"Traces of Multiculturalism in Central Europe" is a joint conference organized by University of Wroclaw, Poland, the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada and the Wirth Alumni Network (WAN). We encourage a dialogue between scholars, both Central European and international, to explore as broadly as possible the meaning of multiculturalism in Central Europe and encourage a reflection on its cultural, social, and political dimensions. With Wroclaw becoming a European Capital of Culture in 2016, we bring forth the idea to explore the theme of what 'culture' is or may be in the context of a multicultural present and history of Central Europe.

Topics of presentation may include, while not being limited to, the following:
- Multicultural past and present of various Central European countries and regions
- Migration
- Migration and refugee crises
- Identity (trans)formations and language
- Multilingualism
- Cultures or Multi-Culture? – the meaning of ‘culture’ in today’s Central European context
- Political and social challenges in times of multiculturalism
- Policies of diversity
- Minority issues, peace and conflict, multicultural education
- Austrian School of Economics
- Economics and culture
- Memory, place and belonging, ethnic, cultural and religious minorities
- Religion and identity
- Cultural transfer/transformation in Central Europe
- Education and multiculturalism
- Multiculturalism and the pursuit for peace

We especially welcome comparative and inter-/transdisciplinary perspectives. We encourage presentations from all disciplines and fields of scholarship, including history, literature, economics, pedagogy, art history, political science, regional studies, cultural studies, philology and linguistics, peace and conflict studies, Jewish studies, etc.

We are inviting submissions for both individual papers and pre-constituted panels for presentations. Abstracts should be a maximum of 300 words in length. In addition, please include a short biographical note (approximately 100 words). Presentations should be no more than 20 min in length. Selected papers will have the opportunity to be published. We welcome submissions from graduate students and early career scholars.

Please note that travel and accommodation subsidies are available to participants of this conference. Please notify us of your intention to request a travel subsidy in your submission.

Deadline for abstracts: January 31st, 2016 Notification of acceptance: March 15th, 2016

Send in your submissions to: multiculturalism.wroclaw2016@gmail.com

http://www.wirth.ualberta.ca