Call for papers - Making democracy work in the digital age (Vilnius, Lithuania)

 
Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University (Lithuania) and Lithuanian Political Science Association invites to submit papers for the international conference "MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK IN THE DIGITAL AGE", which will take place in 5-6 November 2009, Vilnius, Lithuania. 
 
During the last decades there has been much discussion about the deepening problems of democracy such as diminishing electoral turnout, increasing dissatisfaction with political institutions, transformation of politics into a political spectacle. These problems raise the question of the effectiveness and the meaning of the traditional democratic mechanisms in the contemporary society and point to the need to look for new forms of communication between citizens and government, based on the creative use of the opportunities offered by new information and communication technologies. 
 
The conference addresses the question whether and how new information technologies can improve the quality of democracy. Might they help solving the problems of democratic mechanisms, or should we reconsider the major assumptions of the functioning of democracy in an advanced post-industrial society? Can new technologies reactivate traditional mechanisms (for example, voting as an essential element of democracy), or should we search for new means and new vital forms of civic involvement that would guarantee the effective implementation of democratic principles in a postmodern society? 
 
We invite proposals for papers to address the following themes: 
• Transformation of political engagement and new forms of online political activism 
• Internet and party politics: will the Internet save or erode political parties? 
• Transformation of public sphere and online political deliberation 
• Internet in electoral campaigns 
• E-governance and e-participation 
• E-democracy innovations 
 
The Conference is organized by the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University and Lithuanian Political Science Association. It is sponsored by the Lithuanian State Science and Studies Foundation. Venue: Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University (Vokiečių str. 10, Vilnius). Conference working languages: English and Lithuanian. Applications (consisting of an abstract no longer than 500 words and a short academic CV) should be sent to galina.vascenkaite@tspmi.vu.lt. The deadline for applications is 21 September 2009. Accepted papers will be notified by 12 October, 2009. 
There is no conference fee. The organizers will cover accommodation costs of paper givers. Limited number of travel grants is available for participants who do not have other sources of funding to attend the conference. To apply for the travel grant please contact galina.vascenkaite@tspmi.vu.lt. 
More information: http://www.e-democracy.lt