From Wall Street to Main Street: The Regional Politics of Occupying (an edited collection, Feb. 15)

full name / name of organization: 
Drs. Comer and Crook
contact email: 

While our collection on the local manifestations of Occupy Wall Street currently boasts fourteen excellent essays, we would like to consider a few more proposals focused on the politics of the local and regional. We're looking, in particular for more theory-oriented essays, though imaginative takes on the topic are always welcome.

Deadline for proposals: Feb 15.

Please see below for the original call for papers:
----

Broad messages, complicated political positions, and blurred generational and class lines characterize and problematize the Occupy Wall Street movement. As if its connection to the Canadian magazine Adbusters were not enough, this "U.S." movement's clearest and most original position may be its denial of position. Beyond "We are the 99%"—a general position against greed and inequality—the "movement" remains difficult to categorize in terms of the red/blue politics of the United States. The picture becomes even more complicated at the regional level where clear, defining symbols of nationalist power and capital are absent.

Our call for papers asks for work which explores the relationship between Occupy Wall Street (OWS) and Occupy Main Street (OMS). How do OWS politics change when moved to Main Street (in terms of organization, agenda, focus, audience, tactics)? How does the complicated positioning of OWS and OMS allow for change?

We seek work which attempts to theorize OWS politics in terms of the local and regional and explores some of the practical issues involved in this movement from the "center" to the "margins" of Ohio, Brussels, Hong Kong, Egypt, and so on. We seek narratives which depict the process by which Occupy Wall Street is translated by grassroots organizers and others outside of New York City.

Your 300 word abstract (or proposal) and a brief bio (and any questions) should be emailed to Todd A. Comer (Defiance College) and Nathan Crook (Ohio State University) at occupydefiance@gmail.com.