Dilemmas of the Post-Communist Condition, Wolverhampton, 23-24.6.2005


Dilemmas of the Post-Communist Condition

An interdisciplinary conference on discourse and politics of
societies in transition
23-24 June 2005

Invited speakers include:

*       Norman Fairclough, Lancaster University
*       Ruth Wodak, Lancaster University
*       Tomasz Szkudlarek, University of Gdansk

Conference overview

The conference takes up the issue of one of the most significant
changes in Europe of the 20th century. Symbolically described as
the 'fall of the Berlin Wall', the 'Velvet Revolution', 'die
Wende' (the Change), the end of communism in Central and Eastern
European countries has marked revolutionary changes in the lives
of their citizens.

These events only a few years before were even hard to think of,
let alone predict. The political transformation of the late 1980s
and the beginning of the 1990s demonstrated itself not only in
the increase of public and private liberties of the citizens of
post-communist Europe but also in the countries' political
alliances. Media and politicians alike relished in speaking of
"going back to Europe" or "returning to Europe". An easy fix to a
new bright future was being announced, with such 'treats' as the
quick membership of NATO and the European Union within sight.

Yet, the 'return' to Europe has proved much more difficult and
painful that anyone expected, while the relative security of
guaranteed employment or social benefits has vanished almost
overnight. The early winning of public political and electoral
support of former Communists only underscored the fact that the
Central and Eastern European citizens had not expected the
realities the changes of 1989-1990 have dealt them.

Call for papers

We welcome proposals for papers or panels particularly focusing
upon experience and representations and discourses of:

*       everyday life in post-communism
      
*       work and unemployment
      
*       media and media representations
      
*       social security and social welfare
      
*       schools and education system
      
*       crime and security
      
*       migration and movement of people
      
*       citizenship in the era of transition
      
*       institutions and the public sphere
      
*       new EU membership

              
      

Please send a c.200 word abstract (preferably in electronic form)
by 10th December 2004 to:

Dr Aleksandra Galasinska
School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences
Millennium Building
University of Wolverhampton
Wulfruna Street
Wolverhampton, UK
WV1 1SB
E-mail: A.Galasinska@wlv.ac.uk

All other enquiries regarding the conference should be directed
to:
Julie Hayward
E-mail: J.Hayward@wlv.ac.uk
tel: +44 (0)1902-322145

See the www.wlv.ac.uk/postcommunism