Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory
CALL FOR PAPERS: SPECIAL ISSUE ON FEAR
Distinktion: Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory invites papers for a special issue on fear to be
published in 2011.
Fear is a central concept in both social and political theory. At least since Hobbes and Spinoza it
has played a constitutive role in the analysis of the state and domination. The government of
populations and individuals can be said to operate by "technologies of fear" (Brian Massumi) and
present society as "exposed community," thus promoting an individual retreat to privacy. Coping
with fear becomes an individual problem, while the production of fear remains invisible.
Fear fulfils an important moral function in neo-liberal government. The constant threat of
unemployment and poverty, and anxiety about the future, induce foresight and prudence giving
rise to a “culture of danger” (Michel Foucault). Fear not only stimulates a consciousness of
uncertainty to facilitate economic entrepreneurship, but it is also an important catalyst for the
medicalization of society. It transforms healthy individuals into asymptomatically ill people expected
to take preventive measures, go to regular medical check-ups and control their bodily risk.
Fear also has an important segregatory function. It divides society into particular homogenous
communities of social, ethnic, religious or economic equals each governed by the assumption of
non-dangerousness. Here the difference between endangered and dangerous individuals comes
into play – a line of demarcation that materializes spatially in gated communities and slums, but is
also visible in neighbourhood watch programs.
We invite scholars to analyze any essential aspect of fear as a social and political phenomenon.
The topic can be approached from a variety of disciplinary perspectives such as political
philosophy, social theory, social psychology, sociology of emotions, etc. Suggested themes:
- Risk and fear
- Terror and fear
- Fear and economic crisis
- Consuming/enjoying fear
- Health and fear
- Fear as an organizing principle of social life
Papers may approach the subject of fear either in the light of these themes or by opening up new
perspectives on fear. This may be done from a theoretical point of view or by working through
empirical cases, while empirical work should also contain distinct contributions to social theory.
Submission guidelines
Deadline for submissions is October 1 2010. Papers must be in English. See www.distinktion.dk
for details about style and form. Please send papers to distinktion(at)ps.au.dk. Publication is based
on a double-blind peer-review process. The editors are happy to receive inquiries by email.
Editors of the special issue:
Thomas Lemke, Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Germany; email: lemke(at)em.uni-frankfurt.de
Lars Thorup Larsen, Aarhus University, Denmark; email: lars(at)ps.au.dk
Thor Hvidbak, Agency for Governmental IT-services, Denmark; email: thor.hvidbak(at)gmail.com
Distinktion: Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory publishes innovative papers, which make a
substantial contribution to social theory. The Journal invites articles from sociology, political theory,
cultural and legal studies, anthropology, and philosophy that provide original perspectives on the
social. Based in a Scandinavian context, characterized by prioritizing no single theoretical horizon,
the Journal creates a space for theoretical contestation that includes both continental and Anglo-
American traditions. Distinktion has published original papers by prominent international scholars,
including Nikolas Rose, Engin F. Isin, Mitchell Dean, Slavoj Zizek, Karin Knorr Cetina, Harrison C.
White, Richard Swedberg and Jürgen Habermas. Previous special issues on Niklas Luhmann,
economic sociology, Gabriel Tarde, political theology, bioeconomy, and successive modernities.
From 2011, Distinktion will be published with Taylor & Francis.