Conf/CfP - Informality in Central and South-East Europe: Linkages between Political and Economic Actors, 30-31 October 2015, Belgrade, Serbia

Informality represents important feature of post-socialist societies. Informal and personal networks that predate from socialist period are important legacy for development of democratic systems and market economy in former socialist countries. Particularly in the context of weak and blurred institutional and normative framework, individuals tend to rely more on informal institutions and practices. Because of that, patterns of clientelism and question of the 'culture of informality' are important for understanding of contemporary trajectories in political and economic subsystems of former socialist societies.

The aim of the conference is to present current knowledge and further developments in the debate on informal relations, structures, practices and norms which are established between political and economic actors on central and/or local levels in the states of Central and South-East Europe. Informal practices such as personal and patron-client relations, clientelism, their roots and impacts on social, political and economic structures and behaviors will be in the focus of the conference. Careful attention to informal practices is critical for understanding the incentives that enable and constrain political behavior. Political actors respond to a mix of formal and informal incentives, and in some instances, informal incentives trump the formal ones. Scientific exploration of informal structures and institutions is especially demanding task which acquires 'a new set of research challenges'. Exchange of knowledge and experiences in employing different methods in investigation of informal linkages between political and economic elites will be as well important thematic area of the conference.

Following topics will be in the focus of the conference:

• Informal mechanisms and practices of interlocking political and economic actors
• Roots and impacts of clientelism and patronage
• Interplay between formality and informality in interlocking political and economic actors
• Methodological innovation in researching informal links between political and economic elites

The organizers invite theoretical and empirical contributions on the topics listed above, or related. Particular attention will be given to empirically based contributions whether comparative or country specific. Abstracts should be of about 500 words, in English, and must be accompanied by name(s) of author(s), their institutional affiliation, and email(s). Abstracts must be submitted to conference_informality@secons.net before 1st August 2015. Abstracts will be evaluated by members of the scientific committee. Participants will be informed about the acceptance of their contribution no later than September 10th 2015.

For any additional information about conference, please contact Nebojsa
Pavlovic conference_informality@secons.net or +381 11 412 1257.

http://www.romstudyabroad.com/