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Two Nations, One People? The German Cold-War Experience An International Interdisciplinary Conference University of Liverpool 6-8 September 2006 During the Cold-War era, which lasted for nearly half a century, our world-view was shaped by the division of Europe and of the wider world into the Western and the Eastern block. The division of the German nation into two states was particularly symptomatic of this ideological and political divide. Whereas the super powers fought indirectly in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Korea and elsewhere, it was in Germany that Soviet and US troops faced each other directly. The Cold-War conflict could be felt in almost any sphere of life, ranging from the media, philosophy, music, sports to literature and science. From the founding of the two German states in 1949 to the collapse of the iron curtain in 1989, numerous novels, documentaries, songs, radio plays, TV-programmes and films from both sides of the Berlin Wall dealt directly or indirectly with the conflict, and in the process they shaped our ideas and perception of the super powers and the people on the 'other side'. And, what is more, despite the political unification of Germany and the enlargement of the European Union, contemporary views are still predominantly forged along the lines of Cold-War rhetoric, stereotypes and ideas. This conference focuses on the multi-facetted influence of the Cold War on German culture in both East and West Germany. It follows an interdisciplinary approach combining methods from various disciplines and fields. Scholars are invited to offer papers on all aspects of the topic, and papers on the following specific areas are especially welcome: · Politics, public relations and public life · History · Literature · Media and visual arts · Popular culture studies · Music · Sports · Science and technology · Business and economics · Educational science · Law · Philosophy · Linguistics The conference will take place at the School of Modern Languages (University of Liverpool). Proposals, not exceeding 250 words, along with a brief biographical note should be sent to the School of Modern Languages (German Section) by 1 February 2006. Contributors will be informed of the provisional programme by 1 April 2006. Presentations are strictly limited to 20 minutes. Contact details: Andrew Plowman ([log in to unmask]), Tobias Hochscherf ([log in to unmask]), and Christoph Laucht ([log in to unmask]) University of Liverpool, School of Modern Languages (German) Chatham Street Liverpool L69 7ZR United Kingdom