Calls for papers

 

International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education

 

Call for Proposals on: "Contending Perspectives as Pluralism: What Have Our Students Learned?"

Symposium Editors:
Rob Garnett, Texas Christian University, USA
Andrew Mearman, University of the West of England, UK

The International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education invites proposals (title and abstract only) for short papers (maximum 6000 words) that explore the complex chemistry of using a contending perspectives approach to pursue pluralist goals in economics education.

Papers resulting from proposals for this symposium will be peer reviewed and, if accepted, published as part of a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education.

Two decades ago, Chuck Barone (Dickinson College, USA) published an influential paper, “Contending Perspectives: Curricular Reform in Economics.” Barone detailed the motivation, goals, and structure of his department’s “contending perspectives” course – a required, intermediate-level course in which students are introduced to Radical/Marxian, Old Institutionalist, Austrian, Post Keynesian, and Steady-State paradigms. While Barone did not use the term pluralism, his liberal arts vision of promoting students’ intellectual and ethical development through exposure to alternative economic theories became a starting point for the development of similar courses in economics departments across the globe.

Taking Barone’s model as a starting point, the aim of this IJPEE symposium is to reflect anew on the educational goals of pluralist economics education (What are they? How do we know when students have achieved them?) and the role of “contending perspectives” in achieving these goals.

Strong preference will be given to concrete cases from teaching practice that address one or more of the above (or related) questions and to theoretical papers that advance discussion of pluralist economics education in the context of the issues outlined above. Proposals from scholars in developing nations are especially encouraged.

Subject Coverage
We invite submissions that ask questions of the following type:

• What are the concrete learning goals of a pluralist course in economics? What knowledge, skills, dispositions, or other student outcomes do pluralist courses aim to achieve?


• How does the nature of a "contending perspective" vary according to national, cultural, or religious context?


• What formal or informal markers can instructors use to gauge student achievement of pluralist goals?


• How does a "contending perspectives" approach enhance or undermines student achievement of pluralistic learning goals?


• Would pluralist learning goals be better served by a contending perspectives course that included diverse approaches within the contemporary mainstream?

Notes for Prospective Authors

Proposal may be sent as per instructions below. Any subsequent submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. (N.B. Conference papers may only be submitted if the paper was not originally copyrighted and if it has been completely re-written).

All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Papers Submission section under Author Guidelines

Important Dates

Proposal deadline: 15 March 2010

Decisions announced: 1 April 2010

Paper deadline: 15 June 2010