From: Ruth Büttner <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001 21:35:41 +0400
The Civic Education Project (CEP) and BOSCH foundation invites scholars to
apply for participation in an International Conference
Political and Cultural Relations between Russia and the Baltic Region
States,
1700-2000
to be held on 6-9 April 2001
in Samara, Russia
The history of the Baltic region states and of their relations with
Russia/Soviet Union is mostly studied and researched at the scientific
institutions of the Baltic region itself. We plan a workshop at the
university
of Samara, Russian Federation, which intends to overcome this regional
concentration and offers a new perspective on these questions. We wish to
invite especially young historians and graduates, who are concerned with the
history of the Baltic region states and of their relations with
Russia/Soviet
Union in any way. We aim at about 15 participants, and the conference will
be
held in English and Russian, with the possibility to translate German
contributions.
The Baltic countries have been for a long time under the rule or influence
of
the Swedish and the Polish empires. It was not until the 18th century, that
these countries got under the rule of the Russian Zar. Through a policy of
great generosity and privileges for the ruling class of the Baltic countries
Peter the Great and his successors won the sympathy and loyality of the
mostly
German elite of Estonia and Livonia. The same did happen with Finland after
it
had become a part of the Russian empire in 1809. Fullscale guarantee of the
Swedish laws and privileges created a loyal the Finnish province. Everything
changed at the beginning of the 20th century, when russification an
revolution
brought this loyality to an end. The Baltic-Russian relations got more and
more
difficult and shouldn't get better until the end of the 20th century.
What were the political relations of the Baltic countries and the
Russian/Soviet empire alike in the last 300 years? What was typical for all
countries, and where lie the differences in the relations of the Baltic
countries to Russia? The policies of privileges did function only in
Finland,
Estonia and Livonia, whereas Kurland like Poland used its exceptional
position
in the Russian empire to call for more. Throughout the 19th century its
elite
fought against Russian domination. Are there some long-term tendencies in
the
Baltic-Russian relations? How did the cultural relations of these countries
effect the political ones and vice versa? These are some of the questions to
be
tackled at the workshop, and the list is by no means exhaustive. Further
suggestions are welcome.
Proposals should be no more than 500 words written on one of the issues
brought
up for the conference discussion. We ask you to send us your contributions
until the end of February 2001. They will be published beforehand, so that
you
get the edition at the time of the workshop. If you are interested in
contributing, but won't be able to send us the ready text in time, please
let
us know. Travel and hotel expenses will be covered.
PROPOSAL DEADLINE: 20 February 2001
For more details, please contact
Vera Dubina and Michail Leonov [log in to unmask]
Ruth Büttner, [log in to unmask]
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