October 2007, Issue no 60
http://resource.regional.net
impact@regionalnet.org

1. Funding Opportunities

2. Announcements and Upcoming Events

3. Useful Links

Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe - Call for Proposals in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia
Application deadline: October 30, 2007


Given the context and framework described above, the CEE Trust announces the call for proposals in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, and invites interested and qualified non-profit, non-governmental organizations, expert groups, coalitions, and education institutions (excluding business organizations, governmental institutions or municipalities) to work on the following funding areas:

1. Accountability of Public Institutions
In a democratic society, civil society actors are one of the most effective vehicles for keeping public institutions accountable and promoting good governance in the public sphere. Specifically, civil society actors may achieve this through mechanisms such as, but not limited to:
* watchdog activities (monitoring of public practices, policies and institutions)
* contribution to development and implementation of public policies
* advocacy
* investigative journalism
* strategic litigation.

Proposals should prove that the project will add significant value for the general public, or for a defined minority, through achieving transparency and accountability in public institutions or by highlighting serious problems caused by disfunctionalities of the public institutions.

2. Civic Engagement and Community Mobilization
The growing apathy of individual citizens and constituencies and a diminishing interest in public affairs endangers the foundation and stability of democracy. Stimulating participation on all levels of public life is a primary role for civil society actors. Part of this strategy should be consistent efforts to:
* educate and empower the public on their rights and role as citizens in a democracy
* raise public awareness on critical issues
* strengthen organizations' and groups' capacity to generate public debate on topics of importance
* bring new voices into the public debate
* develop civil society actors' public communication skills
* encourage critical thinking and real public debate
* other.

3. Solidarity in Social Life
Disadvantaged groups have become economically and socially marginalized throughout the region. In the struggle for economic growth, these vulnerable populations may be ignored or discriminated against. Such discrimination can result in a closed cycle of increased poverty, crime, disease and further discrimination. Civil society actors are, inarguably, one of the only voices available to speak for these groups.

The CEE Trust will support projects offering fresh ideas how to stimulate:
* mutual understanding and acceptance
* care of the mainstream society for the poor, the elderly, the excluded
* engagement of all parties (disadvantaged groups, NGOs, educational organizations, members of community, public institutions, businesses, media, etc)
* efficient partnerships to address problems of marginalized groups.

Applicants can focus on one or more areas if the proposed approach meets the challenge.

Please note that the CEE Trust does not support provision of social services for disadvantaged groups.

4. Supportive environment for civil society
Fragmentation and lack of domestic financial support in civil society are problems impeding its ability to act as a strong public voice. In some cases, the legal and fiscal environment surrounding civil society actors throws up significant barriers to their function. With an increased fight for survival, there is often more rivalry than coalition and joint action on certain causes. Within this category, the CEE Trust encourages submission of proposals that focus on, but not limited to:
* supporting innovative sustainability mechanisms for the sector
* encouraging consolidation
* building partnerships and cross-sectoral cooperation[1]
* promoting philanthropy on all levels
* advocating for a legal and fiscal environment that enables civil society actors to fulfill their role.

Applicants can focus on different areas if the proposed approach meets the challenge.

Please note that the CEE Trust does not provide support to reserve capitals or endowments.

The CEE Trust considers the following elements to be important in any proposals supported:
* awareness of the role and responsibilities of the civil society
* visible efforts to build constituencies and win public support for their cause or mission
* mechanisms to demonstrate to the public the role, the work and the results of the project
* mechanisms to secure feedback, maintain the stated objectives and high awareness of the planned impact
* interest in sharing knowledge and experience (including in the broad context of CE Europe)
* relevance and responsiveness to a country or locality's particular context
* stimulation of civic dialogue
* concern for sustainable development where ‘sustainable' is understood not only as financial survival, but also as being rooted in needs/issues, being able to demonstrate constituency, etc.

The application process consists of 2 stages:
* 1. Submission of Letter of Intent and Project Application Form (see: http://www.ceetrust.org/index.php?ar=941)
* 2. Short-listed applicants are invited to prepare and submit a Full proposal.

More information
Website: http://www.ceetrust.org/index.php?ar=961


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Robert Bosch Stiftung - Invitation of Tender for Guest Institutions 2008 - 2009
Application deadline: October 31, 2007


The Robert Bosch Stiftung is one of the main corporate foundations in Germany and pursues non-profit-making projects only. The Robert Bosch Stiftung offers Cultural institutions in South Eastern Europe Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia the opportunity to apply for the assignment of a Robert Bosch Cultural Manager.

The Robert Bosch Stiftung sends young cultural managers from Germany for a maximum of three years to cultural institutions in South Eastern Europe where they concentrate on promoting dialogue with German language and cultural areas. The cultural managers support guest institutions conceptionally and organisationally in fulfilling their tasks. The projects they initiate should appeal above all to young people. The main tasks of the cultural manager are to link-up guest institutions with other cultural institutions and to give support in their conceptional development, fundraising and public relations work. The start of the programme year 2008/2009 is 1 August 2008.

The cultural managers have completed corresponding studies, have experience in project work and usually bring with them knowledge of the guest country and its language. Parallel to their tasks at the guest institutions they are qualified for international cultural exchanges through their participation at regular seminars for young managers. They receive a grant from the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The costs for the visa and essential insurance (health, accident, personal liability and baggage insurance) are also paid for by the
foundation.

In the programme year 2008/09 two or three grants are available for establishing new cultural manager locations. In order to qualify as a guest institution the following minimum requirements must be fulfilled:
- The institution already has experience in cultural exchanges with Germany or wishes to systematically create a similar field of activity
- The purpose of the institution is not solely to organise a festival
- The institution is not in a town that already has a Goethe Institute
- The institution has been in existence for at least one year and has solid basic financing at its disposal
- The institution already has the support of at least two active employees
- The institution is able to pay the cultural manager a standard local salary, or offer something comparable (eg. provision of free accommodation) in return for his/her services
- The institution can provide the cultural manager with a workplace equipped with the appropriate communication aids (free use of telephone, fax, copier, computer with internet access, printer etc.)
- The institution aids the cultural manager in organisational matters such as search for accommodation, residence permit, etc.

The decision to establish a cultural manager position is made by the Robert Bosch Stiftung together with the programme management of the East Europe Centre at the University of Hohenheim. Upon successful
application the guest institution is included in the programme and takes part in the choice of the new cultural managers.

More information
Website: www.kulturmanger.net
E-mail: christine.haller@kulturmanager.net (Christine Haller)


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European Foundation Centre - International Fellowship Programme for Learning and Exchange in Philanthropy (IFP)
Application deadline: November 1, 2007


Through fellowships lasting usually from 3 to 12 weeks, this European Foundation Centre (EFC) programme aims to strengthen leaders in and boost international cooperation of European foundations and NGOs. The programme was initiated and is funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation in cooperation with other European and US foundations.

Aims of the programme
* To give foundation and NGO staff the opportunity to develop their professional skills with an international and practical orientation
* To support foundations and NGOs by improving the management competences of their staff
* To trigger or deepen contacts and cooperation between non-profit institutions across Europe

Profile of fellows
Candidates for fellowships should have the following characteristics:
* Be university graduates with at least three years of professional experience
* Have been working at their home institutions for at least two years and have a future job prospect there
* Be young leaders or senior managers - both are welcome to apply
* Work for a home institution and aspire to go to a host institution located in a European country. Exceptions can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
* Speak the working language(s) used in their host institution. There can be exceptions to this rule, if a candidate and the mentor of the host institution have a common language. In addition, some knowledge of English is necessary for the seminars that complement the programme.

In their applications, candidates should define up to three focus topics for a fellowship, such as management of project proposals, public relations, financial management, evaluation or advocacy, for example.

What the sending institutions contribute
The candidate's home institution:
* Must be prepared to release the candidate for a period of time but continue to pay his/her salary
* Should develop a strategy for using the know-how and skills acquired by the fellow after his/her return
* Should have differentiated and clear-cut business units (e.g. accounting, public relations, project management), an annual budget of at least 100,000 euros, and a minimum staff of five
* May use the fellowship to build on an existing or planned (project) partnership (but existing international cooperations or activities are not a compulsory precondition)

What the host institutions offer
The host institution:
* Provides a suitable working place
* Assists the fellow in the search for accommodation (the main responsibility lies with the fellow)
* Assigns a mentor for the period of the fellowship, who has to participate in a one-day preparation meeting before the fellowship
* Helps establish the content and time schedule of the fellowship: The programme will be individually adapted to the aims and needs of the fellows and the participating organisations.

A number of foundations and other non-profit organisations have shown their interest in hosting a fellow, and other institutions are welcome to join the pool of host organisations. Candidates may also suggest suitable institutions. They can in principle be located in any European country except for the candidate's home country.

Financial benefits for fellows
This programme establishes a common platform for learning and exchange, a 'level playing ground', involving participants from small as well as large institutions. However, size and financial capacity of the sending and host institutions can be extremely diverse, and this needs to be taken into account. We have therefore defined three categories of fellowships:
* fully funded (for candidates from smaller organisations, mostly in Central and Eastern Europe). The fellow’s travel costs to and from the location of the host institution and the venue of the introductory and final seminars will be covered, as well as a substantial part of accommodation costs (up to 100%, depending on the location). In addition, there is a contribution towards living costs (per diem) during the fellowship.
* partly funded (for candidates from financially more resourceful institutions/ countries, e.g. from mid-size NGOs or small foundations from West European countries). These fellows would receive sufficient funding to cover most of their travel costs and a daily allowance (per diem). Usually this amounts to about 50% or more of the total expenses for a fellowship.
* without funding (for candidates from large foundations or similar organisations with strong resources). The EFC will support these fellows in their efforts to find a suitable host institution, and they will benefit from the preparation and networking opportunity during the seminars, but cannot expect any reimbursement of their fellowship expenses.

There is a uniform participation fee of 150 euros (120 euros for candidates from EFC member organisations) for every fellow.

More information
Website: http://www.efc.be/projects/ifp/
E-mail: wgnauck@efc.be (Witold Gnauck, Coordinator of IFP)


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John Smith Fellowship Programme
Application deadline: November 6, 2007


The John Smith Fellowship is an intensive, five-week programme on good governance, democracy and social justice. The Programme combines a seminar series, placements and visits designed to give an insight into democratic practice. Core themes include good governance, the rule of law, social justice, tolerance and the democratic accountability.

The primary objectives of the John Smith Fellowship Programme are to:
· Bring together influential young civil society and political leaders to exchange views and receive training and information on democratic practices and the promotion of good government.
· Deepen awareness of how a mature democracy supports and develops good governance, the Rule of Law, human rights, and social justice, and encourages democratic access and accountability.
· Promote a dialogue between Fellows within and outside their home countries, and create and maintain links with young leaders and those working in similar fields in the U.K.

The Programme lasts for five weeks in the UK and is made up as follows:
· An introductory week in Edinburgh, Scotland
· An intensive, two-week Seminar Series on the political process in a mature democracy: A series of discussions and meetings with senior academics and practitioners combined with visits to illustrate how public policy is made and developed
· Planning and preparation of ‘individual action plans’ setting out how insights gained in the UK can be turned into concrete developments applied at home
· A weekend conference on the role of the media in a democracy; providing an opportunity to explore issues of mutual interest and concern with invited guests from the UK
· Two weeks of individual attachments to suitable organisations – for example, working with an NGO, ‘shadowing’ a politician, a placement in central government, local administration or the media
· A final week in London with visits to Parliament and other institutions, and opportunities to analyse collective experience
· A concluding seminar during which Fellows present their projects to representatives of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the John Smith Memorial Trust and the British Council.

Fellows are expected to produce a personal plan of action to be carried out when they return home. In the following year a Follow-Up Conference in one of the Fellowship countries brings all Fellows together to report on their activities and compare progress. The value of networking after the Fellow returns home and seeks to put into practice what he/she has learned is of great importance. The Fellowship Programme covers the following broad subject areas: representative government in a democracy; citizenship, law and rights; civil society and the popular voice; business and public life; and international institutions.

The 'ideal' candidate will be aged 25-35, working in politics, local administration or civil society, with a track record of concern for good governance and promoting democratic values. Good written and spoken English is essential (Candidates must have English proficiency at IELTS level 6 or above). Applications for Fellowships are currently invited from the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.

The John Smith Fellowship will cover all costs incurred by the Fellows' taking part in the Programme.

In order to apply for a fellowship, you will need to download and complete an application form. You will find further information to help you complete the form on the working attachments page. Applications for the 2008 Programme must be submitted to your local British Council office.

More information
Website: http://www.britishcouncil.org/governance-js-home.htm


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Roma Access Program 2008
Application deadline: November 15, 2007


The Central European University, with the financial support of the Roma Education Fund, Sigrid Rausing Trust, and private donors, is offering a 9-month Preparatory Course for promising young Roma from Central and Eastern Europe. Full scholarships will be awarded, covering travel, tuition, housing and living stipend.

The goal is to prepare Roma enter international post-graduate studies (at master's level) through open competition at CEU, North American or Western European universities and focuses on academic and English language development.

The program will:
* Involve Roma students in the core degree programs of CEU (auditing CEU classes)
* Prepare them for their chosen field of study through intensive training
* Accustom them to advanced academic life
* Raise their English to a level adequate for post-graduate study
* Train them in post-graduate level academic skills

The full-time course will start in April 2008 and last until December 2008. It is a combination of:
1. Discipline specific tutoring (in the fields of Law/Human Rights, Sociology, Gender Studies, Political Science or International Relations and European Studies; additional disciplines may be offered)
2. General Social Science tutoring
3. Academic courses
4. Academic writing
5. English language training

Who can apply?
Young Roma from Central and Eastern Europe (Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, FYR Macedonia, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Kosovo, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine) who have:
* A university/college degree in any field (preferably in the Social Sciences or Humanities)
* Strong interest in post-graduate university education
* At least pre-intermediate English language skills
* Desire to study in a multicultural environment

Your application must include:
1. Completed Application Form (in English)
2. CV, including academic background, work experience if any, and involvement in Roma related issues in your country if any (in English)
3. Letter of Intention, stating why you would like to participate in this program (in English)
4. One Reference Letter from a recognized Roma organization - translation into English should be attached if the recommendation is written in local language
5. One Reference Letter from a university professor or your employer - translation into English should be attached if the recommendation is written in local language
6. Official copies (bearing an ink stamp and a signature of a notary public or an authorized university official) and official English translation of all University Documents (diploma and documents showing your grades).

Important additional information
* Incomplete or late application packages will not be considered
* Applicants who do not have their diploma by April 2008 cannot be considered
* As a general rule, we cannot provide assistance in accommodating family members
* If you are currently employed, you will not be able to continue your duties as this is a full-time program

More information
Website: http://www.ceu.hu/sep/spo/roma.html
E-mail: romaac@ceu.hu


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Structural Support for European Public Policy Research Organisations and for Civil Society Organisations at European Level, 2008 - 2009
Application deadline: November 23, 2007


This call for proposals concerns structural support, referred to as operating grant, to organisations, pursuing an aim of general European interest. Operating grants are different from project grants. Operating grants provide financial support to costs necessary for the proper conduct of the normal and
permanent activities of an organisation selected. These costs include in particular personnel costs, overheads (rental and property charges, equipment, office supplies, telecommunications, postal charges, etc.) costs of internal meetings, publications, information and dissemination costs and costs directly linked to the organisation's work programme.

In order to enhance long term planning and provide greater financial security for organisations, this call for proposals introduces for the first time the possibility of a multi-annual partnership. It is not excluded to submit two applications, one for an annual grant (2008) and one for a multi-annual partnership (2 years 2008-2009).

The Programme is intended to contribute to the following general objectives:
(a) Giving citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing an ever closer Europe, which is democratic and world-oriented, united in and enriched through its cultural diversity, thus developing citizenship of the European Union
(b) Developing a sense of European identity, based on common values, history and culture;
(c) Fostering a sense of ownership of the European Union among its citizens
(d) Enhancing mutual understanding between European citizens respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.

The specific objectives of this call for proposals are:
(a) Foster action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture through cooperation within civil society organisations at European level
(b) Encourage interaction between citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries, contributing to intercultural dialogue and bringing to the fore both Europe's diversity and unity, with particular attention to activities aimed at developing closer ties between citizens from
Member States which acceded to the European Union before and those which have acceded since 30 April 2004.

The foreseen Community budget for the co-financing of operating grants is EUR 2,7 million in 2008. The Executive Agency intends to finance around 25 applications under this call, but reserves the right not to use all the funds available.

To be eligible for an operating grant, an organisation, pursuing an aim of general European interest must be:
— Measure 1: a European public policy research organisation (think-thank) or Measure 2: a Civil society organisation at European level, promoting European citizenship
— Be a non-profit making and independent organisation with a legal status and legal personality
— Operate in the field of European citizenship as clearly defined in the articles of association
— Undertake the majority of their activities in eligible countries.

Applications from legal entities established in the following countries are eligible:
(a) the Member States of the European Union on 1 January 2007 (27): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
(b) Information concerning the agreements establishing the participation of other countries can be consulted on the webpage of Executive Agency (EACEA):
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.htm

More information
Website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/citizenship/index_en.htm


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European Prevention Prize 2008
Application deadline: December 1, 2007


The European Prevention Prize is awarded every two years to active youth drug prevention projects that are currently functioning in Pompidou Group member states (Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom).

Its objective is to recognize the importance of active youth participation in creating a better and healthier environment for all communities in Europe. The Prize will be awarded to three youth projects that will each receive a monetary benefit of € 5,000.

Being innovative is a feature of youth cultures in all countries. Therefore projects with innovative approaches, including making use modern communication forms and technologies (such as video, internet, mobile phone and text messaging) are particularly encouraged to present themselves. In this respect the Prize is also a way to present new innovative approaches to an interested audience. To ensure this, a descriptive inventory of all projects submitted will be published and disseminated by the Pompidou Group in late 2008.

A project that enters the competition for the Prize should make certain that it meets the following eligibility criteria:
1. The project must be currently running in one (or more) of the Pompidou Group member states. Projects whose work is mainly outside this geographical area are ineligible.
2. The project must be run by more than one person and have some formal structure, for example a management committee or steering group. Documentary evidence of this will be required. Projects can be government sponsored, run by NGOs (non-governmental organisations), in the private sector, or organised by local communities. Projects do not have to be funded to be eligible—they can be entirely voluntary.
3. The work of eligible projects must be wholly or mainly in the area of drug prevention. Projects that are not concerned with drug prevention will not be eligible. We accept a broad definition of drug prevention, and we encourage you to apply if your project defines itself as a drug prevention project. Projects that address risk or protective factors associated with drug use are extremely significant, even if they are not directly concentrating on drug issues. However, projects that are solely concerned with ‘tertiary prevention’ (working only with people who already have developed problems with their drug use) are unlikely to be successful.
4. Young people, under the age of 25 years, must be involved in the work of the project. There is no lower age limit.
To enter your project, please complete the application form and send it to the Pompidou Group Secretariat.

More information
Website: http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/pompidou/PreventionPrize/2008PrevPrize_Info_en.asp
E-mail: preventionprize2008@coe.int


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Open Society Institute - Undergraduate Exchange Program
Application deadline: December 3, 2007


The Undergraduate Exchange Program (UEP) supports students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Serbia, and Ukraine* in the United States for one year of non-degree academic studies. Applicants must currently be enrolled as a second-year student at a university in their home country to be eligible.
*Applicants from Ukraine must be studying in the regions of Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizhzhya or Donetsk to be eligible.

The program seeks to assist educational and civic development in Southeastern and Eastern Europe and Mongolia by exposing participants to a liberal-arts curriculum, different models of classroom instruction, community service work, and civil society-related programming. UEP combines the U.S. liberal arts academic experience with exposure to American social issues and civic development through involvement in community service-related work. The program aims to create lasting ties among participants and their American colleagues, thereby contributing to cultural understanding and tolerance.

Participants attend a university or college in the United States for one year. While in the United States, grantees agree to complete 25 hours per semester of community service work in an area of interest to them. At the end of the year, they are expected to return home to complete their degrees. Once back in their home country, grantees complete a community service project in their own community.

More information
Website: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship/focus_areas/undergraduate_exchange


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New Europe College - Fellowships Spring - Summer 2008, Bucuresti, Romania
Application deadline: December 10, 2007


The two Fellowships shall enable young outstanding researchers - social scientists and humanities scholars - or academics from the Balkan region to pursue their work in Bucharest, with the support of a decent stipend and benefiting from the institute's excellent infrastructure and in its stimulating multidisciplinary atmosphere. Fellows are expected to stay in residence at the New Europe College in Bucharest and to participate in the academic program of this vital Romanian centre of research and debate.

Eligible are scholars (doctoral or post-doctoral level) from the West Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Preference is given to applicants below 45 years. A good command of English is desirable; fluency in other foreign languages (French, German) an advantage. Knowledge of German would be an advantage, but is not a necessary condition.

Successful candidates receive a monthly stipend of 600 Euro for four months. The Fellowships also include accommodation, travel costs for Bucharest, and a research allowance. Additionally, Fellows are offered a lump sum of 2560 Euros for a one-month research trip to a German institution.

The Fellowships are sponsored by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Stuttgart, Germany.

Applications must use the forms provided on the New Europe College website and also contain a CV (with publications) and a well-written research proposal (3-5 pages) for the period in question. Applications that satisfy the formal requirements will be considered by an international jury (including representatives of the New Europe College and members of its Boards).

More information
Website: www.nec.ro
E-mail: imihai@nec.ro (Ms Irina Vainovski-Mihai, Program Coordinator)


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John F. Kennedy School of Government - Kokkalis Fellowships
Application deadline: January 4, 2008 (may vary according to the degree program)


The Kokkalis Program strives to support individuals committed to invigorating the public sector in Southeastern and East-Central Europe by providing fellowships for study at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Eligible to apply for a 2008 Kokkalis Fellowship are natives of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey who are applying for one of the following degree programs: Master in Public Policy(MPP); Master in Public Administration (MPA2); Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA); Master in Public Administration in International Development (MPA/ID).

Candidates with academic and/or professional backgrounds in one of the following fields are highly encouraged to apply: public policy and/or administration, the non-profit sector, law, economics, social sciences, or related fields. All applicants should demonstrate a strong commitment to public service and the region of Southeast Europe.

Candidates must complete both the online Kennedy School application for admission and Kokkalis Fellowship application.

More information
Website: http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/kokkalis/fellowships.html
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/apply/deadlines.htm
Belgrade: U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Office +381 11 361 9344
Bucharest: The Fulbright Commission +40 21 230 7719
Budapest: The Fulbright Commission +36 1 462 8040
Chisinau: U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Office +373 22 408 300
Ljubljana U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Office +386 1 2005500
Podgorica U.S. Consulate +381 81 225 417
Sarajevo: U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Office +387 33 445 700
Skopje: U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Office +389 2 31 16 180
Sofia: The Fulbright Commission +359 2 981 8567
Tirana: U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Office +355 4 247 285
Zagreb: U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Office +385 1 661 2200


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Central European University - Justice Initiative Fellows Program 2008 – 2010
Application deadline: January 15, 2008


The Open Society Justice Initiative, an operational program of the Open Society Institute (OSI), joins with Central European University (CEU) to announce the Justice Initiative Fellows Program for 2008-2010. The aim of the program is to support and further develop a network of lawyers and activists working internationally on human rights-related issues. Since its start in 1996, 155 fellows have graduated from the Justice Initiative’s Fellowship program.

The Justice Initiative Fellows Program is a two-year program of study and practical work experience. Up to ten applicants will be selected to participate in the 2008 program. Applicants from the following regions and countries are eligible: Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Central/South America.

Applicants must be nominated by a non-governmental organization concerned with human rights. The first year is spent at Central European University, the second in the applicant’s home country, working with the nominating NGO.

The applicant must demonstrate a strong commitment to human rights, and have a university degree and a high degree of proficiency in English. Criteria for selection will include the applicant’s experience, his/her potential to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights, and the suitability of the applicant's proposed role in the nominating NGO. Upon selection, Fellows will be required to sign an agreement with the Justice Initiative committing themselves to the program for two years.

The Justice Initiative Fellows will reside for one year in Hungary, at CEU Legal Studies Department. They will undertake a degree program (M.A. or LL.M. in Human Rights, depending on their undergraduate degree), in which they will be required to fulfill the requirements of the Human Rights Program at Central European University. During their stay at CEU, the Fellows will also participate in a three-month internship placement with leading NGOs in Europe from January until March. During the first year of the program the Justice Initiative Fellowship will be administered by CEU Legal Studies Department in partnership with the Justice Initiative. Financial conditions will be identical to CEU policies for full scholarship students.

The Justice Initiative Fellows will return to their nominating NGOs after the first year, where they will spend at least one year working in human rights advocacy on a non-profit basis: providing legal services, undertaking human rights litigation, providing training and education, etc. The Justice Initiative will pay a local salary during this second year equal to an amount determined to be similar to equivalent work by the nominating NGO. This amount will be provided to the nominating NGOs in the form of a grant.

Application Procedure
Please note that the applicant must mail his/her application to the CEU Admissions Office (1051 Budapest, Nador u.9, Hungary). The applicant must meet the general CEU Admissions requirements, which can be viewed online (http://www.ceu.hu/admissions.html), as well as the CEU Legal Studies Department Requirements (http://www.ceu.hu/legal/admissions.html). In addition, applicants must include with their application:
1. A nominating letter from an NGO describing the reasons for nominating the applicant, the expectations the NGO has of the project, and contractually committing (to the Justice Initiative) to hire the applicant for at least one year after s/he returns from the twelve-month training program in Hungary. The nomination letter should also indicate a monthly salary gross rate in USD (including all taxes and fees) that will be offered to the applicant by the NGO in the event that s/he is selected for the program (provided to the NGO by the Justice Initiative in the form of a grant).
2. A copy of the applicant’s Bar Association membership (if applicable), or the date scheduled for examination.
3. Proof of English proficiency: Candidates staying out of the testing region are required to submit official score reports (See CEU recognized Language exams and score required http://www.ceu.hu/admissions_apply.html ). For applicants from the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe, language tests as well as Legal Reasoning Test and Department essays will be carried out by local Soros Foundation/Open Society Institute coordinators on March 1, 2008. For candidates outside this region the Admission exam will be carried out via e mail on March 1st followed by interviews administered at a later date. (See also http://www.ceu.hu/legal/admissions.html)
4. A statement of purpose for applying to the Justice Initiative Fellows program.
5. A proposal of project activities that the candidate plans to work on with the nominating NGO during the second year of the fellowship.

More information
Website: http://www.ceu.hu/legal/osji_prog.html
http://www.justiceinitiative.org
E-mail: Vainiom@ceu.hu (Minna Johanna Vainio, Special Programs Coordinator, Legal Studies Department, Central European University)
afischer@osi.hu (Anna Fischer, Fellows Program Coordinator, Justice Initiative)


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Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation - Call for projects
Application deadline: none


Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation is inviting proposals from organizations and institutions in the countries of Wider Black Sea Region on the Trust’s three programs: civic participation, cross-border initiatives and east-east cooperation.

How it works: The Black Sea Trust operates with a small, skilled staff with extensive experience in the region. BST grantmaking is overseen by an Advisory Board with representatives from every BST-supported country, as well as from the BST founding partners (Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and USAID). BST grantmaking committee is composed of GMF and BST staff members, and BST founding partners. An extensive network of proposal reviewers made up of partner donors and local experts further guide BST grantmaking review and ensure coordination.

Through its grantmaking, BST supports a wide range of innovative and creative forms of citizen participation, cross-border initiatives and east-east cooperation. Preference will be given to those proposals designed to increase citizen engagement with government; have an impact on public policy; strengthen leadership skills of individuals and organizations; facilitate cross-border and/or cross-sector cooperation; and allow for the transfer of experience and innovative ideas through a clear communication and dissemination plan.

Who is eligible: Non-governmental organizations, governmental entities, community groups, policy institutes, other associations legally registered in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia (the oblasts of Krasnodar and Rostov). The projects have to be implemented in one or more of the countries mentioned.

Individuals and political parties may not apply. Non-indigenous organizations may not apply. Cooperative projects between indigenous and non-indigenous organizations are considered under East-East Cooperation component, yet non-indigenous administrative costs will not receive BST support.

The Black Sea Trust does not support scholarly research, academic fellowships and scholarships, one-off events, humanitarian aid, refugee or IDP return, religious activities, the arts or sciences. BST only supports travel and website creation/maintenance as components of larger activities.

Duration of projects: Generally, the maximum duration of projects is 12 months. Exceptionally, outstanding projects of a longer duration may be considered.

Application Procedures: BST grants generally range from $5,000 and $75,000, with most grants falling between $15,000 and $25,000. BST can support exceptional multi-year projects, renewable on an annual basis contingent upon satisfactory interim reports and performance.

There are no application deadlines. Project proposals are accepted on a rolling basis and grant decisions are made monthly. Final approval will be made by a grantmaking committee or, if over $25,000, by the German Marshall Fund's Board of Trustees.

Applicants must complete the following two forms in English only: Application Form; Budget Form.

All inquiries will be acknowledged by email within two weeks of receipt. Final decisions are typically announced within 10 weeks of application.

To apply, please send your completed application by e-mail. Subject line should include: the word ‘PROPOSAL', the name of your organization, and the country in which your organization is located.

More information
Website: http://www.gmfus.org/template/page.cfm?page_id=324
E-mail: BlackSeaTrust@gmfus.org


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Open Society Institute, Think Tank Fund - Open Society New Response Projects
Application deadline: ongoing basis


By funding Open Society New Response Projects, the Think Tank Fund aims to support independent policy centers in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to promote policy research and alternatives on political and social issues critical to effective and accountable democratic governance in their own countries.

Open Society New Response Projects should reflect the core values of the applicant organization as well as tackle key social and political policy areas. Open Society New Response Projects will provide think tanks in the region with the opportunity to:
- Sustain their work on sensitive and unpopular social and political issues, particularly work that seeks to improve the position of disadvantaged and marginalized groups
- Promote transparent and effective democratic processes in their countries and to counteract illiberal tendencies
- Advance systems for monitoring the performance of governmental institutions in ensuring tolerance and public accountability.

The issues to be addressed should be important in the policy context of the applicant’s country and linked with the promotion of open society values. Applicants should have already undertaken similar research and policy work for a number of years. They should clearly demonstrate that the proposed research is in line with their missions. Funding requests can be related to new initiatives or to ongoing activities that require funding. Similar to its guidelines for core funding, the Think Tank Fund will avoid providing support for single-issue think tanks and funding for individual projects that fall within the mandates of other OSI programs.

In line with the aim of the Think Tank Fund of fostering inclusive policy change, Open Society New Response Projects should increase public participation in policy discussions, influence public policy discourse and help to shape the policy agenda. Projects should aim to address the full policy cycle and reach out to relevant stakeholders. Priority will be given to research and policymaking that directly respond to threats to liberal democratic governance and promotes open society values.

To Apply: Prior to sending a full proposal, applicants should submit a brief concept paper of no more than 2-3 pages. The Think Tank Fund will use this paper to determine whether projects meet its current funding priorities and guidelines. The concept paper should include:
- Brief description of the project and the issue(s) it addresses
- Overview of the planned activities and methodology to be utilized
- Short description of the applicant organization and its mission
- Estimated overall budget and timeframe for the project

Based on a review of the concept paper, grant applicants may be invited to submit a full application. A full proposal should provide a description of the project idea and background information on the context and rationale for the project. In addition, the proposal should provide a list of objectives, a detailed activity plan that highlights the expected outcomes of the project and benchmarks for assessing the project’s impact. Finally, the proposal should discuss how the project fits within the organization’s broader project portfolio and its overall agenda. The narrative part of the proposal should not exceed 10-15 pages. Other relevant information, such as an organizational history, a full institutional budget, and examples of previous policy products, should be appended. Applicant organizations should also provide a detailed project budget and implementation plan. The requested grant should constitute no more than 20 percent of the group’s total annual ! budget. Priority will be given to projects that can demonstrate co-funding. Grants will not exceed $75,000 per year and can be up to three years in length.

Decision-making Process: Applicants should submit a concept paper by email to the Think tank Fund of the Open Society Institute at the e-mail address below. The OSI Policy Advisory Board will take the final funding decisions, and grants will be awarded on a matching-funds basis. There are no deadlines for the submission of proposals, but interested organizations are recommended to contact the Fund for more information prior to submitting a full proposal. Once a complete application has been received, it typically takes about three months to complete the application review process and deliver a decision.

More information
Website: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/hrggp/focus_areas/think/
http://www.soros.org/initiatives/hrggp/focus_areas/think/guidelines
E-mail: hrggp_policy@osi.hu (Attn: Goran Buldioski)


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Central Europe Program


The Central Europe Program seeks to encourage regional development through transnational cooperation, so its funding is only available to projects that bring together partners representing regions in three or more countries in the Central European area. Financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Central Europe supports cooperation between national, regional and local actors in Austria, the Czech Republic, part of Germany, Hungary, part of Italy, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine.

The CENTRAL EUROPE programme contributes to reducing these differences through cooperation between regions, a quest for joint solutions to common problems and actions to harness the regions’ potential. The programme should also strengthen the overall competitiveness of the programme area by stimulating innovation and promoting excellence throughout the region.

Projects seeking funds from the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme should have the following characteristics:
– Transnational thematic focus: Projects focus on issues that are relevant to the defined goals and objectives in the programme context, and that cannot be sufficiently addressed by individual regions or countries alone. Project partners should clearly benefit from cooperation in terms of added efficiency when it comes to finding solutions and strengthening their innovation potential.
– Transnational partnership: The partnership must involve a minimum of three partners from at least three countries, and at least two of the countries should be EU Member States. Partners need to be involved in the project in a proportionate way, and they must be able to credibly outline the benefits they derive. The Programme is particularly interested in promoting multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral partnerships.
– Coherent approach and effective management: Projects must be well defined. The description of objectives, approach and planned effects needs to be coherent and clear. Projects must have efficient and transparent management and coordination structures and procedures.
– Effective knowledge creation and transfer: The Programme’s emphasis on innovation implies that projects adopt a knowledge-based approach and pay close attention to generation, application and transfer of relevant expertise and state-of-the-art knowledge. This quest for knowledge includes analysing a project’s environment and networking with wider thematic communities in the field.
– Concrete outputs and results: Projects must have a measurable positive impact on a clearly defined area, such as a trans-national geographic area. Their outputs and results must be concrete and must enable actual implementation, for instance, by preparing investments. Study projects without concrete outputs and results will not be supported.

In the new programming period, all projects will also be required to place a high emphasis on information and communication. Projects need to develop a plan outlining information activities of all partners. In addition to 'typical' communication activities, such as websites, newsletters, press releases, conferences, etc., the information plan will also outline measures to ensure efficient communication and knowledge transfer within the partnership—as well as a road map to reach out to relevant decision-makers, organisations and networks not directly involved in the partnership.

More information
Website: http://www.central2013.eu/


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HUMSEC Journal - Call for papers
Application deadline: January 14, 2007


The HUMSEC Journal aims to widen the discussion on the issue of human security in general and in particular on the impact of transnational terrorist and criminal organizations on the peace-building process of the Western Balkan region, the influence of transnational and criminal organisations on the state and on the society, and the connection between transnational terrorist and criminal organisations in the Western Balkan region.

The Editorial Board welcomes original scientific papers addressing the issues of human security, terrorism and organised crime. The main topic of the first edition of the HUMSEC Journal is: 'The influence of transnational terrorist and criminal organisations on the state and on the society'.

More information
Website: www.humsec.eu
E-mail: journal@humsec.eu


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Croatian Sociological Association (HSD) - 'Sociology and Interdisciplinarity: Central and South East European Perspectives' Workshop, May 8 - 10, 2008, Zadar, Croatia
Application deadline: February 1, 2008


Discussing the interdisciplinarity in social sciences many authors state that there is a notion of a constantly failing 'academic movement'. Some of them even claim (e.g. Smelser) that interdisciplinarity seldom has highly legitimate and powerful constituents but relies on loose and relatively powerless coalitions of knowledge producers. Moreover, it seems that the strong emphasis on post and transdisciplinarity gains more support than the 'traditional' interdisciplinarity emanating from structured cross-disciplinary exchange. So why bother with interdisciplinarity? Just like interdisciplinarity, sociology exhibits strong indicators of fragmentation and decline, while the cyclical discussions of crisis in sociology didn't stop since 1950s. Some authors (e.g. Burawoy) even argue that sociology suffered a loss of coherence and ceased to be a cumulative science. However, diversity and hybridity helped sociolo! gy so far to avoid stagnation and supported critical questioning and analytical thinking bringing sociology closer to its boundaries and therefore to other disciplines. From this perspective sociology is destined to deal with interdisciplinarity.

For various reasons, institutional recognition of interdisciplinarity has been notably slower in Central and South Eastern Europe than in the West and in the North of the European continent. The purpose of this workshop is to discuss the state of interdisciplinarity in sociology in the region, prospects for its development and its implications on the current disciplinary status of sociology. The workshop will also address the influence of social, political, cultural and economic conditions in Central and South Eastern Europe on its
development. While the focus of the workshop is regional, papers and panels dealing with the topic in a more general or geographically diverse context are also welcome.

Please submit 100-250 word individual abstracts or panel proposals, comprised of 100-250 word abstract for the entire panel and one 100-250 abstract for each paper. Include names, email address, mailing addresses, institutional affiliations, technology requests, and paper titles. PhD students are encouraged to apply.

More information
E-mail: sbozic@unizd.hr (Sasa Bozic)


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NISPAcee Conference, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Application deadline: October 31, 2007


Organized in cooperation with the Institute of Public Administration, Bratislava and the Institute of Public Policy, Comenius University, Bratislava, the annual conferences of NISPAcee focus upon a significant theme which facilitates a better understanding of important issues regarding administrative development and policymaking capacity in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The Conference includes experts, scholars and practitioners who work in the field of public administration in Central and Eastern Europe (including all countries covered by the NISPAcee membership, the Russian Federation, Caucasus and Central Asia), as well as from many other regions and countries of the world.

The Conference program will include the opening and closing plenary sessions, general sessions, working sessions on the main conference theme, specialized panels and forums and meetings of NISPAcee Working Groups which will run in parallel. Papers are invited on the Main Conference Theme, for the General Session, or on the themes of the various Working Groups, which will be announced for the conference.

Main Conference Theme: The 16th NISPAcee Annual Conference invites papers discussing Public Policy, especially in relation to Public Administration, in the regions of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia and the Caucasus. The floor is open for theoretical and practical approaches, case studies and general analyses.

Public Policy has been and continues to be a key issue for the countries for democratic transition. When NISPAcee was founded, even local professionals usually did not have well-founded conceptions of public policy as a science and practical approach. Traditionally, the system of Public Administration transmitted political command to society; the operation of the government consisted of rigid administration, rather than the effective and efficient management of policies. In this situation, NISPAcee took on the mission of introducing and developing policy science to Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia and the Caucasus. Participants of the NISPAcee annual conferences offered significant contributions in the various aspects of Public Policy. It has now become clear that the understanding of Public Policy, the capacity for designing and implementing effective policies, the competencies of managing, coordinating and evaluating Public Policy are the most important requirem! ents for good governance and a key condition for the sustainable development of our countries.

Papers for the main conference theme will discuss:
- The development of the policy instruments as outcomes of the reform of public administration
- The typical strengths and weaknesses of public policy in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus
- Types of policies according to philosophy, management and instruments
- The development of policy-making capacities of the administrative systems
- Inter-relations between the phases of the policy process and the management abilities of public administration
- The impact of the quality of the public administration on public policy
- Relations between change management in government and policy coordination
- Learning, transfer, and lesson-drawing in the policy process and its consequences for public administration
- The relations between the policy actors and public administration
- The impact of administrative reforms on the policy-making process, and vice versa
- The role of civil society in public policy
- Feedback on the efficiency and effectiveness of policies to the policy actors
- Relations between public policy and the results- and performance-driven administration
- The role of public administration in the different phases of the policy process
- Politics in and of the policy process.

The conference main theme also offers a general, comprehensive framework for analyses of the changes and the development of scientific approaches in administrative science in the CEE/CAC region due to the emerging policy science. We hope that the main theme discussions will eventually enrich our knowledge about the state of the policy science and give hints on the most important steps necessary for further development.

General Session:
To open the NISPAcee Annual Conferences to even more potential contributors and to make it even more attractive, we introduced in 2006 a new form of meeting: The General Session, in which papers not restricted by any topic or theme can be presented. The only criteria for acceptance are (a) scholarly quality, (b) interest of topic and (c) ‘from or about the region’, i.e. papers should come from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, or be about this area. After two successful gatherings, 2006 in Ljubljana and 2007 in Kiev, which had a particularly high audience/paper ratio, we are pleased to offer the General Session again in 2008 in Bratislava (and beyond). It is intended to give scholars the possibility to present their most interesting and recent research that they would want to share and discuss with an international and knowledgeable audience – and to give them the option to do it in the NISPAcee framework. As with all sessions, the! best papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings or even in the NISPAcee Year Book.

Several panel sessions and forums are planed to be included in the conference programme. The overall objective is the presentation of different projects and relevant activities as well as to enable and facilitate the exchange of views, experiences and good practices among participants, institutions and countries. Proposals with the identified topic and presentations are welcome and will be considered by the NISPAcee Steering Committee. You are invited to send an application with the paper for the following panel: Panel on Getting Public Administration Reform to Work.

Applicants should complete an application form on the NISPAcee web (all in English) and input an abstract of a paper (maximum two pages - 3600 characters and attach the CV file (maximum 2MB).

All applicants are requested to find their own resources, either from their schools or institutions or by applying for individual grants through domestic or international sponsor organizations which provide grants for conference participation. Please contact the NISPAcee Secretariat immediately if you need any assistance in this matter (e.g. invitation letter).

More information
Website: www.nispa.sk
E-mail: Wallnerova@nispa.sk (Viera Wallnerova, NISPAcee Project Manager)


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CEU Political Science Journal - Call for book reviews
Application deadline: November 1, 2007


CEU Political Science Journal has a section of book reviews that approaches relevant books in Political Science and related fields. For this issue (Vol. 3, Issue 1, February 2008) we encourage contributions under the form of book reviews in the fields of Political Parties and Electoral Systems.

Standard requirements for Book Reviews: 500-1,200 words; Times New Roman 12; Double spaced; Chicago Manual Style for references. The book reviews should not be published in a previous form in any other publication and should address books that were not so much under review or which present high importance for their field. In case you would like to write a book review for our Journal, but you do not have books to review, please send us your CV (resume) as soon as possible and we will provide you with a list of books that we consider for reviewing.

More information
Website: www.ceu.hu/polscijournal
E-mail: ceu_polsci@yahoo.com


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Association for the Study of Nationalities (ASN) - 13th Annual World Convention 'Nation, Identity, Conflict, and the State', April 10 - 12, 2008, New York, USA - Call for contributions
Application deadline: November 1, 2007


The ASN Convention, the most attended international and inter-disciplinary scholarly gathering of its kind, welcomes proposals on a wide range of topics related to national identity, nationalism, ethnic conflict, state-building and the study of empires in Central/Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Balkans, Eurasia, and adjacent areas. Disciplines represented include political science, history, anthropology, sociology, international studies, economics, geography, sociolinguistics, psychology, and related fields.

The Convention also features a section devoted to theoretical approaches to nationalism, from any of the disciplines listed above. The papers in this section need not be grounded in an area of the former Communist bloc usually covered by ASN, provided that the issues examined are relevant to a truly comparative understanding of nationalism-related issues. In this vein, we are welcoming theory-focused and comparative proposals, rather than specific case studies from outside Central/Eastern Europe and Eurasia. A dozen panels are expected to be featured in the Nationalism section.

The 2008 Convention is also inviting submissions for documentaries or feature films made within the past few years and available in VHS or DVD format. Most films selected for the convention will be screened during regular panel slots and will be followed by a discussion moderated by an academic expert.

Participants are responsible for covering all travel and accommodation costs. Unfortunately, ASN has no funding available for panelists.

More information
Website: www.nationalities.org
E-mail: darel@uottawa.ca and darelasn@gmail.com (Dominique Arel)


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Southeastern Europe - Call for contribuitions


'Southeastern Europe', a new interdisciplinary academic journal.

The journal's aims are:
* Provide an interdisciplinary and international focal point for making sense of the dynamics of the rapidly transforming polities, societies, cultures and political economies of Southeastern Europe
* Explore the existing and emerging networks and flows of people, cultural resources, capital and ideas throughout the region as well as the ones sustained by the region's diasporas
* Constitute a forum for debates and exchange of ideas regarding the complex issues facing the region in a globalizing world and in the context of European and regional integration.

The Journal aims to host academic debate and analysis that is not divorced from everyday life in the region and therefore welcomes short contributions on current affairs and developments alongside its academic article session.

In line with the journal's commitment to the encouragement and promotion of debate, the editorial board welcomes critical replies to articles that appear in its pages.

Southeastern Europe is subject to a peer review process and is published three times a year (November, March and July).

Southeastern Europe welcomes submissions for consideration. Potential contributors of articles should send brief abstracts or manuscripts electronically to the journal editorial team.

More information
E-mail: info@southeasterneurope.eu
journalsubmissions@southeasterneurope.eu


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'Self-Representation and Public Culture of the Balkan Urban Classes' Session/Conference - Call for papers
Application deadline: November 1, 2007


A session at the IXth International Conference on Urban History, Comparative History of European Cities, organized by the European Association for Urban History in Lyon on 27th - 30th August 2008.

The 19th century is known as the period when modern discourse was established in European societies, promoted initially by urban 'middle classes'. A similar process can be observed in Balkan cities, even though it is also well known that it happened in a different context and from different starting conditions.

The Balkan urban classes had to negotiate more and/or other differences than was the case in western cities - what was specific in the Balkans, was the urge to negotiate a stigmatized past and perceived yet experienced peripherality. These issues of difference were attributed to the Ottoman legacy, and came in addition to class, gender and race.

This session is open to contributions that discuss the ways in which Balkan elites established a new social hegemony under the pretext of Ottoman legacies in the urban environment, putting an emphasis on lived ways of self-representation: rituals, consumption, networks, societies, communication, media, cultural life, and the built environment.

Topics may include but do not have to be limited to: literary communication, audiences, societies and leisure clubs, processions, festivities and monuments, theatre life, sports and negotiations of the Ottoman heritage, such as the re-design of the cityscape. The time period is the 'long' 19th century. Contributions addressing the differences between cities within a country or of different countries are especially welcome.

More information
Website: http://eauh.ish-lyon.cnrs.fr
E-mail: wladimir.fischer@univie.ac.at (Dr. Wladimir Fischer)


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'Grigore Gafencu' Study Center for the History of International Relations, Valahia University of Targoviste - 'Europe as viewed from the margins. From World War I to Present' Conference, December 12 - 14, 2007, Romania - Call for papers
Application deadline: November 1, 2007


The Conference represents the outcome of a research grant which has started in 2005 with the aim of investigating the images of Europe at its periphery. The leading idea of the grant has been to identify and underline some of the main angles proving the special importance of image-relationship force making history during the last two centuries based on certain differences existing between Eastern and Western Europe, still keeping them together, respectively, in some respects, as center and periphery. The project has been divided into three phases, each of which has approached a specific historical period: the long nineteenth century, the period from the First World War to the end of the Second World War and, finally, the most recent period following the world wars.

The conference coincides with the accession of two marginal countries Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union, which marks a new step towards removing the East-West division of the continent following the Cold War. As such, the aim of the conference will be to focus on the European perceptions of the nations which for most part of their history have been considered as peripheral to the European 'mainland' developments, nations ranging from the Baltic Sea to the Aegean Sea. We envisage to research these aspects from the various perspectives of different scientific disciplines and methods.

The organizers will offer the participants transportation from and to Bucharest Otopeni airport and will cover the within the limits of the budget the transportation inside Romania. Provided that the budget will afford it, the participants will be offered two nights free accommmodation.

The conference will feature panels in the following disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas: History, Political Science, International Relations.

Submissions should be no more than 15 pages. Submission deadline is November 1. Abstracts deadline is November 15.

More information
E-mail: oanalac@yahoo.com (Oana Laculiceanu, Valahia University of Targoviste)


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European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights - Public Consultation
Application deadline: November 3, 2007


The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights - FRA is launching a second round of public consultation on its cooperation with civil society and the establishment of the Fundamental Rights Platform. This is in response to the feedback from organizations which did not get an opportunity to respond to the first round of public consultation that took place in April May 2007. We are inviting interested civil society organisations who have not taken part in the first round of the public consultation to give us feedback by filling in a questionnaire in English, German or French.

More information
Website: http://fra.europa.eu/fra/index.php
E-mail: civil-society@fra.europa.eu


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Observatory on the Balkans - 'Bad Memories. Sites, Emblems and Narrations of the Wars in the Balkans' Conference, November 9, 2007, Rovereto, Italy
Application deadline: November 7, 2007


During the conference, the documentary 'CIRCLE OF MEMORY', produced by the Observatory on the Balkans with the support of the European Union and directed by Andrea Rossini, will be premiered in Italy.

Internationally renowned scholars, journalists, politicians and activists will reflect upon the policies of memory of the socialist Yugoslavia and on h