8th World Congress „Borderlands (Pogranicza)”

Proposals are solicited for complete sessions or individual papers in any of the disciplines in the liberal arts, sciences, or business/economics. The general theme of the conference is “Borderlands (Pogranicza),” for which Białystok, a city on Poland’s present-day eastern frontier adjacent to Poland’s historic borderlands (kresy), with its own distinctive multicultural past, is a most appropriate setting. Therefore, we particularly welcome panel and paper proposals which address the multiethnic and contested nature of borderlands, realms where the mixing and unmixing of populations and cultures have occurred. They have been zones of peaceful coexistence and brutalizing violence. At the same time, borderlands have also been places of national indifference and identity-formation. The borderland region known as the kresy has long inspired outstanding literary works and other cultural products, both national and transnational. What is the relevance of borderlands today? For example, is Europe—so recently conceived of and experienced as a zone without internal borders—being re-territorialized?  Białystok’s proximity to Belarus also points towards other topics of current interest. These are but some ideas of what may be discussed; however, papers do not necessarily have to address the main conference theme. Since we value comparative sessions that place the Polish and East Central European experience in context, papers need not focus specifically on Poland or Polish themes. Similarly, sessions including presenters from more than one country are encouraged.

Each session is scheduled for 90 minutes to accommodate three papers or about 20 minutes per paper, with suitable time left for discussion. As the conference language is English, all single paper submissions are expected to be in that language. However, the organizers of complete sessions may opt for their sessions to be conducted entirely in Polish. Please note in your submission whether you wish to participate in person or only virtually. All conference rooms will be equipped with AV for PowerPoint presentations. Presenters are invited to submit their conference papers to be considered for possible publication in The Polish Review after the conference.

To submit a paper or complete session, please send the name, e-mail address, institutional affiliation, tentative paper title and brief one-paragraph abstract for each presenter to program chair Patrice Dabrowski at pmd639@g.harvard.edu. The deadline for proposals has been extended to March 1, 2022, though earlier submissions are welcome since capacity is limited.  All participants are expected to pay the conference registration fee of $80, discounted to $40 for students.