CfP
"PROCESSES OF REDEFINITION AND RECONSTRUCTION
OF THE TERM NATION IN CENTRAL EUROPE"
International V4 conference organized jointly by
Center for the Research of Ethnicity and Culture
Bratislava (CVEK) and Institute for the Reproduction
and Integration of Society (IVRIS)
June 8 - 9, 2007
Telč, Czech Republic
In Central European countries, the process of national
self-determination since 19th century has been more on
the ethnic and cultural side than on the civic and
territorial one. Central European reality can be
characterized by the notion "Kulturnation" (broad
cultural community), rather than "Staatsnation"
(self-determining political nation). The salience of
ethnic component in constructing nationhood among CEE
is likely the critical factor why these states are not
ready to fully accept the cultural other as equal
members
- the other may be national minorities or new
immigrant groups.
The more universal the definition of society's
identity, the more particular contents and groups it
is capable of including. Central European countries
have a room for overcoming the historical determinism
and everything will depend on how and whether they are
going to take advantage of it. The shift from cultural
definition of the own nation towards the voluntaristic
one is not necessarily a sign of giving up one's
identity. Perhaps the post-modern CEE nations should
re-define as the focal point of their identities to
democracy, human rights and the rule of law instead of
ethnically defined membership.
This conference asks whether such "constitutional
patriotism" is desirable or even a viable project. Can
it serve as the basis of loyalty to nation and state
that would replace the ethnic definition?
We welcome expression of interest from scholars doing
research in following topics:
- Does constitutional patriotism promise an avenue to
overcome the legacy of ethnically defined nations in
Central Europe? What are the conditions or perhaps
pre-conditions for such a shift?
- Is constitutional patriotism better equipped to
manage ethoculturally diverse societies?
- How to understand the predominantly primordial
thinking about nation in Central Europe? Would be
politically constructed nations of Central Europe a
more desirable alternative?
- The nature of nations in Central Europe. Can we
observe shifts from ethnic to civic understanding of
nations in Central Europe? Can such processes be
initiated?
- What does nationalism respond to at the beginning of
21st century in Central Europe?
- Why is national mobilization still appealing to
masses in Central Europe?
- How do attempts to construct and overarching
European identity interact with processes of majority
and minority nationalism of Central European
countries?
- Differences in ways Central European countries
endorse ius soli and ius sanguini principles in their
citizenship laws. What is the influence of media on
spreading of the nationalistic thinking in Central
Europe nowadays?
Deadline for sending abstracts and registration: April
6, 2007. Please send your 500 word abstracts to Mgr.
Radka Klvaňová ([log in to unmask])
Register online:
http://ivris.fss.muni.cz/registration_form/index.php
We will advise on paper acceptance till April 30,
2007.
Deadline for conference papers: June 1, 2007
(approximate length 6.000 - 9.000 words)
We anticipate a release of the collection of
conference papers in September 2007.
See also:
http://ivris.fss.muni.cz/index.php?page=confprocesses
For all enquiries please contact: PhDr. Michal
Vašečka, PhD.
Center for the Research of Ethnicity and Culture
e-mail: [log in to unmask], http://www.cvek.sk
____________________________________________________________________________________
No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go
with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.
http://mobile.yahoo.com/mail
|