Culture is a set of rules and behavioural patterns we learn with socialisation. However, in a globalised (and multicultural) world culture became subject of discussions from various points of views, and its importance is not loosing strength.

In the past century, we witnessed many attempts to foster cultural agendas using popular culture where identities were formed in a way to present one nation to other nations in a favourable way, and where audiences were confronted with various messages that are sometimes blurred with first-hand experiences. States indeed invest funding in their cultural policies, and particularly in their cultural policies oriented towards abroad via external cultural institutes, or tourist offers where culture is emphasized as an achievement of a certain nation (most notably, in art and music). Cultural relations, on the other hand, are centred on creating mutual recognition and understanding, however, many scholars and practitioners expressed criticism calling western countries as imperialists imposing their cultural patterns over less advanced countries just via peaceful means and not through colonialism anymore.

On the other hand, culture is often a subject of discussion when minority groups are in stake because minorities find themselves surrounded by different culture, and in a dilemma whether to assimilate or to preserve their culture while still trying to lead average lives. The latter is then subject of criticism from conservatives and the Far Right that insist on integration, an unclear term that sometimes seems more like forced integration.

These and other issues are the subjects of discussion at our conference.

Papers are invited (but not limited to) for the following panels:

• Culture and identity

• Culture and nationalism

• Religion and culture

• Culture and tourism

• Cultural diplomacy

• Cultural imperialism

• Popular culture and cultural policy

• Cultural policies – case studies

• Art and cultural policy

• Music and cultural policy

• Theatres and cultural policy

• Culture and media

• EU cultural policy

• US cultural policy

• Culture and propaganda

Prospective participants are also welcome to submit proposals for their own panels.

Submissions of abstracts (up to 500 words), short bios (up to 100 words), and email contact should be sent to Dr Martina Topic (martina@socialsciencesandhumanities.com) by 10^th March. Decisions will be made by 15^th March, and payment of the conference fee has to be made by 30^th March.

Panel proposals should be sent by 10^th February. When we receive four or five quality papers for a whole panel, we will send notification of acceptance earlier.

Finalised Conference programme will be available by 15^th April. Early decisions are available for participants with EU visa requirements, and for panel proposals.

Participants should indicate in their applications whether they would like to chair one of the existing panels (if not proposing their own panel) and whether they plan to submit a paper for publication.

The Centre plans to establish a peer review journal, as well as publish working papers and edited volumes. Conference papers will be considered for publication.

We welcome paper proposals from scholars, NGO activists, Master and PhD students, and independent researchers.

Conference fee is EUR 290, and it includes

- The registration fee

- Conference bag and folder with materials

- Conference publication

- Access to the newsletter, and electronic editions of the Centre

- Opportunity for participating in future activities of the Centre (research & co-editing proceedings)

- Discount towards participation fee for future conferences

- Conference drinks (mineral water and fruit juice)

- Coffee-break morning with drinks and pastries

- Buffet Lunch

- Coffee-break afternoon with drinks and pastries

- Buffet Dinner

- WLAN during the conference

- Conference rate for rooms

- Certificate of attendance

Centre for Research in Humanities and Social Sciences is a private institution founded in December 2013 in Croatia (EU).

We selected Austria as a place for hosting conferences due to Austria’s favourable geographic position, and liberal Visa regime for conference participants with EU Visa requirements.

Unfortunately, the Centre has no available funds for covering transport and accommodation in Austria. Participants are responsible for finding funding to cover transportation and accommodation costs during the whole period of the conference.

The Centre will not discriminate based on the origin and/or methodological/paradigmatic approach of prospective conference participants.

Conference drinks, coffee breaks, lunches and dinners are covered for both days of the conference.

Contact:
 

Dr Martina Topić

Research associate

Centre for Research in Social Sciences and Humanities

Viktora Kovačića 5

HR - 10 010 Zagreb

Croatia