"Modus vivendi"

A conference on 8-10 July 2015 deals with the merits and problems of "modus vivendi", its limitations and challenges. It will take place at the Festsaal of the University of Münster (Schlossplatz 5). Capacities for participants are limited, so please register in advance via the office of the Centre.

Modus vivendi

In recent years there has been an increasing interest among political theorists in the idea of modus vivendi as an acceptable or worthwhile basis for political arrangements, or as a way of thinking about how to understand such arrangements.

This conference is devoted to assessing both the merits and problems with a political theory of modus vivendi; considering how it might be interpreted and developed, its limitations and the challenges it needs to confront, and exploring its relationship to other political ideas and theories.

Papers address issues such as the relationship between modus vivendi and liberalism, political stability, the social contract, pluralism, political institutions, toleration, political realism and political legitimacy, as well as seeking to place ideas about modus vivendi in a larger theoretical and practical context.

Programme

Wednesday, 8 July 2015
10:00	Welcome and Introduction John Horton (Keele) / Ulrich Willems (Münster)
10:30 – 11:30	Political Thought between Finality and Indeterminacy Michael Freeden (Oxford)
	Coffee break
12:00 – 13:00	Modus Vivendi Liberalism: The View Outward David McCabe (Hamilton)
	Lunch
14:15 – 15:15	Public Reason and Reconciliation Steven Wall (Tucson)
	Coffee break
15:45 – 16:45	Modus Vivendi and Political Legitimacy John Horton (Keele)
16:45 – 17:45	On Realist Legitimacy Fabian Wendt (Hamburg)
Thursday, 9 July 2015
9:30 – 10:30	The Circumstances and Uses of Modus Vivendi Ulrich Willems (Münster)
	Coffee break
11:00 – 12:00	Modus Vivendi and Toleration Michael Kühler (Münster)
12:00 – 13:00	Modus Vivendi beyond the Social Contract Thomas Fossen (Leiden)
	Lunch
14:15 – 15:15	Motives and Modus Vivendi Katherine J. Schweitzer (Reno)
	Coffee break
15:45 – 16:45	Modus Vivendi and the Issue of Stability Roberta Sala (Milano)
16:45 – 17:45	Institutions of Modus Vivendi Politics Manon Westphal (Münster)
Friday, 10 July 2015
9:30 – 10:30	Understanding vs Governing Pluralism Enzo Rossi (Amsterdam)
	Coffee break
11:00 – 12:00	Modus Vivendi in a Liberal Framework Thomas Gutmann (Münster)
12:00 – 13:00	Normative Dimensions of Modus Vivendi Fabian Wenner (Münster)
	Lunch
14:15 – 15:15	If Modus Vivendi is the Answer, what is the Question? Matt Sleat (Sheffield)
	Coffee break
15:45 – 16:45	Artes Moriendi: Death and the State Glen Newey (Leiden)

Conference impressions