Conference Theme
The very nature of the co-operative movement - with its wide range of organizational forms and a presence in virtually all sectors of the economy – inevitably leads it to cross borders and expand boundaries – geographic, social, cultural, political and economic.  Co-operatives have a long history, dating back to the 19th century, of not only working within local communities, but also of moving outward to affiliate and collaborate with other communities. In our increasingly global economy, this proclivity of co-operatives to move outwards is only enhanced – facilitated by advances in communication and transportation and impelled by new economic realities. The theme of this year’s annual conference draws analytic attention to the variety of ways in which co-operatives, and the social and solidarity economies in which they are embedded, innovate as the move across borders, break down barriers and expand boundaries.

Conference Topics
We invite potential participants to submit proposals that in some way reflect ways of “co-operating across borders”.  This could mean across the boundaries of geography, sector, community, academic discipline, theoretical frameworks, demographics and/or industry. Proposals on the following topics are welcome, as are others within the theme.

Elevating co-operative business and expanding conceptual borders
• Co-operative Management Structures and Practices
• Co-operative Ownership and Governance Structures and Practices
• Co-operative Business and Marketing Strategies
• Value-chain and scaling
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Youth and Student Co-operatives
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Green Production
• Is “sustainability” the new co-operative value for the 21st century?
• The Role of Education in Promoting Co-operative Innovation
• The Role of Research in Promoting Co-operative Innovation
• The Role of Public Policy in Promoting Co-operative Innovation
• Regulation including state and non-state regulations
• Finance, micro-finance, and credit unions
• Co-operative types (i.e., worker co-ops, financial co-ops, consumer co-ops, agricultural co-ops, etc.)

Expanding beyond borders
• Co-operatives and Development
• Transnational Co-operation among Co-operatives: Bridging North-South Divides
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Fair Trade, Poverty Reduction, and Local Development Strategies and Practices
• International Co-operatives
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship in crisis and conflict contexts

Building bridges
• Fostering Co-operation among Co-operatives
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Inter-co-operation between Co-operatives Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Aboriginal Communities
• Business Conversions to Worker Co-operatives: Recuperating Businesses, Saving Communities
• Co-operatives connection to food sovereignty and local food development

Defining new economic and social boundaries
• Mainstreaming the Co-operative Advantage
• Moving Beyond Crises and Marginalization via Co-operative Values and Practices
• Political and economic boundaries
• Co-operatives and social movements
• Community economic development
• Collective entrepreneurship

Submission Guidelines
We invite researchers, students, and practitioners to submit any of four types of proposals:

(1) The Individual Paper provides the presenter with the opportunity to present on a topic for approximately 20 minutes. They will join 1-2 other presenters of a similar theme. There will be time for a Q and A.

Individual paper proposals should include: a) your name, title, affiliation and email address; b) a short (two-line) biographical note; c) title of the paper; and d) a 150 word abstract (to be printed in the program) that includes the argument, which should include the relationship of the paper to the literature, the research question, methods and, where applicable, findings. Proposals for both empirical and theoretical papers are invited.

(2) The Panel Proposal creates a space for a group (3) of presenters who have a common theme in their presentations to self-select to present together. Presenters will have approximately 20 minutes each to present. There will time for a Q and A.
 
Panel proposals should include: a) the title of the panel; 2) a 150 word description of the issue or theme that the panel investigates and how the individual papers relate to the theme/ issue; 3) the names, affiliations and contact information for all panel participants, and; 4) 150 word descriptions of all panel presentations.

(3) The Roundtable is an opportunity for moderated discussion. A panel of discussants will be posed ideas or questions on a topic by a moderator and the audience. Discussants are not expected to and should not deliver formal papers.

Roundtable proposals should include: a) the title of the roundtable; 2) a 150 word description of the issue or theme that the roundtable investigates (including some possible questions); and 3) the names, affiliations and contact information for all participants including the moderator (if decided).

(4) The Workshop is an opportunity for a topic to be presented and interacted with in a dynamic and engaging manner. It should involve audience participation.

Proposals should include a) the title of the workshop; 2) a 150 word description of the issues or theme that the workshop investigates; 3) the name(s), affiliations and contact information for all workshop presenters, and 4) a short description of what methods will be used to make it a workshop.


All abstracts and proposals are due on January 10th, 2014. We encourage those would want to be in a joint session to please submit as early as possible. They may be submitted either in English or French. No more than two presentations per person will be permitted.

All proposals are subject to peer review. Applicants will be informed of acceptance by February 28th, 2014. A directory of conference delegates will be published in the CASC 2014 Conference Program; if you do not want to have your name, contact information and institutional affiliation published, please notify us when you submit your abstract.                                                           .      
Conference Information
This year’s CASC conference will be held from May 26th to May 29th, 2014, during the Annual Congress of the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences (CFHSS) 2014 at Brock University, St Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Participants in the CASC Conference should register through the Congress website http://www.fedcan.ca/en/congress). Registration, which includes the early bird prices, begins in January 2014. Fees for the conference include both Congress registration and a one-year membership in CASC. There is an additional fee for those wishing to attend the Annual CASC Banquet, which is a joint affair held in collaboration with ANSER. The Congress website also includes information on accommodation, discounts for travel, and local information. For more information on CASC and the general meeting, including updates about keynote speakers, plenary panels, banquet details and the other news, please consult the CASC website (www.coopresearch.coop) or e-mail us at casc.acec@usask.ca .

2014 CASC Program and Conference Committee
Fiona Duguid (Program Chair) Erin Hancock
Darryl Reed Marion Hewitt-Pollock