CALL FOR PAPERS

for the 13th Conference of International Study of Religion in Eastern and Central Europe Association

&

Special Conference of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR)

UN(B)LOCKING RELIGION.

STUDYING RELIGION IN TODAY’S CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

University of Szeged, Hungary

May 24-26, 2018

How can we move forward with the study of religion in Central and Eastern Europe? The Szeged conference takes stock of recent theoretical, empirical, and methodological developments; it brings together different perspectives and types of material, from ethnography and everyday religion to surveys and discourse via visual [photography, films, comics] and literary analysis to sound out contemporary religion.

The title of the conference, “Un(b)locking religion” provides a variety of potential perspectives to study religious developments in the region. Almost three decades ago, religion became un(b)locked in CEE in terms of a new religious freedom. Furthermore, religion became a social factor beyond church walls. However, as a number of studies have shown, religious processes after the fall of Communism were quite diverse; there is no single path of development characteristic of the entire former Eastern Bloc. This is another way to interpret “un(B)loc[k]ing”. And looking at the current situation, “un(b)locking” could also refer to the similarities and differences between blocs of confessions, and types of religion. These are just three different ways to look at “un(b)locking religion”; other interpretations are of course also warmly welcome.

We encourage authors to submit paper proposals addressing empirical cases as well as methodological and theoretical aspects of the study of religion in Central and Eastern Europe, but also on other parts of the world, and to take part in discussion on different topics, such as:

• Methodological challenges in the research of religion
• "Soft" methodology in the investigation of religion
• Limits of theoretical approaches to religious changes in CEE
• Images of religion in CEE
• Religion in everyday life
• Comparative empirical data on religion in CEE
• Non/religious minorities and majorities
• Social inequality and religion
• Religious discourse on Eastern and Western Europe
• Religious education in public and religious schools
• Transformations of religious pluralisms in CEE societies
• Religion and refugee crisis in the public discourse of CEE
• Religions and integration of migrants in CEE

Keynote speakers:

1. Detlef Pollack (University of Münster)

2. Agnieszka Pasieka (University of Vienna)

Please submit a 200-300 words abstract of your presentation and a 100-word bio by e-mail to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by December 1, 2017.

If you are interested in a specific topic related to the theme of un(b)locking religion we encourage you to organize a session/panel. In this case, please submit a 300-400 words proposal with full session details (names and affiliation of contributors, titles of their presentations) by December 1, 2017 to the same email address.

Key dates

Submission of paper and session/panel proposals: December 1, 2017.

Notification of acceptance and opening of the registration: January 15, 2018.

The final date of the registration for the conference: February 30, 2018.

Final program: March 31, 2018.

Please note that in order to present a paper you need to be a member of ISORECEA for the years 2018-2019.

The conference fees are as follows (in EURO):

For members of ISORECEA

* This is according to the Table of Economies used by the International Sociological Association: http://www.isa-sociology.org/table_c.htm

For those who are not members of ISORECEA*

* Only those who do not present a paper can participate in the conference as non-members.

** This is according to the Table of Economies used by the International Sociological Association: http://www.isa-sociology.org/table_c.htm

Those accepted for the conference will be asked to pay their fees through the PayPal system at the ISORECEA website. For the information on how to become a member of ISORECEA or renew the membership, please visit the organisation’s website: http://isorecea.net/. The information about accommodation and the conference venue will be given in the second half of December 2017. In case of any earlier questions, please send an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Miklós Tomka Award

The ISORECEA Board has established the Miklós Tomka Award to honour Miklós Tomka, the internationally acknowledged and widely esteemed scholar of religion specializing in the Central and Eastern European region, who died unexpectedly in 2010.

The Award is granted based on a competitive basis for the best conference paper submitted to the Award Committee. The paper should refer to the conference theme. The competition is open to early career scholars, with a special focus on PhD students. The Award comprises:

- The publication of the paper in the ISORECEA on-line journal Religion and Society in Central and Eastern Europe;

- Exemption from the conference fee;

- Covering accommodation costs at the conference.

Early career scholars interested in entering the competition are invited to submit their full papers to the email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by January 10, 2018. The winner will be announced by February 30, 2018, which is the final date for registration for being on the program of the conference. Papers submitted for the Award should be between 5000 and 7000 words long and should strictly follow the rules applying to papers submitted to the ISORECEA journal Religion and Society in Central and Eastern Europe.

For details see:

http://www.rascee.net/index.php/rascee/about/submissions#authorGuidelines

We are looking forward to receiving your papers!