[ Balkan | -s ]

The establishment of the Greek state in 1830 ushered in a new era in the political, socio-economic and cultural history of South East Europe. It marked the beginning of a long process that continued with the gradual disintegration of Ottoman rule and the rise of Balkan nation-states. The subsequent period in the 20th century comprised regional wars, antagonisms and cold-war bipolarity as well as cooperation and strategic partnership among Greece and its northern neighbours. The aim of the conference is to explore these interaction between Greece and the Balkan states from the first decades of the 19th century of Greece's statehood to the present post-communist more Europeanised climate. The Conference will have an interdisciplinary focus and would like to cover different topics related to politics, ideology, society, economy, and culture.

Participants are encouraged to address such themes as nationhood in the Balkans in the 19th and the 20th century, with reference to the impact of Greece’ s nation building and nationalism and writings on Balkan nationalism, and vice versa; mutual influences between political and legal cultures; relationships during the cold-war period and the ideological divides between Greece and the Balkans; the impact of the EU and Greece as a member state on the other Balkan states; the role of orthodox religion as a bond or competition between the Greece and its orthodox neighbours; minorities and emigration; the changing character of economic relations; and cultural exchanges; the role of literature in mutual relations. By examining such a range of issues, the conference aims to foster a debate on the relationship between Greece and its regional neighbours and its significance for the modern Balkans.

Interested parties are requested to send a summary of their work in English (+/- 1000 words) as well as an up-to-date CV to the organising committee by 1 February 2006. The official language will be English. All papers will be published online and will be accompanied by short abstracts in both English and Greek. A number of travel grants may be available for participants from non-UK universities who submit their work on time.
All submitted papers will be considered by the Conference's Scientific Committee, which will consist of postgraduate students and academic members of the University of Oxford. Interested parties will be notified whether their papers have been accepted by the end of March 2006.

For more information and paper submissions:
OU Greek Society
c/o Nicholas Vrousalis
Lady Margaret Hall
Oxford OX2 6QA (UK)
greeksoc@herald.ox.ac.uk