European Solidarity Centre
would like to invite participants to an international academic conference
PROTESTS AND RIOTS IN THE EASTERN BLOC
November 6–7, 2017
European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk
would like to invite participants to an international academic conference
PROTESTS AND RIOTS IN THE EASTERN BLOC
November 6–7, 2017
European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk
In the countries of the eastern bloc, dependent on the Soviet Union, all manifestations of resistance were brutally suppressed by the police forces controlled by the communist parties or by the ‘brotherly’ soviet army itself. The formal goal of the functioning of the security apparatus was to guarantee order. In fact secret services were part of the foundations of the totalitarian regime and were focused on surveillance of the society and on fighting the opposition. The authorities wanted to control all aspects of social life – science, culture, education, and in particular independent political activism.
Citizens acted against the totalitarian power – demanding liberalization of the system, opposing violations of human rights, rebelling against the dramatic economic situation. At a later stage, new protests of ecologic and pacifist nature occurred as well. People protested against building nuclear power plants and river dams as well as against compulsory military service.
Protests – appeals, manifestos, strikes in the working places, hunger strikes, and street demonstrations – not only expressed social moods and helped to organize the actions of the democratic opposition. They were also becoming an important leverage on the totalitarian authorities, forcing them to concessions and in the end leading to the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe.
The conference will be an opportunity to reflect, summarize and take up new research on the history and the meaning of anti-communist protests in the eastern bloc, their courses, dynamics, claims, policing tactics and protesters response, structural analyses, and the actual role in the overthrowing of communism.
Join us!
Scientific committee
Prof. Wojciech Polak – chairperson / Prof. Mirosław Golon / Dr. Przemysław Ruchlewski / Dr. Grzegorz Piotrowski
Organizing committee
Dr. Konrad Knoch / Dr. Jakub Kufel / Dr. Grzegorz Piotrowski / Dr. Przemysław Ruchlewski
Organizer
European Solidarity Centre
TIMELINE
▪ June 2nd 2017 / deadline for submissions
▪ June 6th 2017 / announcement of the conference program
CONFERENCE FEE
There is no conference fee. The organizers do not cover travel or accommodation costs. Meals during conference will be provided.
SUBMISSIONS
In order to submit a proposal, fill in the form (→ download), and send it by June 2nd 2017 together with an abstract of your paper
▪ by e-mail / please include in the title: PROTESTS AND RIOTS Conference / to: p.ruchlewski@ecs.gda.pl
▪ or by post / with an annotation PROTESTS AND RIOTS Conference to
European Solidarity Centre
Dr. Przemysław Ruchlewski
pl. Solidarności 1
80-863 Gdańsk
Poland
MORE INFORMATION
Dr. Grzegorz Piotrowski, e-mail: g.piotrowski@ecs.gda.pl / mobile: 00 48 517 368 064
Citizens acted against the totalitarian power – demanding liberalization of the system, opposing violations of human rights, rebelling against the dramatic economic situation. At a later stage, new protests of ecologic and pacifist nature occurred as well. People protested against building nuclear power plants and river dams as well as against compulsory military service.
Protests – appeals, manifestos, strikes in the working places, hunger strikes, and street demonstrations – not only expressed social moods and helped to organize the actions of the democratic opposition. They were also becoming an important leverage on the totalitarian authorities, forcing them to concessions and in the end leading to the fall of communism in Central and Eastern Europe.
The conference will be an opportunity to reflect, summarize and take up new research on the history and the meaning of anti-communist protests in the eastern bloc, their courses, dynamics, claims, policing tactics and protesters response, structural analyses, and the actual role in the overthrowing of communism.
Join us!
Scientific committee
Prof. Wojciech Polak – chairperson / Prof. Mirosław Golon / Dr. Przemysław Ruchlewski / Dr. Grzegorz Piotrowski
Organizing committee
Dr. Konrad Knoch / Dr. Jakub Kufel / Dr. Grzegorz Piotrowski / Dr. Przemysław Ruchlewski
Organizer
European Solidarity Centre
TIMELINE
▪ June 2nd 2017 / deadline for submissions
▪ June 6th 2017 / announcement of the conference program
CONFERENCE FEE
There is no conference fee. The organizers do not cover travel or accommodation costs. Meals during conference will be provided.
SUBMISSIONS
In order to submit a proposal, fill in the form (→ download), and send it by June 2nd 2017 together with an abstract of your paper
▪ by e-mail / please include in the title: PROTESTS AND RIOTS Conference / to: p.ruchlewski@ecs.gda.pl
▪ or by post / with an annotation PROTESTS AND RIOTS Conference to
European Solidarity Centre
Dr. Przemysław Ruchlewski
pl. Solidarności 1
80-863 Gdańsk
Poland
MORE INFORMATION
Dr. Grzegorz Piotrowski, e-mail: g.piotrowski@ecs.gda.pl / mobile: 00 48 517 368 064
