CALL FOR APPLICATION
Workshop for Graduate, Postgraduate and PhD Students in the Context of the International Conference Nation State and Ethnic Homogenization. Romania and Hungary in Comparison (1950-1989/90)
October 6th 2016, Innsbruck, Austria
Content
The nation state is a project which has unfolded an enduring political, economic, social and cultural impact from the 19th century on up to the present day. Despite all the catastrophes linked with this project – notably two World Wars – it has yet to substantially lose its allure. Fundamental questions regarding the relation of nation state and ethnic homogenization will guide us along of a diachronically oriented comparison between Romania and Hungary from 1950 to 1989/90. The focus will be on the two states of Romania and Hungary, which were incorporated into the “Eastern Bloc” as a result of the Second World War and yet remained unequal neighbours. We will analyze the respective notions of nation state and inquire as to which homogenization concepts the two states pursued, as well as which homogenization plans they implemented in which way. In short, we will endeavor to compare in depth the concepts of nation, governance practices of the political elite towards nationalities and ethnically, linguistically and religiously defined minorities, as well as the latter’s strategies for resolving conflicts, adapting to and surviving in a majority society. In the course of the workshop, we will delve into such questions on the basis of relevant texts, which will be provided as a reader. The objective will be on the one hand to familiarize participants with a subdomain of South-Eastern European history in the second half of the 20th century, scrutinizing one of the era’s pivotal questions – namely the relation of nation state and ethnic homogenization – by means of a thorough comparison of the two states Romania and Hungary. On the other hand the workshop will provide an opportunity for the participants to present and discuss their own research projects. What is more, the workshop will be conduciven to intensify contact and exchange between students of diverse origins, languages and universities.
Target Group, Conditions for Participation, Deadlines
The workshop will be led by Dr. habil. Zsolt Lengyel, Hungaricum – Hungarian Institute at the University of Regensburg, and take place on Thursday, 6th October 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the University of Innsbruck (Austria). It is geared towards graduate, postgraduate and PhD students from the fields of history, geography, sociology, ethnology, cultural anthropology, political science, literature and media studies. Participants should have knowledge of issues of South-Eastern European history in the 20th century. Subsequent attendance of the international conference (6th-8th October 2016) is expected.
The organizers will reimburse participants’ travel expenses (equivalent to German Railway 2nd class ticket) and will provide accommodation and board from 5th October (arrival) until 8th October (departure), apart from a fee of 25,00 € to be contributed by participants.
In order to participate in the workshop – mostly held in German – limited to 15 young academics, a successful application is necessary. We request interested students and doctoral candidates to apply for participation by 9th May 2016 in electronic form only, attaching the following documents:
- letter of motivation (max. 2500 characters), stating your reasons for participating in the workshop and your qualifications
- C.V., including your full postal and e-mail addresses
Please send your application to the chairman of the Commission for German History and Culture in South-Eastern Europe
Dr. Mathias Beer
Mohlstraße 18, 72074 Tübingen, Germany, poststelle@idgl.bwl.de
Further information can be obtained here if required.
The selected participants will be contacted by 10th June 2016 and subsequently provided with further information and documents – the workshop schedule, the reader and the program of the international conference – for their personal preparation.
Organizers
Commission for German History and Culture in South-Eastern Europe
in cooperation with:
Austrian Academy of Science, District Office Innsbruck
Center for German History and Culture in South-East Europe at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
Hungaricum – Hungarian Institute at the University of Regensburg
Institute for Danube Swabian History and Regional Studies, Tübingen
Institute for German Culture and History in South-East Europa at the Ludwig-Maximilians- University Munich
Southeast Europe Association, Munich
Commission for German History and Culture in South-Eastern Europe
72074 Tübingen Mohlstraße 18 Germany
Tel.: 0049-(0)7071-9992-500 Fax: 0049-(0)7071-9992-501 E-Mail: poststelle@idgl.bwl.de