Call for Papers : The Future of Central and Eastern Europe

28-29 October 2024, University of Ottawa, Canada

“The Future of Central and Eastern Europe” is a joint interdisciplinary conference organized by the Chair in Slovak History and Culture of the University of Ottawa, Canada, and the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. We encourage a dialogue between scholars, both Central European and international, to explore as broadly as possible the current challenges that Central and Eastern Europe is facing today, and its possible future development. We encourage reflection on all its cultural, social, economic, and political dimensions.

Topics of presentation may include, while not being limited to, the following:

- War in Ukraine, Defense and Security

- Economic Development Amidst Crisis and Conflict

- Urban vs. Rural Dynamics and Territorial Development

- Environment, Energy Transition and Climate Issues

- Belt and Road Initiative and Chinese Interpolation

- Demographic Decline

- Migration and Refugee Dynamics

- Cultural and National Identities

- Education and Culture

- Historical Narratives and Collective Memory

- Media, Politics and Society

- Rule of Law and Checks and Balances

- Corruption

- Gender, Women’s Rights and LGBT+ Rights

- Minorities and Other Marginalised Communities Rights

- Central and Eastern Europe and its Diaspora

We encourage presentations from all disciplines and fields of scholarship, including but not limited to history, anthropology, sociology, literature, pedagogy, art history, political science, religious studies, cultural studies, philology, linguistics, etc.

We are inviting submissions for both individual papers and panels for presentations. Abstracts should be a maximum of 250 words and include a short biographical note (approximately 100 words).

Presentations should be no more than 20 minutes in length. Papers will have the opportunity to be published in a peer-reviewed volume. We welcome submissions from graduate students and early career scholars.

Conference organizers will provide accommodations and most meals, while a limited number of travel subsidies are available on a demonstrated need basis. Please notify us of your intention to request a travel subsidy in your submission.

Important Dates

Deadline for abstracts: May 1st, 2024

Notification of acceptance: May 30, 2024

For submissions and inquiries, please contact futureofcee@gmail.com.