The Everyday Formation of the State

The study of the state has traditionally been pursued by way of two complementary
tendencies: national historiographic works that examine the creation and vicissitudes
of this or that state and conceptual works that attempt to identify and explain the
nature or character of 'the state' as such. Both of these tendencies, in addition to
many other shared pitfalls, have usually taken the state as something that exists on a
plane above and beyond everyday social life. Whether focused on poets and
philosophers, kings and despots, wars and revolutions, or trade and treaties, the usual
point of view presupposed within the literature on the state is that one has to look 'up'
to see the state, that the state is external to and beyond the everyday.

In direct opposition to this tradition, recent developments in the social sciences have
led to current studies that attempt to uncover the everyday materiality of the state.
Rather then viewing the state as something external to 'civil society' or as 'above'
social agency, a new style of social inquiry has emerged that attempts to make sense
of the state as a product of everyday experiences and practices. This special half-day
workshop will bring together key researchers working in this tradition for the purposes
of taking stock of the current contributions that his literature has made toward the
study of state and helping to identify the key questions and problems that still need to
be addressed and examined.

Participants will include:
Peter Bratsis, University of Salford
Tim Hall, University of East London
Alex Jeffrey, University of Newcastle
Joe Painter, University of Durham
Glyn Williams, University of Sheffield

For those interested in history and politics.
Contact Dr Peter Bratsis at p.bratsis@salford.ac.uk or on 0161 295 6555