We are pleased to announce that the 2nd International Balkan Conference (IBAC) organized by Istanbul University collaboration of University of Tirana and Epoka University, will be held in October 11-14 2012, in Tirana, Albania. The conference’s goals are to gather the scholars who study various aspects of Balkans, broaden cooperation and interaction among them, and establish a room to discuss the region from different perspectives. As in the first IBAC Conference held Skopje-Macedonia, in May, 2011. Balkan scholars are gathering from the local region and the world. You are welcome to participate.
Best wishes,
Prof.Dr. Ahmet Yeşil (Program Chair)
IBAC 2012, Organizing Committee
Istanbul University
Theme of the Conference
The theme of the first Conference which was held last year in Macedonia was “co-existence of cultures in Balkans”, focusing on the joint history and culture of Balkan people, and aiming at creating awareness for strong historical background. This year, it is aimed to broaden the angle to encompass a larger and deeper outlook at the region. The Balkans seems to be a region at a crossroads with chances and risks it has been facing during the last 20 years. One of the ways to imagine and construct the future of the region could be evaluating the experiences of the past and reading the present. Therefore, a chronological and interdisciplinary approach from history to politics, foreign policy, literature, art etc, is preferred, as it is seen on the list of areas of the conference.

Following are among areas of the conference:
History of the Balkans:
- Pre-Islamic Period
- Ottoman Period
- Nation Building Period
Geography of the Balkans:
- Physical Geography
- Human and Economic Geography
- Mining and Energy
Politics in a Comparative Perspective:
- Process of Democratization
- Ethnicity and Diversity
- Nationalism
- Migration
- Gender Issues and Politics
- Globalization and Politics
- Development of Civil Society
- Mass-Media
International Relations:
- The Balkans in the World Order
- Balkan Countries in the Process of EU Enlargement
- Regional Cooperation
- Conflict Resolution and Peace-Building
- Balkans and Euro-Atlantic Cooperation
- Security and Defense Systems
- US and the Balkans
Public Administration:
- Central and Local Governments
- Public Services
- Public Finance
Economic Development and Economic Policies:
- Integration of the Balkans to the Global Economic System - Economic Development in the Balkans
- Economic Policies in Balkan Countries in a Comparative Perspective
- New Developments and Perspectives in Energy Policies
- International Investments in the Balkans
- Money and Banking
- Agriculture and Forestry
- Transportation and Communication
- Consumer Protection
- Tourism
- Work Life and Social Policies (labor laws, labor relations, life standards etc)
- Social Security Systems

Judicial and Legal Politics:
- Comparative Judicial Systems in the Balkans
- Comparative Legal Systems in the Balkans
Health Policy:
- Health Policies in the Balkan Countries
- Health Services in the Balkan Countries
Art and Literature:
Life and Culture in the Balkans:
- Religion
- Folk Culture (marriage, funeral, food, beliefs etc)
- Balkan Music
- Architectural Structures
- Diversity and Co-existence of Different Cultures

Deadline of abstracts submission: May 30, 2012

Abstracts and papers should be sent via IBAC Web Site:
http://ibacconference.com/

Respective presenting author of the best paper elected by the Elective Committee will be awarded by a certificate, and other two papers will be honorably mentioned in the award ceremony.

Any comments and suggestions are highly appreciated. Please mail them to: ibac@istanbul.edu.tr