June 8 - 9, 2007
Tel่, 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. From this viewpoint, when introducing multiculturalism, the starting position of countries with prevalence of ethnic and cultural self identification is more problematic than of those where civic and territorial self-identification prevails. 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

Register online:
http://ivris.fss.muni.cz/registration_form/index.php

Please send your 500 word abstracts to Mgr. Radka Klvaňovแ (klvanova@fss.muni.cz)

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.