionary futures, legal and
economic scholars can explore radical reforms or protections that address power
imbalances, social inequities, and environmental degradation, creating
blueprints for societies resilient against authoritarianism and climate
catastrophe. We seek to renew the relevance of utopia in legal and economic
thought, holding that envisioning alternative futures remains not only
necessary but profoundly worthwhile in guiding transformative change toward
justice and sustainability
Key Questions:
·
How can utopian or dystopian imagination inform new
frameworks for economic justice and legal rights?
·
How does law contribute to, or even accelerate, dystopian
realities within capitalist societies?
·
In what ways might speculative futures guide us in
addressing today’s crises of inequality, authoritarianism, and environmental
decline?
·
What legal and economic principles might underlie a
political economy that genuinely respects ecological boundaries, social equity,
and human dignity?
4. The
Impact of Capitalism’s Crisis on War, Legal Orders, and Global Political
Structures
Capitalism’s
crisis is a catalyst for both internal and external conflicts, influencing the
rise of populism, nationalism, and militarized economies. The impacts on legal
orders range from increased domestic repression to contested international
norms. Exploring these dynamics can reveal how law is used both to enforce and
resist economic power, shedding light on how legal orders adapt or fail in
times of systemic upheaval.
Key Questions:
·
How does the contemporary crisis of capitalism—marked by
inequality, financial instability, and ecological limits—affect global legal
and political structures?
·
What role do militarization and conflict play in sustaining
or challenging current economic and legal orders?
·
How do international laws, trade agreements, and
intellectual property regimes uphold or exacerbate conflicts in ways that
benefit capitalist interests?
·
Can law simultaneously act as an agent of peace while being
complicit in the economic incentives that drive wars?
5.
Reimagining Sovereignty and Global Legal Frameworks from Law and Political
Economy Perspectives
The concept of
sovereignty is foundational to modern legal and political systems, yet it is
increasingly challenged by the realities of global capitalism, transnational
governance, and interconnected crises. Traditional notions of sovereignty,
centred on territorial control and centralized authority, often serve to uphold
the interests of global capital and state power. At the same time, these
frameworks frequently constrain efforts to address border-transcending issues
like climate change, labour exploitation, and resource extraction. This theme
invites scholars to explore how sovereignty and global legal frameworks can be
reimagined through a critical political economy lens that emphasizes material
and economic justice over geopolitical dominance and market interests.
Key Questions:
·
In an era where multinational corporations, international
trade agreements, and global financial institutions exert immense influence
over domestic policies, national sovereignty is often compromised, how do
global economic structures undermine or reshape state sovereignty, particularly
in developing countries?
·
What alternative forms of sovereignty could accommodate
transnational challenges like climate change, migration, and economic
inequality?
·
How might reimagining sovereignty through a political
economy lens allow for fairer distribution of resources and protection of
marginalized populations?
·
What role can international law play in moderating the
excesses of global capitalism.
Submission Guidelines
We welcome
abstracts (200–300 words) for individual papers and panels, that engage
critically with the relationship between law and political economy.
Interdisciplinary approaches are highly encouraged. Contributions can address theoretical,
historical, or empirical dimensions of the topic and may include case studies,
comparative analyses, or reflections on praxis.
The conference will be held in a hybrid
format, allowing for both in-person and virtual participation.
Keynote Speakers:
·
Marija Bartl (University of
Amsterdam)
·
Werner Bonefeld (University of York)
Conference fee: 120 EUR
Deadline for Submissions: 13 April 2025
Notice of Acceptance: 20 April 2025
Conference Date: 6-7 June 2025
Conference Venue: Faculty of Law, Masaryk
University, Brno, Czechia
Please submit abstracts including
affiliation to:
458644@muni.cz
Posts
