STATE (IN)STABILITY: Past, present, and future perspectives for the nation-state Libertas International University, Zagreb

STATE (IN)STABILITY: Past, present, and future perspectives for the nation-state

Topic for 2022 – MIGRATIONS AND STATE (IN)STABILITY

11 November 2022; Hybrid: Libertas International University (Zagreb, Croatia) and Online.

“A man who has been through bitter experiences and travelled far enjoys even his sufferings after a time…”
― Homer, The Odyssey

Migrations are not a new phenomenon. They have been known since ancient times and as such always caused certain consequences, both positive and negative. Migrating populations may change the societies towards which they travel, and simultaneously the societies which they leave. Hence, migrations should be understood as a constant process that both characterizes and influences societies.

To mention at least one instance, Croatia’s example shows a long history of migrations that have had various causes and consequences. In the 19th century a stream of immigrants from various parts of the Habsburg Empire changed Croatian society and contributed to modernization and the growth of national awareness. In the 20th century immigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina contributed to demographic stability and the needs of the economy. Simultaneously, Croatia was an emigrant country from which people throughout the 20th century emigrated to various parts of the world, changing both their destinations and the places they left behind and left vacant. In Croatia this trend has continued in the 21st century. Other states have their own particular history of migrations, also contributing to various trends withing their domestic societies and their relations with other states.

The stability towards which states aspire depends on a series of factors. On the one hand, states desire to be eternal entities, notwithstanding their transience, while populations may change states. Machiavelli wrote that a ruler must always live with the same people while the people do not need to live with the same ruler. However, open borders within the European Union and the possibility of illegal migrations bring this principle into question. People are obviously sometimes inclined to leave their homeland and property to change their state and government.

The question that arises is: How do migrations affect the stability of states? Answers to this question are welcome on both the theoretical and empirical level. If we accept migration as a necessity, how may we make this necessity as predictable and obvious as possible?

It is necessary to scientifically critique discussions on migration as present in the public sphere, both the liberal narrative of welcoming migration and the right-wing populist narrative of migration being a threat to the host society. We welcome theoretical models, empirical findings, comparative studies, etc., that show the influence of migration for state stability and instability. We welcome studies that critique the mainstream liberal narrative on migration, as well as the right-wing anti-immigration narrative. All studies that reveal new facts or interpretations about the phenomenon of migration are welcome.

Expected contributions include a wide range of topics from various scientific disciplines including, but not limited to, the following: Political Theory, Political Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Cultural Studies, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Security Studies, History, Anthropology, Economics, Law.

Abstracts should contain:

• Name and Surname of author(s)
• Affiliation and contact info of author(s)
• Title of Paper
• 250 – 300 words
• 5 – 7 keywords

Abstract Example

John Doe, Unknown University (jdoe@unknownuni.edu)

How to Write a Conference Absract

Abstract: This is an example of how to write an abstract for the conference. All abstracts should contain 250 – 300 words. They should be written in .doc or .docx format. They should be sent to conference@libertas.hr. The text should be Justified (CTRL+J). Submissions for the conference should contain authors name and surname, affiliation, title of paper, abstract and 5 – 7 keywords.

Key words: Conference, Abstract, Author, Affiliation, Title.

The abstract submission deadline is 31 August 2022.

Proposals should be sent to conference@libertas.hr

All relevant information is available at www.stateinstability.org

Participation fees: the STATE (IN)STABILITY 2022 conference is funded by Libertas International University, and requires no participation or registration fees from participants.