Hybrid International Student and Doctoral Conference The Iron Curtain: Memory, Borders and Political

CALL FOR PAPERS
Hybrid International Student and Doctoral Conference The Iron Curtain: Memory, Borders and Political Transformations in Contemporary Europe
- DATE: 19-20 OCT 2026
- SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: 31 AUG 2026
- On-site & online
- SUBMIT YOUR PAPER: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/s9knpQxCfA
The Institute for European Studies at the Faculty of International and Political Studies of the Jagiellonian University, The European Studies Students Association and The German Studies Students Association cordially invites undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students to participate in the Hybrid International Student and Doctoral Conference entitled "The Iron Curtain: Memory, Borders and Political Transformations in Contemporary Europe".
The conference will be held at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków in a hybrid format, allowing participation both on-site and online.
More than three decades after the fall of the Iron Curtain, its legacy continues to shape political discourse, collective memory, identities and international relations across Europe. While the physical border has disappeared, the symbolic, political and cultural consequences of the Cold War remain visible in contemporary debates on European integration, security, historical memory, democracy and geopolitical divisions.
The conference aims to provide an interdisciplinary platform for young researchers interested in examining the enduring legacy of the Iron Curtain and its impact on present-day Europe from the perspectives of history, political science, international relations, European studies, sociology, law, cultural studies and related disciplines.
The organisers welcome original research papers addressing topics related to the legacy of the Iron Curtain, Cold War memory, politics of memory, historical narratives, borderlands, divided societies, national and regional identities, European integration, post-communist transformations, democracy, human rights, migration, minority rights, multilingualism, security, political communication, media, cultural heritage and the continuing influence of East–West divisions on contemporary Europe. Contributions presenting comparative perspectives, theoretical approaches or case studies are particularly encouraged.The conference will consist of thematic panels followed by moderated discussions, creating an opportunity for participants to present their research, exchange ideas and establish academic contacts with fellow students and doctoral researchers from different universities and countries.
The working language of the conference is English. Each presentation should last approximately 15 minutes and will be followed by a discussion.
Participation in the conference is free of charge.
Those interested in participating are invited to submit the title of their presentation, an abstract of 250–300 words, four to six keywords, a short biographical note of no more than 100 words and their institutional affiliation by the announced submission deadline. Notifications of acceptance will be sent after the evaluation of abstracts by the Scientific Committee. Selected papers may be recommended for publication in a peer-reviewed collective volume or scientific journal, subject to the review process and editorial requirements.
We warmly encourage BA and MA students, doctoral candidates and other early-career researchers representing various academic disciplines to join us in Kraków or online and contribute to an inspiring discussion on the legacy of the Iron Curtain and its continuing significance for memory, borders and political transformations in contemporary Europe.
The conference is financed by the Strategic Programme Excellence Initiative of the Faculty of International and Political Studies, Jagiellonian University