Open call for blog posts: Inclusive Citizenship and Deliberative Democracy

2020-2021 theme: Inclusive Citizenship and Deliberative Democracy

This is an open call for blog posts. The CHRLP invites as wide a diversity of voices as possible to submit posts on critical questions touching on the above theme and intersecting with human rights and (or) legal pluralism.

Reflections on the theme: The rise of populism and native nationalism, along with increasing income and wealth inequality, is taking place in many countries across the globe. Even the COVID-19 pandemic has been appropriated by populist demagogues to appeal to partisan interests and divisive political agendas. Amidst these troubling trends, however, there is also a renewal of citizens’ and civic movements. Advancements in communication technologies have fostered a deep sense of solidarity, and empowered a digital civil society, seamlessly connecting socio-political movements.

Many of these movements are driven by profound moral outrage and disillusionment with the state and societal failure to deliver on the promise of dignity and equality for all – a commitment made 72 years ago in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

There is a palpable sense of urgency for redressing the wrongs of the past and for building a more just and sustainable future. Now is an opportune moment to reflect on and engage with looming challenges and opportunities for deliberative democracy and civic participation worldwide.

How to submit a post

Authors are asked to adhere to the following standards when submitting their piece. Anything not mentioned here is at the discretion of the author.

We accept original pieces on a rolling basis, and aim for publication within 3-4 weeks from reception, provided the submission requirements are respected. Please be mindful that we are not personal editors and will not accept partially edited pieces. Only advanced drafts will be accepted.

To be considered for publication, a blog post must fulfill the following criteria:

• Short, incisive and argument-driven piece, 800-1200 words
• 12-point, Times New Roman font with 1” or 1.5” spacing
• Change in sections with a single line
• Short subtitles, left-aligned in bold lettering
• In-text hyperlinks encouraged
• Citations and footnotes not necessary, but if included, formatted in adherence with the Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation, 9th edition.

Editing Process

First read: The blog editors require 1-2 weeks to do a first read, after which the revised piece will be returned to the author with editorial comments and recommendations. These recommendations are intended to be constructive (rather than mandatory), and a collaborative approach is invited and most welcome.

Second read: The author is then asked to submit a revised draft, at which time the editors will do a second read. If the editors find the piece ready, they will proceed with publication. If further drafts are requested, the editors will be in touch with the author.

Image to accompany the post: When submitting the first or second draft, the author is asked, if possible, to send a high-resolution evocative image (to which they have the rights; reference included, please) to illustrate the piece. If no such image is available, the editors, in consultation with the author, will procure one from the public domain.

Bio and photo of the author: When submitting the first or second draft, the author is asked to send a short bio of 2-3 sentences and, if comfortable, a high-resolution portrait-style photograph for posting on the web.

Note: The editors retain the right to refuse, at any moment in the above process, to publish a piece. Considerations for the refusal will be communicated to the author.

Submissions should be emailed to human.rights [at] mcgill.ca