Balkan societies in change: The use of historical myths, 7-

[anna balint]

Balkan societies in change: The use of historical myths, 7-
9.11.2002, Sarajevo

From: Pal Kolsto <pal.kolsto at east.uio.no>
Subject: call for papers, conference on historical myths
CALL FOR PAPERS

Balkan societies in change: The use of historical myths

The Department for East European and Oriental Studies, University of
Oslo, in collaboration with the Institute of History, Sarajevo, hereby
invites scholars to submit proposals for papers to be presented at an
international conference on:
Balkan societies in change: The use of historical myths
The societies of South Eastern Europe are in transition. In the region
there exists a strong tradition of using historiography for political
and mobilizational purposes, something of which the conflicts in the
former Yugoslavia have numerous examples. Is this tradition of using
mythologized historical accounts still continued
today? If so by whom and for what purposes? Or are there new trends in
the way history is perceived by politicians and by the public? And
what of the way in which historians (both South East European and
others) treat their subject?"
The conference is part of a co-operation project between the
University of Oslo and Institut za Istoriju (Institute of History) in
Sarajevo, The conference will take place on the 7th through the 9th
of November 2002, in Sarajevo. The invitation goes out to all, but
scholars from the Balkan countries-Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, and Yugoslavia-are encouraged to
apply. Women are especially encouraged to apply.
Applicants whose papers are selected will be given a honorarium of 500
Euro, as well as free accommodation in Sarajevo for the duration of
the conference. The organizers will also cover travel expenses to and
from Sarajevo for all paper givers.
Twenty papers will be selected, in a dual selection procedure. The ten
first papers will be selected from among proposals that reach us
before 15 May 2002, and ten more papers will be selected from among
proposals that reach us before 1 July 2002.
Applications may be submitted by fax, to +47 22 85 40 41, by regular
mail, to Jon Kvaerne, Dept. of East European and Oriental Studies,
University of Oslo, Box 1030, Blindern N-0315 Oslo, Norway, or by
e-mail, to jonkvaerne at yahoo.com.
Applications may be submitted by fax, to +47 22 85 40 41, by regular
mail, to Jon Kvaerne, Dept. of East European and Oriental Studies,
University of Oslo, Box 1030, Blindern N-0315 Oslo, Norway, or by
e-mail, to historical-myths at east.uio.no'
The conference is part of a larger research project on Balkan
societies in change and the use of historical myths. A 2,500 - word
description of this research project is available at
http://folk.uio.no/palk/home/Historical_myths.htm , or upon request
from Jon Kvaerne, jonkvaerne at yahoo.com. Applicants should consult
this project description before they formulate their paper proposals.
Applications that conform to the main thrust of this project will be
preferred.
Special emphasis should be place on the function of Historical
myth-making as boundary-defining mechanism, as this focus will serve
as the unifying element of the conference. Applications with a
comparative approach are strongly encouraged.
Applications should contain a 500-1000 word outline of the structure,
thesis, and main arguments of the proposed paper; a CV; and a list of
publications. Applicants should specify language proficiencies. A good
command of English is desirable, but not a formal requirement. Copies
of diplomas, etc, should not be submitted, but should be available
upon request. Applications may be submitted in
Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian or English.
Applicants that are selected must present a complete version of their
papers no later than October 1st 2002. Papers should be no shorter
than 7,000 words and no longer than 10,000 words. Roughly half of the
papers will be developed into two books, one in English and one in
Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, which will be published as part of the
research project.
In order to rework the conference papers into book chapters, two
workshops will be organized: one immediately after the conference in
November 2002, and one to be agreed upon at a later date.
All expenses in connection with these workshops will be covered by the
organizers. Participants will also be paid an additional 500 Euro for
the extra work required to rework the manuscripts into book chapters.
This extra remuneration will be paid when the final version of the
chapter manuscript has been accepted.