Gemdev
Call for Papers
Conference on Political Capitalism
Budapest, 15-16 May 2025
The topic of our conference is “political capitalism”, a special variant of capitalism that has been highlighted first by Max Weber (1905, 1922). It refers to capitalism in distribution sphere before the advent of market capitalism inproduction sphere in the nineteenth century. Political capitalism describes profit-making or rent seeking through non-market channels. It was prevalent during the Roman and Chinese empires during wartime and in the Middle Ages, however, rent seeking through political channels is not limited to Antiquity or Middle Ages. It existed before the advent of market capitalism, but it also developed after the rise of modern capitalism. Different non-market channels include not only the state, political parties and groups, or political figures but also religious and military organizations. The influencers comprise a wide range of power centers that can exercise organized and coercive supra economic force.
The conference aims to deepen our understanding on the diversity of capitalisms notably political capitalisms in contradistinction with market capitalisms, namely profit-making through competitive market channels. The conference welcomes scholars with different scientific stance in social sciences (economics, development studies, law, history, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, international relations studies, etc.). Scholars of two fields of multi-disciplinary studies are especially encouraged to participate i) comparative and institutional studies; ii) political economy of capitalisms.
The aim of the conference is to offer a state-of-art introduction of the research on political capitalism.
Some of our research questions:
- What are the relationships between political capitalism and market capitalism?
- What are the relationships between political capitalism and market and state failures?
- What is the place of rent-seeking and monopoly in promoting political capitalism?
- What are the differences between political capitalism in the past and present?
- How political capitalism can be characterized theoretically?
- What does explain the diversity pf political capitalism?
- What is the place of corruption in political capitalisms?
- Is there a specific accumulation regime for political capitalisms?
- What are comparative advantages and disadvantages of political capitalisms?
- What is the impact of political capitalism on economic performance and development?
- What are the efficiencies and inefficiencies of political capitalism?
- What is their impeding and enhancing role in promoting market capitalism?
- What is their impact on institutionalization of specific forms of political power, namely liberal democracy, autocracies, illiberal democracies, etc.?
- What is the relation between political capitalism and populism?
- What is the role of fundamental laws particularly constitutional laws in promoting capitalism?
- What is the relation between political capitalism and state predation?
- What is the relation between political capitalism and developmental state?
We welcome papers focusing on theory, historical background of political capitalism, micro, meso, macro and country wide studies of political capitalisms at world level. All methodological approaches are welcome.
We acknowledge the variety of theoretical perspectives in tackling the issue of political capitalism. There exists a burgeoning literature on the topic that includes Marxist, Austrian, Institutional, Keynesian approaches, etc. Theoretical papers may approach political capitalism from different perspectives, enriching the literature and illuminating the boundaries of political capitalism in relation to state capitalism, state socialism, fascism, and crony capitalism.
The rise of state in modern capitalism with all its power to regulate markets has been the target of scrutiny by economists studying rent-seeking, capture, and predatory measures. Corporate raiding, revolving doors and state predation are a few illustrations of modern capitalism all over the world particularly in the USA, Russia, China, Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, and Post-Socialist countries. The presence of political capitalism is widespread not only at macro- but also meso- and microlevels. Political enterprises, different sectors (natural resources, infrastructure, health sector, social protection, finance, service sectors, etc.). This explains the relevance of specific forms of political capitalism in understanding the role of collusion between the state and the private sector in rent-seeking. We invite all scholars focusing on these issues to submit their contributions to the conference.
Keynote speakers:
Philippe Aghion
College de France, INSEAD, London School of Economics (on-line)
Pranab Bardhan
University of Berkeley
Vladimir Gel’man
University of Helsinki
Randall Holcombe (tbc)
Florida State University
Claude Menard
University Paris 1, Pantheon-Sorbonne
Branko Milanovic
City University of New York
Mehrdad Vahabi
University of Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN)
Chenggang Xu
Stanford University
Venue: Corvinus University of Budapest (www.uni-corvinus.hu)
Address: Hungary, 1093 Budapest, Fővám tér 8.
Corvinus University of Budapest is Hungary’s leading institution in the fields of economics and social sciences. Currently, around 10,000 students are enrolled at Corvinus, including 2,000 international students. The university maintains close partnerships with over 200 universities worldwide. Corvinus consistently ranks highly in international higher education rankings. In the 2019 Eduniversal Ranking, its Master’s in Business and Management program was ranked number one in the region, and since 2005, its Masters in Management and Leadership has been consistently ranked among the top 100 business schools globally by the Financial Times. Corvinus University of Budapest is also the only institution in Hungary in the field of economic sciences to hold two international institutional accreditations.
We will organize the conference in a hybrid format. Participants who wish to join online will have the option to give a presentation or remotely listen to the conference presentations.
PhD session
During the conference, we will organize a special session for PhD students conducting research on the topic of political capitalism. The papers they submit will be reviewed by the organizers with the involvement of renowned experts in the field, who will provide suggestions for revisions. The editors of the Handbook of Political Capitalism will offer the best papers the opportunity to be published in the handbook.
Submission Requirements and Procedures
Deadline: The submission deadline is 15 November 2024; late submissions will not be considered. Acceptance or rejection notices will be issued by mid-December.
Submissions: Please submit your individual abstract by email topoliticalcapitalism@uni-corvinus.hu.
A proposal for presentation of a paper or for presentation in a panel mustinclude the following:
- Names & full contact details of Corresponding Author.
- Name & full contact details of Presenting Author.
- Listing of all authors of the paper, including affiliation and email addresses.
- Title of the paper.
- Abstract (max. 300 words).
- 2 JEL codes.
- 3 keywords.
You can propose a panel as well. Each panel should have 3 or 4 contributors. If you are proposing a panel, please ensure that the required information about each individual contributor on the panel is submitted, and that the contributor includes with the submission the title of the panel and the panel organizer’s name. A proposed panel with fewer than 3 papers / contributors can see their proposed panel complemented with additional contributions.
Submission of final papers: Please submit your paper not later than 1. May 2025 by email to politicalcapitalism@uni-corvinus.hu. Only submitted full papers can be presented.
Requirements for submitted papers:
- Text of your paper cannot exceed 10,000 words,
- Reference style: APA
Publication
Full papers submitted and presented at the conference are eligible for consideration for publication in the Handbook of Political Capitalism. Acceptance notice will be issued till 31st of May 2025.
Accepted paper can be revised and resubmitted till 1. September 2025.
Conference fee
The conference fee is 100 euro (both for in-person or on-line participants). Participants are responsible for covering their own travel, accommodation, and other expenses.
Information for payment:
Name: BUDAPESTI CORVINUS EGYETEM
Account number: 11763842-01079885
IBAN: HU20 1176 3842 0107 9885 0000 0000
SWIFT/BIC: OTPVHUHB
Name of the bank: OTP Bank
Description of transaction: Full name of participant + PPESD1603T + Conference on Political Capitalism
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We look forward to your submissions!
Organizers:
- Corvinus University of Budapest, Corvinus Institute of Advanced Studies, and Institute of Economics
- University of Sorbonne Paris Nord, Centre d’Economie de l’Université de Paris Nord
- The Hungarian Society for New Institutional Economists
Miklós Rosta
Corvinus University of Budapest
Prof. Mehrdad Vahabi
University of Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN)