The University of Belgrade – Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory (IFDT), in cooperation with the Association for the Study of Nationalities (ASN), is pleased to announce a conference, “Reconfiguring National Identities amid Multiple Crises”, to be held from 18 to 20 September 2026 in Belgrade, Serbia.
The conference invites a broad range of papers and panels on ethnicity, ethnic conflict, national identity, nationalism, and related topics, with a geographic focus on Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, the Caucasus, and Eurasia.
As an interdisciplinary event, the conference welcomes contributions from anthropology, cultural studies, economics, geography, history, law, literature, political science, gender studies, psychology, sociology, and related fields, as well as interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary studies employing diverse methodologies.
We particularly welcome papers and panels reflecting on three major topics of the conference:
- Contesting national narratives in Southeastern Europe and beyond
- Wars and the transformation of European national identities
- The future of populism and responses to democratic, economic, and climate crises
Keynote addresses will be delivered by:
Ruth Wodak, Lancaster University/University of Vienna, and Siniša Malešević, University College Dublin
Potential applicants can review the thematic scope of ASN conference papers by consulting programs from past Conventions and European Conferences.
Proposal Submissions
The 2026 ASN European Conference invites proposals for individual papers and panels, roundtables, and book panels.
Submissions should be made only through the Proposal Submission Form:
Individual and panel paper proposals should include:
- Contact information (name, email address, and academic affiliation),
- Paper title, abstract (up to 500 words), and up to five keywords,
- One paragraph biographical statement in narrative form, up to 100 words,
- Paper proposals with more than one author should include contact information and biographical statements for all authors.
Panel proposals should be submitted by a single person – the panel organizer. The standard panel format consists of a chair, discussant, and three to four paper presenters. In addition, each participant presenting a paper on that panel should submit a paper proposal and clearly indicate the panel to which the paper is being submitted. Please note that panel submission is simultaneous: the organizer’s panel proposal and each presenter’s individual paper proposal (linked to that panel) must all be submitted by the deadline.
Panel proposals, submitted by panel organizers, should include:
- Title of the panel and the panel abstract (up to 500 words),
- Contact information for all panelists: names, email addresses, and academic affiliations.
Book panel proposals should include the same information as panel proposals. The book should be a significant contribution to the field.
Roundtable proposals should follow the same panel proposal format. Roundtables should focus on key political events or developments, methodological questions, or emerging research areas.
We also welcome applications from individuals who are not on other proposals (individual, panel, book, and roundtable) but would like to volunteer as discussants.
Each participant may present only one paper and may appear in the program no more than two times in total, either as a coauthor, in a book, or on a roundtable panel. Discussant and chair roles are not counted toward this limit.
Upon submission, the organizers will confirm receipt by email using the address provided in the Proposal Submission Form.
Papers and panels will be assessed by an International Board composed of scholars from the ASN and the University of Belgrade.
The working language of the conference is English.
Presentations at the conference will be in person only.
Registration and travel grants
Conference registration costs are:
Faculty – 120 Euros (ASN Members: 60 Euros)
Students – 60 Euros (ASN Members: 30 Euros)
Registration fee will be waived for participants who serve only as discussants at the conference.
A limited number of travel and accommodation grants will be available. The grants are aimed at graduate students and postdocs and will cover travel within Europe and accommodation costs, up to 200 Euros.
Important dates
Please send proposals by 1 March 2026.
Notifications of acceptance by 1 April 2026.
The deadline for registration is 15 May 2026.
The draft program will be published by 1 July 2026.
We look forward to receiving your proposals. For more information, please contact: asn2026@ifdt.bg.ac.rs