Call for papers MD – 12TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE Casablanca, Morocco May 21–25, 2012

Theme: Development in the Era of Markets

Host: Université Hassan II Mohammedia, Casablanca,Morocco

Submission Deadline: January 1, 2012

www.ismd.org

Conference Co-Chairs:

Sammy K. Bonsu Schulich School of Business York University Toronto, ON, Canada

Pr.Saâd Charif d’Ouazzane President, Université Hassan II Mohammedia Casablanca,Morocco

The world has undergone significant transformations over the past few decades. Advances in technologies and the concomitant increased globalization have encouraged countries to open up more to global business; new forms of political governance are emerging, cultures are becoming less indigenous, etc. One result of this trend of affairs is that the processes and practices of business are adapting to the associated transformation of markets and marketing. For instance, capital markets are now seen as the primary mode for investments mobilization in most developing countries. Indeed, these and other markets are often seen as the dominant forces of influence on development. There, are of course, positive and negative sides to any kind of human advance. Much remains to be uncovered in the broader socio-economic, political, cultural and other arenas that work to define contemporary development in the era of the market. This conference seeks to mobilize diverse perspectives in this regard toward a better understanding of the processes of practices of development in contemporary society. Part of the goal for this conference then is to bring together traditional and emerging thoughts on the new era of markets and its connection to human development in all its forms. In this regard, we encourage papers and sessions on a redefinition of development grounded in contemporary

1understanding of markets and marketing. That is, we seek works that explore the current nature of development and the role that markets and marketing play in it. We recognize that these roles may have changed from what they used to be two decades ago. Even so, we cannot forget the past as we look into the future. Therefore, historical and traditional treatments of marketing and development are also welcome. Some questions that are worth pondering for purposes of the conference are: Who are the beneficiaries of contemporary development efforts? Who are marginalized by these efforts? And what can be done to enhance development benefits and mitigate the negative effects?

Ultimately, the conference seeks to help understand markets, market processes and market institutions (at both micro and macro) and their connections to human development. As with earlier ISMD conferences, we anticipate thinking and investigations that rely on existing models to suggest new avenues for enhancing development around the world. Oh, we might even challenge the essence of the term “development”!

To this end, we are inviting submissions to eleven topical conference tracks described below. Each paper or panel submission should be addressed to only one specific track. Please select the track closest to your submission. For special session proposals or topics that are not captured by the identified tracks, please send proposals to Detlev Zwick (dzwick@schulich.yorku.ca) and Sammy Bonsu (sbonsu@schulich.yorku.ca).

Tracks and Chairs

Track 1: Critical Perspectives of (Post) Development in the Age of Markets Chairs: Alan Bradshaw (Alan.Bradshaw@rhul.ac.uk, Royal Holloway University of London) and Detlev Zwick, York University (DZwick@shulich.yorku.ca)

Of all the 20th century ideas, few have generated the kind of passionate and drawn-out controversy as that of Western ‘development’. Since Arturo Escobar’s book Encountering Development (1995), which made him the iconic face of the post-development movement, many theorists have built upon the monograph’s main ideas and looked at Western development as a pervasive cultural discourse with profound consequences for the production of social reality in the so-called Third World. Critical of the actions of states, markets and international aid organizations, some scholars, including Escobar, have examined possibilities for social change that is led by new and often local social movements and progressive non-governmental organizations. For many critical scholars, however, (post)development studies have reached an impasse. In the final analysis, critical development work is the work of imagining alternatives to the mainstream discourse of Western developmentalism and imagining a role for markets that is not overdetermined by self-interested capitalist states or by neoliberal ideologies of supra-national organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank and others. This track seeks both theoretical and empirical papers that look critically at how markets and marketing (capitalism generally) close down or perhaps open up spaces for alternative paths of development.

Track 2: Financial Markets and Development Chairs: Kenneth Yap (kenneth.yap@uwa.edu.au), University of Western Australia,

In a 2005 report, titled “Financial Market Development”, the Inter-American Development Bank observed that “Well-functioning financial markets are one of the most important determinants for economic development and growth. They enable the reduction of the cost of capital and foster progress and innovation. In addition, globalization has made their role even more important. Relatively underdeveloped financial markets in Latin America and the Caribbean create bottlenecks that impede economic growth as well as the reduction of poverty in the region. Governments, regulators, policymakers and the private sector are becoming increasingly concerned with the urgency of these challenges and are undertaking actions to address

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them.” Similar arguments have been advanced for capital market development in Africa, Asia and elsewhere. Of course, there are several non-traditional financial markets in the formal sector (e.g., micro-financing) and the informal sector (e.g., the ‘susu’ protocol in many African countries) that also play significant roles in socio-economic development. The organization of these markets bring to mind matters of dependency of foreign capital (stock market or even the “kiva.org” model of micro-financing) and ethical investing. There are two sides to every argument. Therefore, this track invites both supporting arguments and critical viewpoints of the roles that traditional and non-traditional financial markets play in development.

Track 3: Politics, Markets and Socio-Economic Development in the Arab Region Chair: Aliakbar Jafari (Aliakbar.Jafari@strath.ac.uk), University of Strathclyde Business School

The recent political uprisings in the Arab world (e.g., Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Bahrain) are deeply rooted in people’s yearning for better life conditions and socio-economic justice as well as political reforms and social change. As highlighted by ‘The Economic Freedom of the Arab World Conference 2009’, the lack of synergy between economic liberalization and political reforms has, during the past few decades, deeply institutionalized cronyism and lack of transparency in these countries. Consequently, diverse economic activities and business practices have not only not created equal opportunities for people to participate in and enjoy market developments, but also intensified socio-economic injustice (e.g., unemployment, poverty, and unequal access to marketplace resources). Given the changing political climate in these countries, it is imperative to understand how markets and marketing (as a market making resource) are likely to be affected and affect socio-economic development in these societies. In this track, we invite both theoretical and empirical papers that reflect the changing dynamics in the Arab world and their implications for development

Track 4: China and Global Development in a New World Order Chairs: Aloysius Newenham-Kahindi, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Canada (Newenham-

kahindi@edwards.usask.ca) and Pia Polsa, Hanken School of Economics (polsa@hanken.fi)

China’s increasing role in the global economic and political arena has attracted significant attention. Exports from China, imports to China and Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) have increased at tremendous speeds. For instance, China’s trade with African has increased from 15% to 30% annually. This trend is expected to remain a major future of China’s global business, not only in Africa but around the world. Some argue that China’s success relates in part to the fact that she adopts an approach that is non-traditional (as defined by the Western experience). Given the volume and characteristics of Chinese economic and political involvement in world business and development, it is important to understand socio-economic and other influences on developing countries. We invite empirical, theoretical and critical papers on China’s involvement in global development. Papers in this track can take a Chinese perspective or a perspective from another country that considers China’s role in world business.

Track 5: Markets, Marketing and Development Chair: Sammy Bonsu (sbonsu@schulich.yorku.ca), York University.

In a groundbreaking piece in the Journal of Marketing, Peter Drucker (1958) argued that marketing is the most effective engine of socio-economic development through its ability to rapidly develop entrepreneurs and managers. Several scholars (Chuck Slater and his intellectual progeny, for instance) have since supported this view, outlining practices, processes and specific activities that facilitate these processes. Now there is no doubt at all that marketing and markets have had tremendous impact on socio-economic development around the world. Submissions in this track will contribute conceptually or empirically to the body of knowledge on the nature of the relationship between markets, marketing and socio-economic development. Historical analysis of markets and marketing are also welcome.

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Track 6: Humanitarian Logistics and Development Chairs: Ira Haavisto (ira.haavisto@hanken.fi) and Gyöngyi Kovács (kovacs@hanken.fi), HUMLOG Institute, Hanken School of Economics, Finland

Humanitarian logistics supports the delivery of humanitarian and development aid programs. Such delivery amounts to up to 80% of program costs. Thus a significant community has embraced the topics of logistics and supply chain management in the humanitarian and development contexts as to improve the service to beneficiaries. Renewed preparedness efforts for disaster relief have built on logistical concepts of postponement and speculation as well as framework contracts. But, challenges of climate change adaptation, urbanization and security put a renewed emphasis on long-term thinking, linking humanitarian aid to development. Given these challenges it is important to understand how logistics and supply chain design are going to be affected, and how they will affect development. In this track we invite both conceptual and empirical papers related to humanitarian logistics and supply chain management.

Track 7: Base–of-the-Pyramid Business and the Formation of Markets Chair: Sofia Altafi, (Sofia.Altafi@hhs.se), Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden; Sara Lindeman (sara.lindeman@gmail.com), Hanken School of Economics, Finland

Research on Base-of-the-Pyramid (BoP) business has generated hundreds of documented case studies depicting a wide range of innovative business model for serving the impoverished global majority. These cases have provided evidence for alternative and entrepreneurial approached to poverty reduction. Furthermore, much attention has been paid to providing knowledge and guidelines for companies that engage in BoP business. However, this nascent research has need of critical self- reflection, theoretical grounding as well as holistic perspectives. Business models do not operate in isolation, and increasingly it is recognized that BOP business is closely tied with market creation and formation. Different theoretical frames of reference as well as different empirical settings can foster a deeper understanding of how BOP business influences development and market formation. Submissions to this track would be conceptual or empirical papers that reflect the diverse perspectives on the role of BoP business in development and market formation.

Track 8: E-Commerce, Technology and Innovation in Development Contexts

Chair: Janice Denegri-Knott (jdknott@bournemouth.ac.uk) Bournemouth Media School, Bournemouth University

Within the context of developing nations, the adoption and appropriation of new technologies have followed very idiosyncratic and surprising trajectories. Internet penetration in some cities is surprisingly high while the success rate of e-commerce in both B2B and B2C contexts remains low. Latin American urbanites routinely access the Internet without owning computers via rental services available through cafes and mobile booths; previously disconnected and poor Sub-Saharan Africans and South Asians can access a whole range of financial services through their mobile phones. Trajectories are often fuelled by a high dosage of technological determinism, where technology itself is championed as paramount to abridging digital, economic and social divides. Despite the high hopes pinned on new technologies for market and societal development, little is known about the nuanced socio-historic contingencies that ultimately shape what and how technologies are appropriated and used. Similarly the efforts of consumers and local entrepreneurs who are coming up with their own technological solutions to cater for local needs and requirements to date have received little attention. In light of these issues, we invite conceptual and empirical submissions that deal with the conditions that account for the acceptance, adaptation or rejection of e-commerce, ICTs and other innovations in developing contexts.

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Track 9: Sustainable Markets, Consumer Rights and Justice: Chair: Gretchen Larsen (gretchen.larsen@kcl.ac.uk), King’s College London and Nil Ozcaglar- Toulouse (nil.toulouse@univ-lille2.fr), Univesite de Lille 2, Lille, France.

The notion of sustainable business practices promotes a balanced pursuit towards economic performance, social justice and environmental quality that affects all functional areas such as marketing, product development, operations, accounting. A key constituency of sustainable business practices is the consumer, whose rights and interests must be addressed in order to ensure a fully functioning and just marketplace. The right to a healthy and sustainable environment is but one of a number of consumer rights which for the last 50 years have formed an essential element in the formulation of policy to guide the workings of marketplaces. However, the relationship between sustainability, consumer rights and justice remains unchartered territory. Therefore this track invites both theoretical and empirical papers from diverse philosophies, practices, and methodologies to tackle the complexities and intricate nature of this field of inquiry as it relates to matters of development.

Track 10: The Arts and Development

Track Chairs: Finola Kerrigan (Finola.kerrigan@kcl.ac.uk), King’s College London and Hudita Nura Mustafa (ouakam2008@gmail.com).

Art has been viewed both as a facilitator of change and resistance as well as a pacifier of the people in the face of oppression. Many artists are active in social movements, in some cases, leading them into exile or to politician positions. As such, the arts can be seen as central to notions of social and political development. Alongside the internal role of the arts, visual art, music, dance, film and so on can be seen as central tools of communication of cultural and social identity in a globalised society. Finally, we can consider art as a product circulating in the global marketplace. This leads us to think about cross cultural marketing, global market segments and meaning making in a global market context. This track invites papers concerned with all aspects of the arts in the context of development or developing countries. Possible topics include (but are not limited to):

• The marketing of local art to global audiences • Arts as a mirror of developing economies • The role of art in international development • Artists as activists

• Cultural insight from examining the arts • The development of art markets

Track 11: Special Sessions Chairs: Sammy Bonsu (sbonsu@schulich.yorku.ca) and Detlev Zwick (dzwick@schulich.yorku.ca)

We recognize that there is no way we can capture all the issues of markets and development in the ten topics identified. Thus, we encourage your papers and proposals on topics that do not fit these topics. We encourage both orthodox and unorthodox submissions that connect markets, capitalism, entrepreneurship financial markets and business in general to the broader theme of socio-economic development.

Types of Submission

For this conference, ISMD will be accepting three types of submissions – long abstracts, complete papers, and panels proposals (special sessions). As best as possible, your submissions should be defined to fit into one of the ten topical tracks. If you are having difficulty identifying the appropriate track for your submission, please contact the chair for the track closest to your paper’s perspective. As noted, if

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your idea is so radical that it does not fit any of the identified topic areas, please forward your submission to the special session track chairs.

All submissions should be sent to the appropriate track chair(s) as an email attachment in MS WORD FORMAT by November 30, 2011. Papers must follow the JMM citation guidelines. If you have any questions about this call for papers, please contact the Conference Co-Chair, Sammy Bonsu (sbonsu@schulich.yorku.ca).

Publication Opportunity – JMM

Traditionally, ISMD conferences have made great efforts to create publishing opportunities for the best papers presented. The Journal of Macromarketing (JMM) is one of ISMD’s academic sponsors and has had a strong interest in the topic of markets, marketing, and development since its inception in 1981. JMM is considering a special issue based on the papers to be presented at ICMD-12. JMM encourages authors of the best and most relevant papers to submit developed versions of their papers for publication consideration in the Journal. All papers will be subject to the standard reviewing protocol of the Journal.

About ISMD

The International Society for Markets and Development (ISMD) is a non-profit professional association dedicated to advancing research and exchange of ideas relating to how markets and other institutions connect to socio-economic development. Membership in the organization is open to academics, development practitioners, non-profit organization members, and executives from around the world. More than 25 countries are represented within the current membership. Every two years, ISMD organizes the International Conference on Markets and Development (ICMD). The conference series was initiated in 1986. The last conference (ICMD-11) was held in Hanoi, Vietnam. The next conference (ICMD-12) is the one described in this call for papers. Future conference sites are noted on the Society’s website. For more information about the Society, visit www.ismd.org or contact Sammy Bonsu (sbonsu@schulich.yorku.ca).

Dealing in second hand goods: creating meaning and value – Liz Parsons

This paper looks into how the ways in which dealers create and maintain meaning and value in relation to the second hand goods they buy and sell.

Parson’s (2006) insinuates how price is largely a component of economic life while value is largely a component of social life.  In other words the values we attach to our possessions can be personalised but the creation and maintenance of these values is an inherently a social process. Dealers play a significant role in the process of value creation. They use a variety of techniques to inject meanings into objects.

It has been suggested dealers create new lives for objects as such, they die in one context and are revived in another, thus becoming ‘re-enchanted.’ While they may attempt to re-hant objects with meaning through the rituals of display and presentation, In the case of antiques in particular, dealers create an illusion of desire by manipulating the histories of objects to add value to them. Therefore, it has become essential for dealers to have in dept knowledge of markets and of the objects themselves because a key way in which they realise value is by exploiting the ignorance of others.

However, dealers must show a degree of morality and those dealers who avoid engaging in social relations are seen by other dealers as callous.

Consumer lifestyles and online shopping continuance intention.

N. Ahmad, A. Omar & T. Ramayah., 2010. Consumer lifestyles and online shopping continuance intention. Journal of Business strategies series. 11 (4), 227-243. Malaysia: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

This paper examines the factors which may affect a consumer’s intention to purchase in cyberspace.  It has become apparent how the term ‘Online Shopping’ cannot be defined in one particular way. Kim (2004) defines online shopping as examining, searching for, browsing for or looking at a product to get more information with the possible intention of purchasing on the internet. Alternatively, according to Chiu et al. (2009), online shopping can be considered as an exchange of time, effort and money for receiving products or services.

Yet, from the consumer’s perspective it may be suggested that online shopping eliminates such traditional shopping inconveniences of standing at the check outs, battling crowds etc. This has been supported by Rowley (1996), who states that customers are able to compare the available products and their prices from a variety of different outlets through the internet, without spending a lot of time searching. These comparison shopping sites may save customers’ time and money because they can see which retailer has the best price without visiting many web sites. Jiang and Rosenbloom (2005) indicated that price perception when measured on a comparative basis has a direct and positive effect on customer overall satisfaction and intention to return. Applying this to Amazon’s wish list ‘tab’ whereby you can put any product from outlets across the internet into one wish list. This may mean  some consumers use it more than just a wish list, but as a convenient way to compare prices in order to get the best deal and then categorising the item, i.e. deleting those that are more expensive. Then to return to the sites that offer price satisfaction.

Despite significant growth in online shopping, there is evidence to suggest that there are many consumers shopping with intent to buy at retail web sites but for some reason they do not complete the transaction. Cho (2004) indicates that although almost 95 percent of internet users visit online retail sites, most of them do so without the intention of actually making a transaction.

This may mean there is a need to’ incentivize’ the continuance of the transaction. As Min (2007) illustrates, trust and shopping enjoyment are identified as two motives of behavioural intention towards continuous use of online shopping. The effect of shopping enjoyment is much lower than both trust and satisfaction. Perceived risk is identified to have a direct effect on the consumer’s satisfaction and its effect on satisfaction is greater than perceived usefulness.

However, with this notion of ‘perceived usefulness’ in a wider context supports how people nowadays are living in an era of quite hectic and busy working lifestyles, and thus it has become very difficult for most people to go shopping outside their homes, making shopping online  a more useful tool to purchase commodities.  They may be ‘‘time starved’’ and constantly exploring ways to reduce the time taken to complete various tasks to manage their busy schedules (Vijayasarathy, 2004). Apparently, the time-deprived, multitasking orientations of heavy internet users have led to a profound change in shopping activities (Ahmad Et Al 2010).

Paper Summary – Daydreaming

Giambra, Leonard M. (2000), “Daydreaming Characteristics Across the Life-Span: Age Differences and Seven to Twenty Year Longitudinal Changes,” in Individual Differences in Conscious Experience

“It has happened to each of us, a spontaneous shift of attention from external stimuli to the contents of consciousness, i.e. we have daydreamed”

Giambra has created a study in which to measure the content and frequency of daydreaming against age. His findings also touch upon why we may fall into the spell of a daydream in the first place.

Past studies of daydreams have usually taken the form of either experimental or psychometric, Gaimbra went with the latter thus addressing the issue of whether the crafting and sustaining of daydreams declines with age using psychometric techniques.

For the purpose of his research, he defines a daydream as “a thought or image which occurs spontaneously – not deliberately recalled from memory or directly elicited by a perpetual stimulus – and is unrelated to the task at hand” This definition supports the idea put forward by Antrobus (1968) and Giambra (1995) whose research demonstrates “that an inverse relationship exists between the time spent in daydreaming and the information processing demands of the external world.” Thus saying when the external world doesn’t hold our full attention we are more inclined to daydream of something that differs from our current emotion or task.

Klinger (1971, 1990) has illustrated that daydreams tend to be crafted and related to “unfinished business” and “current concerns”. Parks, Klinger and Perlmutter (1988/9) have previous research that shows the elderly have fewer concerns thus meaning a reduced amount of reported daydreams. There is room for further study into what we discussed in class with Janice and how with age we appear to desire less therefore we find ourselves daydreaming less too. Could the feeling of desire correlate to regularity and the content of what we daydream?

To determine the content of our daydreams Klinger (1996) has provided evidence that people are especially and subliminally sensitive to external information related to their current concerns and this may initiate or determine the content of, daydreams. The chances are heightened if the concern is stimulated with a particular emotional overlay or influence.

“An Emerald Green Jaguar, A House on Nantucket, and an African Safari:” Wish Lists and Consumption Dreams in Materialist Society

Becci Dive

Paper Summary

The key objective of the paper is to open up pre-purchase dreaming as a form of consumer behaviour, in particular where these pre-purchase dreaming activities manifest in consumer wish lists, exploring the status of pre-purchase dreaming as an act of consumption. Existing examples of pre-acquisition phenomena touched on are materialistic aspirations (Fournier and Richins 1991), wish-lists (Belk and Zhou 1987), anticipatory consumption experiences (MacInnis and Price 1990), consumption fantasies (Hirschman and Holbrook 1982) and vicarious consumption experiences (MacInnis and Price 1987).

Fournier and Guiry comment that these pre-purchase dreaming activities flourish in materialistic cultures. Leiss et al (1986) recognise that the preoccupation with consumption that characterises these societies encourages cultivation of purchase goals, on-going entertainment of consumption dreams and the eternal search for suitable consumption prospects – activities that occur largely in the imagination. They also argue that marketing and advertising institutions encourage the imaginative ‘desiring mode’ by actively supporting the dream quality of consumption and purchase – they allow the consumer to entertain thoughts of ownership without making a commitment to purchase, developing the idea for ownership without payment.

Campbell (1987) proposes that “longing” is so filled with enjoyable states of fantasy that the simple anticipation of consumption comes to serve as a desired end-state in itself; imaginary consumption activities enjoy superordinate status above actual purchase and usage experiences.

The paper touches on the idea that society is conditioned to construct wish lists from an early age with writing to Santa, suggesting pre-acquisition dreaming is not only accepted but highly encouraged.

There is a focus on fantasy in the paper but they are split into two different types; creative fantasies, planful forms of daydreaming grounded in future experiences (Singer and Antrobus, 1963) or pure daydreaming fantasies, in which highly improbable events or fanciful wishes are entertained. They recognised that with both forms of fantasy, the gratification can be so positive that the fantasy serves as a surrogate experience (Singer 1966).

Literature shows that daydreaming and fantasy behaviours are widespread and met with positive public opinion being openly embraces for the enjoyment and stimulation they offer, and recognition of their positive adaptive functions.

Fournier and Guiry’s study showed that generally speaking, lists were dominated for desires for material possessions; bigger houses, new cars, luxury items, travel and consumption experiences were all popular on wish lists. The data could only partially support Singers (1966) idea that consumers aspiring to move up the social ladder dream about the symbols of their target group. They did, however, note that consumers with greater levels of satisfaction may have garnered many of their desires, become more selective in constructing their lists, or learned the negative effects of wishing for unattainable goals.

They conclude that pre-acquisitive dreaming plays a viable role in consumer culture – consumers entertain dreams of yet unacquired products and experiences for purposes of anticipatory consumption and purchase prioritisation, as well as for speculation and intrinsic enjoyment of the experience.

They separate consumer wish lists into two different forms and functions; some lists are reflective of anticipated purchase goals, “want lists”, while others are manifestations of consumption dreams in the purest sense, “wish lists”.

The Scacred and the Profane

Belk et al explore how objects can become vehicles to transcendent experiences and can show elements of the “sacred”.

The research shows that there is a clear difference between the sacred and the profane/ordinary. The sacred is usually related to religion, magic, totemism, animism and pagan cultures. However there is also proof that “sacred” goes beyond these. This paper explores through empirical and conceptual research that contemporary consumption carries aspects of the sacred and profane. Processes are examined principally through analysis of field data tempered by literature.

This work is intended as a conceptual contribution to parallel disciplines and as an empirical contribution to consumer research. The authors examine theories around religion to explain the sacred in consumption. They then look at the shift in boundaries between the sacred and the profane and finally link what areas of consumer behaviour can benefit from this study.

Researchers collected data in various outdoor (festivals, fairs, events) and indoor (people’s homes, offices) environments, carried out in-depth interviews, observational note taking and video recording.

Two processes emerged from this research: 1) the transformation of profane commodities to sacred objects, and 2) the maintenance and loss of sacredness. In order to develop an understanding of these processes, researchers carried out a list of tests until they were completely englobed by the theory.

First, the authors explored elements of the sacred and the profane in religion. They look at various authors, such as William James (1961) who defines religion as: “the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider the divine” but acknowledges that the interpretation of “divine” should extend beyond that, including “any object that is godlike, whether it be a concrete deity or not”. At this point, James (1961) identifies the presence of a broader element which Roberts (1984), a sociologist, builds upon in his own definition and mentions the term “sacred”: “Religion has to do with a unique and extra-ordinary experience—an experience that has a sacred dimension and is unlike everyday life . . . the experience of the holy.”

The authors then examine Durkheim and Eliade’s works which identifies 12 properties of sacredness:

1)    Hierophany: the fact that people don’t create the sacred but that it presents itself to them.

2)    Kratophany or “power through strong ambivalent reaction”. Sacredness involves strong positive feelings toward gods, acts of devotion, heaven, angels while juxtapositioning them to the fear of the devil, evil, hell, demons.

3)    Opposition to profane: nothing profane can touch the sacred.

4)    Contamination: the positively sacred can be contaminated by the negatively sacred and vice versa.

5)    Sacrifice, “gift to gods”: offering the profane to the sacred.

6)    Commitment: people feel emotionally attached to the sacred, which draws communities together.

7)    Objectification: giving an object transcendent meaning.

8)    Ritual: the ways in which people act in the presence of sacred objects.

9)    Myths: they surround the sacred and help document its status through time.

10) Mystery: the sacred instils fear therefore should not be understood.

11) Communitas: it strips man from its statuses and brings people together, creating camaraderie.

12)  Ecstasy and flow: Sacred brings up emotions, feelings.

Finally, the shifting boundaries between the sacred and the profane are looked at. Changes in the contemporary world show that sacred does not automatically mean religious anymore. There are two trends: one is that there is a secularisation of religion in our contemporary society and a sacralisation of the secular.

1)    Secularisation of religion

Religion itself now is more “relaxed” than before, it is no longer traditional. Religion is less strict: prayer is on a low, Christmas has been secularised. Authors also identify the entry of the sacred into the profane: the religious programmes on TV and radio for example.

2)    Sacralisation of the secular

As religion lost control of art, government, knowledge, these started to become sacred. National celebrations, national holidays, statues, hymns replace the religious processes.

This paper creates an interesting insight into the transformations of how we interact with commodities, which reflects in what we wrote about our cherished possessions. Some of us sacralised their meaningful objects through rituals, protection from contamination and engaged in the mystery that surrounded their object and some cherished possessions were objectifications of a feeling, emotion, memories. This paper will be useful when exploring aspects of singularisation, divestment and rituals associated to those, as well as lending and the fear of contamination, or on the contrary seeing lending as an act of sacrifice.

There are some things money can’t buy….wait….nevermind.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2K1xrD/www.personal.psu.edu/cma5217/blogs/la101h/2010/02/there-are-some-things-money-cant-buy-wait-nevermind.html

A brilliant article written last year explaining the success story of Mastercard and their ‘Priceless Campaign’ that has been integrated across cultures globally. In a time of materialism and consumerism they adopted a revolutionary exclusive approach which proved greatly successful

Potential conferences

Circle International International Conference for Marketing, Management, Finance, Consumer Behaviour, Tourism and Retailing Research: Ibiza, April 2012

International consumer sciences research conference: Germany 2012

12th International Research Conference: France, 2012

Association for Consumer Research conference: New Zealand, 2012

Potential Conferences

Society for Consumer Psychology (SCP) – Feb 16th-18th, Four Seaons Hotel Las Vegas: http://www.chilleesys.com/scp/Public/index.aspx

Advertising and Consumer Psychology Conference (ACP) – no 2012 information available, but was in May 2011

European Social Science History Conference (EHSC) – call for papers was May 2011 but thought Janice might have a contact, Feb 11th – 12th,  Glasgow: http://www.history.ac.uk/events/event/2783

Association of Business Historians Conference (ABH) – July 6th – 7th: http://www.abh-net.org/conferences.html

Macromarketing Conference – June 13th – 16th, Berlin: http://macromarketing.org/?page_id=172

Social History Society Conference – April 3rd – 5th, Brighton: http://www.gellius.net/downloads/org_3/2012cfp.pdf

1st International Communication Students Symposium – April 26th – 27th, Izmir, Turkey: http://comsym.ege.edu.tr/index_eng.htm

Paris International Congress of Humanities and Social Science Research – July 24th – 28th, Hotel Concorde La Fayette, Paris: http://education-conferences.org/homehss.aspx

International Conference of Cultural and Social Aspects of Research – March 22nd – 24th, San Antonio, Texas: http://www.uiw.edu/education/conference.html

International Conference on Human and Social Sciences – March 23rd – 25th, Tirana, Albania: http://www.mcser.org/

Academy of Marketing Conference – July 2nd – 5th, Southampton: http://www.academyofmarketing.org/conference-2012/2012.html

LCBR European Marketing Conference – August 9th – 10th, Munich: http://www.european-marketing-conference.com/

International Marketing Conference – January 12th – 14th, Uttar Pradesh, India: http://www.iimlmarconference2012.in/

International Marketing Trends Conference – January 19th – 21st, Venice: http://www.marketing-trends-congress.com/node/3

Global Marketing Conference – July 19th- 22nd, Seoul: http://www.ln.edu.hk/mkt/2012-CFP.pdf

Kellog Marketing Conference – January 20th – 21st, Illinois: http://kellogg.campusgroups.com/mktgconf/about/

Call for papers – Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal

Following Janice’s call for opportunities where to present our group research work, please see a relevant call for papers listed below.

The Family & Consumer Sciences Research Journal is inviting submissions for a special issue with the theme of “Highlighting Cultural Diversity from a Global Perspective.” This special issue on cultural diversity broadly defined, is dedicated to understanding the accompanying social trends, new opportunities and challenges that are emerging in an increasingly interrelated world. This issue will also serve as a platform for an interdisciplinary exploration of the intersection of family and consumer science related fields with globalization. It aims to generate a discussion on how the interface between family and consumer sciences research can be beneficially applied to practice from a global perspective. Abstracts are due November 15, 2011.

Although not specifically related to the areas covered in the workshops so far, it could be interesting to look at the singularisation or disposition of items, and how these views alter within different cultures.

To read past family & consumer sciences journals, try this link.