The chair of Southeast European History at Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen and the Gießener Zentrum Östliches Europa (GIZO) invites to a conference in Giessen, Germany.

In addition to established researchers, we would also like to encourage both newcomers and doctoral students to participate.

Since the 1990s, a growing concern in both the media and academia emerged regarding the situation of Roma in Eastern Europe due to the fact that they became, in countries in transition, a target and victim of nationalism resulting in the worsening of the groups’ living conditions, especially in comparison with the majority society. This is also the case in former Yugoslavia, specifically after the wars of the Nineties. Since 1999, if one mentions Roma in Kosovo but also in Serbia and Macedonia, “Ashkali and Egyptians” has to be added for reasons of specification. All three groups are referred to as “Gypsies” by the majority society and were expelled from Kosovo in 1999 and 2004. Using one abbreviation – RAE, for three groups: Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians - is quite confusing for scholars, politicians and the international community alike and unique when compared with other minorities in former Yugoslavia.

Not only in Kosovo but also in the neighbouring countries such as Serbia, Macedonia and Albania, members of all three communities are living as refugees from Kosovo or citizens of the country. As yet, only few scholars have discussed the issue of the nation building of Egyptians and the dilemma they are facing in a society predominantly Albanian, Serbian or Macedonian.

This conference aims at discussing PhD projects regarding the history and anthropology of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians in former Yugoslavia and Albania, focusing on nation-building and the representation of RAE, the construction of identities, majorities and minorities in the said countries, the impact of nationalism on minorities, social and political reasons for switching of identities, the impact of Science on minorities and identities, topoi of origin and history, and, finally, the historiography and related topics.

The presentations should be held in English and last 20-30 minutes.
Please hand in an abstract of 300-500 words by 1st August 2009.

Travel expenses and accommodation will be reimbursed.

Organisation:

For application and questions please contact Claudia.Lichnofsky@geschichte.uni-giessen.de

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DATE: January 22 - 23, 2010
LOCATION: Giessen, Germany
PHONE: +49 (0)641-99-28024