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13.11.2009
Conference

Justification narratives. Legitimization and narrative understanding

2nd Annual International Conference of the Cluster of Excellence

The second annual conference of the Frankfurt Cluster of Excellence on the “Formation of Normative Orders” is dedicated to the topic of “Justification Narratives”. With the help of this concept, the historical dimension of orders of justification, i.e. the narratives that condense into legitimizations of social structures and institutions, is to be explored in particular. They do not form homogeneous blocs, but are to be analyzed in their plurality, conflictuality and dynamics.

With the keyword ‘justification narrative’, the annual conference is dedicated to a central object of investigation of the cluster. This refers to narratively structured justifications for the legitimacy or illegitimacy of normative orders. It is just as much a matter of extracting justification narratives from broader discourses as it is of examining how to deal with the fact that justification narratives become detached and therefore often have to carry a historical, potentially self-relating dimension within them, without therefore giving up their claim to validity.

Program

Friday, November 13, 2009
Casino – Cas 823 Ballroom

10:00 a.m.: Welcome
Prof. Rainer Klump, Vice President of Goethe University

10.15 a.m.: Introductions
Prof. Rainer Forst, Co-Speaker of the Cluster of Excellence
Prof. Andreas Fahrmeir, Coordinator Research Field 2

10.30 – 12.30:
Panel I: Justification narratives in times of transition

Introduction Prof. Moritz Epple
Lecture Prof. Hans Kippenberg: “Das Thomas-Theorem In der modernen Religionsgeschichte. On the difference between normative attitudes and actions”
Lecture by Prof. Hartmut Leppin: “Deo auctore – Die Christianisierung kaiserlicher Selbstdarstellung in der Spätantike”
Discussion

12.30 p.m.: Lunch break

14.00 – 16.00 hrs:
Panel II: Justification narratives in international negotiation processes
Introduction Prof. Klaus Dieter Wolf
Lecture Dr. Gunter Pleuger: “The normative effects of multilateral negotiation”
Lecture Prof. Nicole Deitelhoff: “Political practice and political analysis. A commentary”
Discussion

16.00 hrs: Coffee break

16.30 – 18.30 hrs:
Panel III:Human Rights as Rights ProductionNarratives?
Introduction Prof. Klaus Günther
Lecture Prof. Robert Howse: “Human Rights Discourse in World Trade”
Lecture Prof. Günther Frankenberg: “Human Rights as Rights Production Narratives”
Discussion

7 p.m.: Reception

Saturday, November 14, 2009
Hörsaal-Zentrum – HZ 3

10.00 – 12.30 hrs:
Panel IV: Aesthetics of Justification Narratives
Introduction Prof. Matthias Lutz-Bachmann
Lecture Prof. Michael Hampe: “Explanation through Description”
Lecture Prof. Martin Seel: “Narration and (De-)Legitimation. The second Iraq war in the cinema”
Discussion

12:30 p.m.: Lunch break

14.00 – 16.00:
Panel V: Economic Justification Narratives

Introduction: Prof. Mamadou Diawara and Betram Schefold
Lecture Prof. Harri Englund: “Economic Rights as a Justification Narrative: Poverty and Vulnerability in Africa”
Lecture Prof. Keith Tribe: “The Limits of the Market: Walras versus Becker”
Discussion

16.00: Closing remarks
Prof. Klaus Günther

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