Call for proposals

The 3rd Transylvanian Political Science Conference

Cluj/Kolozsvár, February 21-22, 2014

Organizer: The Regional Committee in Cluj of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (KAB), Political Science Section

Partners:

  • Babeș-Bolyai University, Political Science Department, Hungarian Line of Studies
  • Sapientia – Hungarian University of Transylvania, International Relations and European Studies Department
  • Association of Hungarian PhD Students and Young Researchers from Romania (RODOSZ)
  • Hungarian Political Science Association in Romania – POLITEIA
  • Association of Hungarian Political Science Students from Cluj (KoMPoT)

Interpretations of Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe

After the regime changes of 1989, the states of Central and Eastern Europe embarked on the path of liberal democracy and free market capitalism. However, the two decades that have passed since then revealed that the transitions in the region did not take place smoothly and cannot be considered uniform, as the historical-cultural and economic peculiarities of the specific countries left their mark on most components of the democratization process. Yet, beside the differences, one can also detect the impact of general phenomena, too. In spite of catching up (to varying degrees) with the European Union, the democratic institutional systems of Central and Eastern European states often falter, autocratic reflexes resurface in certain countries of the region, and after a brief euphoria citizens started to gradually turn away from politics.

The main goal of the conference is to investigate the process of transition and the consolidation that followed, as well as the system of democratic institutions that emerged as a result, paying special attention to the following aspects:

  • the interpretations of the concept of democracy specific to the analyzed countries
  • the functioning of democratic institutions and of the rule of law
  • the party systems and the content of ideologies
  • the evolution of electoral behavior
  • the situation and evolution of civil society
  • the relationship between democracy and ethno-cultural diversity
  • the issue of the boundaries of the political communities in the context of activist kin-state policies
  • democracy deficit in the EU, prospects for surmounting these issues
  • are there alternatives to democracy?

The primary working language of the conference is English, however, presentations in Hungarian or Romanian are accepted upon prior request.

Registration

The registration period is closed.

In order to register, please visit the Conference’s homepage (https://epkkonferencia.wordpress.com/), download and fill out the electronic registration form and submit it online. If you are having trouble submitting it, send it to the following email address: epkkonferencia@gmail.com.

Final deadline for applications: February 1o, 2014

The registration fee is 30 RON (2000 HUF), and covers participation at the conference, conference materials and (partially) the meals served during the event.

Organizers are unable to provide accommodation for conference participants. Participants are asked to arrange their accommodation for the duration of the eventindividually; organizers will provide a list of accommodation facilities on the website of the conference.

 Conference participation grants

The organizers offer a limited number of participation grants for young researchers and PhD students. The grant consists of a waiver of the participation fee and also covers the accommodation of the participant. Please indicate the intention to apply for this grant during the online registration process.

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