CFP: 2018 Conference on Romanian Studies

The triennial International Conference of the AHA affiliate Society for Romanian Studies, "Looking Forward Through the Past," will be held June 26-30, 2018, in București, Romania. In 1918, the National Assembly at Alba Iulia proclaimed the unity of all territories inhabited by Romanians and thereby laid the foundation for the modern Romanian state. Yet the proclamation also insisted on a wide range of principles and forward looking reforms from full rights for all (including ethnic and religious minorities, press, and right to assembly) to land reform and a democratic political system. This unique historical moment arguably represents in a nutshell the issues and dimensions associated with questions of a Romanian identity, a national consciousness and culture, the place of intellectuals in Romanian public life, as well as the politics, policies, and economics of Romanian development, including in comparative and international perspective. "Marea Unire" also served as midwife to the birth of Romanian Studies.

The SRS wishes to take the 100th anniversary of this unique moment in Romanian history as an invitation to reflect upon the past, reassess the moment's impact on the present, and draw lessons for the future, including for Romanian Studies. The conference aims at taking a fresh look at the very creation of contemporary modern Romania. We wish to examine the significance of this historical moment for Romania and Moldova's historical trajectories, domestically and within the wider European, Eurasian and even international contexts with the help of broad historical, political, literary, and cultural disciplinary and interdisciplinary inquiries. We welcome proposals for papers, panels and roundtables from junior and senior scholars working in a variety of disciplines: history, sociology, anthropology and ethnography, political science, philosophy, law and justice studies, literature and linguistics, economics, business, international affairs, religious, gender and sexuality studies, film and media studies, art history, music, architecture, and education, among others.

Possible topics might include, but are not limited to:

• The 1918 unification in comparison with other unifications, both past and present 
• The 1918 unification and its precursors in popular and official memory, historiography, film, literature, the arts 
• The 1918 unification and its legacies on minorities and diasporas 
• The 1918 unification and making connections to Romanian and Moldovan developments going forward (fascism/Nazism, communism, post-communism, democracy, human rights, minority rights) 
• Romania, Moldova in Southeastern and Central Europe 
• Romania, Moldova and European accession and integration 
• Global integration, bilateral and multilateral relations, foreign and security policy issues 
• World War I and the 1918 moment • Romanian and Moldovan political thought, and the role of ideas in political change 
• Romanian and Moldovan philosophy and literatures 
• Sources and archives 
• Writers, artists and the arts in fascism, communism and post-communism 
• Legal and constitutional reforms 
• Party and electoral politics, voting behavior, policy analysis and administration 
• Free markets, neoliberalism and state paternalism 
• The status of ethnic, religious, linguistic and sexual minorities in Romania and Moldova 
• The reconfiguration of social stratification 
• Post-communist media and journalism 
• The role of the Orthodox Church and of other religious groups 
• Dynamics of migration from and into Romania and Moldova 
• Education policies and strategies 
• Urban policies and architecture: 1918, communism, and post-communism 

The language of the conference is English. Submissions and presentations in French and German will be considered, if they are for full panels or roundtables with members from more than one university. Proposals for individual papers, panels, roundtables, book or movie presentations, and art installations should be sent by September 25, 2017 to srs2018conference@gmail.com. Participants will be notified of the acceptance of their proposal by December 4, 2017.

Individual paper proposals should include title, a brief abstract of up to 500 words, a short c.v., and contact information of the presenter. Proposals for panels including 3-4 papers, one chair, and 1-2 discussants should provide a title and description of the panel topic, abstracts of all papers, short c.v., and contact information for all participants. Panel participants should be drawn from at least two different universities. Roundtable proposals of 3-5 participants should include title and description of the topic, short c.v., and contact information for all participants. In addition, the conference organizers will accept proposals for presentations of books, movies and art installations; proposals should include a title, a description, short c.v., and contact information.

Conference registration fees: The fees are 65 USD for scholars from North America and Western Europe; 65 RON for scholars from Romania, Moldova and parts east; and 15 USD for graduate students from all countries. All these conference registration fees include SRS membership for 2018. All conference participants must pay the registration fee for their names to be included in the final program.