CALL FOR PAPERS

Public Diplomacy in Context

Past and Present of National Image Management among the Small Nations of Northern Europe

Conference in Helsinki and Turku 26-27 April, 2013

The organizers are pleased to invite all interested scholars and researchers to participate in a two-day conference dealing with the history and current state of public diplomacy in the small states and nations of Northern Europe (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, etc).

The conference will be divided into two parts – an introductory day (Helsinki) made of keynote lectures and discussions on the current state of Northern public diplomacy, and a second day (Turku) dedicated to academic presentations on the historical context of Northern public diplomacy.

The organizers would like to welcome contributions for the second day of the conference. These should present academic perspectives on the History of public diplomacy, propaganda, national communication and national image management in the small nations and countries of Northern Europe. The following aspects will be especially emphasized:

The role of communication studies in public diplomacy

National cases, differences and similarities

National image management in the early 20th century

Propaganda and psychological warfare

Baltic cases: from Interwar image management to post-Cold War nation branding

Cultural diplomacy

Trade and export promotion

Public diplomacy and International History

“Nordic branding”? Defining and selling Nordicity through Nordic institutions’ public diplomacy

Chronologically, contributions should concentrate on the 20th century after the end of World War I.

Keynote presentations will be delivered by Professor Jan Melissen (Clingendael’s Diplomatic Studies Programme, University of Antwerp), Associate Professor Jozef Batora (University Comenius, Bratislava), Artek CEO Ms Mirkku Kullberg, and Professor Nicholas Cull (USC Center on Public Diplomacy)

Papers for presentation will be selected by the organizers on the basis of 500-1000 words abstracts containing the title of the presentation, the name and references of the author. The abstract should express the purpose, methodology, findings, implications and originality of the study. Author and affiliation details are to be printed on a separate sheet and the author(s) should not be identified in the abstract. Abstracts must be presented in Word format, in 1.5 line spacing and 12 point font size.

Abstracts should be sent to publicdiplomacyincontext@gmail.com before November 30th, 2012. Notification of acceptance will be sent through an email by the end of 2012.

Participation during the two days will be free of charge, but participants will have to cover their own travel and accommodation expenses.