CfP: Interdisciplinary conference "Transculturality in the Black Sea Region: New Theoretical Approaches and Research Methodologies"

Oleksii Chebotarov Discussion

The Center for Governance and Culture in Europe at the University of St.Gallen in Switzerland invites paper proposals for a conference “Transculturality in the Black Sea Region: New Theoretical Approaches and Research Methodologies” to be held in Chișinău, Moldova on 10-12 September 2020.

This multidisciplinary conference aims to explore the present and historical dynamics shaping the Black Sea Region through the lens of transculturality. The region that was governed by three European empires and then dominated by the Soviet Union, has experienced extreme violence during the XX ct. and continues to be the space of contemporary conflicts and geopolitical turmoil. At the same time, the region’s countries, both within and outside the EU, are often analyzed through the prism of methodological nationalism and a “container-culture approach”. We propose to regard the Black Sea region as a fluid realm where various discourses and ideas interact, compete and merge. We seek to explore novel theoretical concepts and methodologies to studying the transcultural space of the Black Sea region and the contemporary challenges that it faces.

The thematic scope of the conference focuses on but is not limited to the following fields:

  • Theoretical concepts and approaches: applicability and limitations for studying the Black Sea region
  • New methods and methodologies of transcultural research
  • Digital, environmental and spatial turns in researching the Black Sea region
  • Post- and beyond: Black Sea region as a post-socialist, post-imperial, post-colonial and post-genocidal space
  • Case-studies and comparative studies of transcultural contact zones in the Black Sea region
  • New geopolitical developments, conflict resolution and security challenges in the Black Sea region

How to apply:
We invite sociologists, historians, anthropologists, economists, geographers, political scientists, and academics from related disciplines to apply for the conference. We are looking forward to receiving applications from scholars who work with the framework of transculturality. While the primary focus of the conference is the Black Sea Region, the researchers focused on other regions are welcome to apply. The conference committee invites early stages, as well as advanced researchers.
The working language of the conference is English.

To apply, please send the following documents:
1. A brief CV (up to 2 pages)
2. A 300 to 500-word conference abstract
Please send application materials to uaregio@gmail.com by March 30, 2020.

All travel expenses, accommodation, and meals are covered by the conference committee.