CfP: EU&IMF in turbulent times @ ECPR joint session in Maintz, Mar 2013

[Zdenek Kudrna]

Dear colleagues,

we invite papers for our workshop on “Europe and the IMF: governing an
unexpected relationship through turbulent times” at the ECPR Joint
Sessions in Mainz, 11-16 March 2013.

Deadline is November 5, 2012 (see
http://new.ecprnet.eu/Events/PanelList.aspx?EventID=7 or below).

Best regards,

Zdenek Kudrna,
University of Vienna, zdenek...@univie.ac.at

Katharina Gnath,
Freie Universität Berlin/Hertie School of Governance,
gn...@transnationalstudies.eu

Sorry for cross-posting.

Europe and the IMF: governing an unexpected relationship through turbulent times

Abstract: The financial crisis has transformed the relationship
between the IMF and Europe. In 2006, the IMF was a struggling
institution, facing a budget shortfall and shedding staff. Since 1976,
the IMF had had no active program in the old EU member states and its
influence in new member states was also fading. Hence, prior to the
crisis, the IMF’s role in Europe had been confined to technical
consultancy and Article-IV surveillance.
The crisis has returned the IMF to the center of international crisis
management and economic policymaking. The G20 tripled the Fund’s
resources, and the IMF was able to expand its lending framework and
enhance its surveillance mandate. With more than 40% of the current
IMF crisis financing flowing to EU member states, the Fund’s role in
Europe has increased dramatically. Initially, the IMF was called upon
to intervene in individual European economies, such as Iceland,
Latvia, Romania, or Hungary. As the crisis spread across Europe, the
IMF has become central for the stabilization of the entire Eurozone:
EU member states decided to channel hundreds of billions of Euro to
Greece, Ireland, and Portugal through new joint IMF-EU programs.
Moreover, the IMF became financially and politically involved in
European reform initiatives, such as the European Financial Stability
Fund, the European Stability Mechanism or the re-regulation of
European cross-border banking.
The crisis has also revived the debate on IMF governance reform. In
2010, Europe agreed to a quota shift in favor of emerging countries
and to give up two seats at the Executive Board. At the same time, the
reengagement of the Fund in Europe – combined with the appointment of
a new European IMF managing director in 2011 – raises concerns about a
European bias and the excessive exposure of non-European members to
the problems of the “old continent”.

Papers: We invite papers analyzing the transformation and current
state of the relationship between the IMF and Europe. In particular,
we welcome papers that:
* focus on the transformational effects of the crisis experience on
either the EU or the IMF, and on case studies of EU-IMF programs in
individual European countries;
* include a comparative element across time or space (such as
comparing the state of the relationship before and during the crisis,
or comparing programs within and beyond Europe);
* formulate more general conclusions that are informed by relevant
theoretical debates within international political economy or EU and
global governance studies.

Specific research questions might include but are not confined to: How
successful was the IMF’s surveillance of the Eurozone in the run-up to
the crisis? What was the impact of the IMF on the European
stabilization programs and European economic governance? In what ways
have IMF policies towards Europe differed from those directed at
emerging markets? How has Europe’s role and standing within the IMF
changed in the last decade? How does the Euro crisis alter the
patterns of European coordination and influence within the IMF? Any
other paper proposal related to the broader theme will also be
considered.

Submissions: Applications can be uploaded via the ECPR website until 5
November 2012: http://ecprnet.eu/Joint%20Sessions/2013_Mainz/Default.aspx.
They should include an outline of how the proposed paper contributes
to the general themes of the workshop (max 500 words) and an abstract
of the proposed paper (max 250 words).

Selected applicants are expected to participate during the entire
duration of the workshop. Graduate students are eligible to ECPR
accommodation and travel grants (see ECPR website). Further funding
may become available from external sources over the course of the
coming months.