Europe and the World before and after 1989

Trans-national and comparative perspectives on Eastern and Western Europe

Public 20th anniversary conference, 10-12 June 2009, University of Padua, Italy

The scholarly imagination ‘enables its possessor to understand the larger historical scene in terms of its meaning for the inner life and the external career of a variety of individuals’
Call for Papers

Adapted from C.W. Mills

The Europe-wide impact of 1989 deserves thorough examination. The year was a watershed for events, which came in its aftermath: European Union enlargement, trans-national economics and changing values on both sides of the Berlin Wall. We seek to stimulate dialogue and new research projects that the examine changes for actors and organizations not just in the region formerly known as Eastern Europe, but equally in Western Europe. Indeed, we encourage the examination of the reconfigurations that occurred across Europe and the world, linking the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of 1989. In proposing to organise a public conference in 2009, based on an open and competitive call, we have two aims in mind:

  1. To showcase the best new work on the before and after of 1989, especially insofar as it enlarges our horizon by offering a comparative perspective, analysing regional interdependencies and tracing trans-national impact. Postdoctoral scholars and junior faculty are particularly encouraged to apply.
  2. To garner continued public and academic attention beyond 2009 by selecting and promoting new research programmes that principally would be worthy of post-doc mobility stipends or principal investigator awards. In doing so, we suggest to feature panels on the trajectory and careers of actors as the preferred means of tracing change and continuity across the rupture of 1989.

Further terms and conditions:

  1. Panel organisers, paper givers and poster presenters will have the conference fee waived and will be provided accommodation for the duration of the conference (2 nights).
  2. Subject to further funding, it is envisaged that panel organisers and paper givers may request a contribution to their travel expenses at a maximum flat fee at the following rates: Travel inside the EU and Western Europe @ EUR 200.-; from South Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet region @ EUR 350.-; from elsewhere in the world @ EUR 500.-

The following further publication, career advice and research opportunities exist:

  • Panel organisers and paper givers will be invited to consider book and journal publication opportunities with the Research Network 1989, including a ‘digital collaboratory’ under development in conjunction with a network of European university presses. Further details will be available in spring 2009.
  • Panel organisers (or a nominated substitute) will be able to participate in ‘Early Independence,’ the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme for Postdocs. The CPD programme is designed to prepare post-docs for applying to and holding principal investigator awards.
  • The RN 1989 offers the opportunity to extend and expanded collaborative projects by means of a Working Group (also open to advanced PhD students). Seed money may be available.

The conference will take place at the University of Padua. The Opening Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, 10 June 2009 at 14:00. The conference will close on Friday, 12 June 2009 at 13:00 (to be followed by a workshop on post-doc careers until 17:00). The closest airports are Padua and Venice. Padua and Venice are connected frequently by trains. Further information will be available to conference participants in February 2009.

last modified: 2008-10-22