Call for papers

In the 21st century, international geopolitics has been reconfigured in the midst of two global crises: the environmental and health crises, coupled with armed conflicts, in a context of intense irregular migratory flows and growing economic inequality. On the other hand, the technological gap and the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are trends that present risks and opportunities that we must address. Cultural revolutions, especially the feminist and sexual diversity movements, as well as disenchantment with political democracy have triggered multiple social movements revealing specific problems that go beyond governments and require cross-cutting governance. Furthermore, political polarization and the resurgence of various expressions of populism and the rise of ultra-conservative governments threaten the processes of democratization and, at the same time, lead us to question the possible futures for North America and its relationship with other regions and the world.

In 2024, as they do every 12 years, Mexico and the United States coincide in their presidential elections; Canada, for its part, has a general election scheduled for 2025, which suggests common political agendas and shared futures. In the United States, on the other hand, following President Joseph Biden's withdrawal from the Democratic nomination and Vice President Kamala Harris's rapid positioning as a possible alternative to Trumpism, the campaign has escalated in polarization, political tensions and violence.

North America as a whole faces enormous challenges. 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), now the Mexico, United States and Canada Agreement (TMEC for its acronym in Spanish), which has become the institutional regulatory framework that favors nearshoring and the relocation of companies and investments to the region. However, there are issues that have generated arguments that will be taken to dispute resolution panels: transgenic corn and the energy issue. In addition, as contemplated, the TMEC will have its first review in 2026, which foresees complicated scenarios beyond who governs each country.

In order to investigate the possible scenarios of the aforementioned topics, as well as to discuss and analyze their impact on the priority problems and challenges of North American integration, from a multi- and interdisciplinary perspective, the Center for Research on North American, through the North American Studies Network (REDAN for its acronym in Spanish), invites you to participate in its Third Biennial Conference on North American Studies "Shared Futures?

 

Thematic axes

• Geopolitical and strategic studies
• Regional and interregional studies
• Social and cultural studies
The thematic axes include, illustratively but not limited to, issues such as the following:

  • • Human security
    • Energy and environmental security
    • Epidemiology
    • Regional and international security
    • Military-industrial complex
    • Governance

  • • Global value chains
    • International trade
    • Logistics
    • Financialization
    • Sectoral issues
    • Knowledge economy and high technology
    Nearshoring

  • • Skilled migration
    • Return migration
    • Migrant diplomacies
    • Transborder spaces
    • Refrontierization processes

  • • Soft power
    • Cultural industries
    • Interculturality
    • Popular culture
    • Shared identities
    • Transnational linkages

  • • Indigenous peoples
    • Social movements
    • Media and networks
    • Local, regional, and global actors

  • • Nationalisms
    • Democracy and citizen participation
    • Political systems and counterweight
    • Political parties
    • New populisms

  • • Transnational digital communities
    • Cultural and creative production in digital spaces
    • Post-truth and infodemic
    • Artificial Intelligence

Objectives


  • To promote interaction among specialists in different aspects relevant to the North American region and to encourage the participation of young people who are venturing into the research of new thematic lines in our field of study.
  • To discuss about the possible directions that regional integration processes could take from a comparative perspective, taking into account European, Asian and South American experiences, among others, in order to contrast them with the North American regional context.
  • To analyze Mexico's relations with the United States and Canada as commercial partners, in terms of cooperation, as well as recent socio-cultural manifestations in the North American region.
  • To identify the emerging social processes and how they are manifested in the current information society, as well as the policies that prevail in the trilateral relationship within the framework of the T-MEC.
  • To contribute to research, teaching and innovation agendas, as well as to the creation of new projects and lines of research for North American studies, in accordance with the current situation of the world.

Participation guidelines

We invite researchers, professors, representatives of civil society organizations, public officials, diplomats, students, and other parties interested in related areas of our field of study to participate in the various modalities included in this call for papers. Participants are encouraged to consider the research lines previously mentioned within the fields of social sciences and humanities, as well as the thematic axes linked to the title of the Congress as a starting point.

Participation modalities


Individual Papers

People interested in presenting individual papers are invited to submit a summary of up to 250 words, indicating the thematic axis and three keywords. Please register your individual paper using the following form.

Thematic Panels

Research groups are invited to propose a thematic panel (consisting of four to five papers registered under the same thematic axis). Please submit, in a single document, the title of the panel, a summary of up to 250 words for each paper, the thematic axis, and three keywords to redan@unam.mx  

Notes:

  • Papers may present research content at different stages of development, such as research projects, research progress, or presentation of results. The submission of theoretical and methodological discussion papers is also encouraged.
  • Considering the official languages of the three countries comprising the North American region, papers will be accepted in Spanish, English, and French (no simultaneous translation will be provided).

Venue

In-person: Center for North American Studies, floors 7 and 10 of Tower II of Humanities, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City.
Online: via Zoom.

Fees

Attendees
Free access

* A certificate of attendance will be issued to those who attend at least 7 panels in-person. Each panel will have an electronic attendance form.

Speakers
Fee

$1,500.00 MXN or 100 US dollars
From December 2 to December 13, 2024

Late registration fee

$2,000.00 MXN or 120 US dollars
From January 6 to January 10, 2025

*50% discount for UNAM Community and REDAN members

Dates to remember

Call for papers launching

May 17th, 2024

EXTENSION: NEW DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS September 6, 2024
Notification of approved presentations October 31st, 2024
Preliminary program December 2nd, 2024
Fee payment deadline December 13th, 2024
Extemporary fee payment January 6th to 10th, 2025
Final program (only the name of those who paid during the regular period will be published in the program) January 20th, 2025
Third Biennial Conference on North American Studies “Shared Future?” February 17th to 21st, 2025

Executive Commitee

Dra. Graciela Martínez-Zalce Sánchez

Dr. Juan Carlos Barrón Pastor

Dr. Oliver Santín Peña

Dr. Alejandro Mercado Celis

Dr. Roberto Zepeda Martínez

Contact

Location:

Floors 7 and 10 of Tower II of Humanities
Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City.

Phones

55 5623 0300 to 55 5623 0309