Veranstalter: Institut für donauschwäbische Geschichte und Landeskunde
Datum: 8.10.2026 - 10.10.2026
Ort: 72074 Tübingen
Findet statt: In Präsenz
Deadline: 15.4.2026
Eight decades after the historical ruptures of 1944/45, German minorities in the states of Central and Southeastern Europe are undergoing a profound paradigm shift. As the era of direct eyewitness testimony concludes, we are witnessing the transition from communicative to cultural memory, as conceptualized by Jan Assmann. This process does not merely alter how history is preserved; it raises fundamental questions regarding the persistence and functionality of specific minority identities in the 21st century. It is essential to analyse the extent to which historical narratives—beyond mere museum preservation—structure the contemporary lives of descendants. The focus lies on the interdependence between collective memory and individual life practices. Of particular interest is how historical heritage informs language choice and usage, identity assertions in census data/statistical surveys, and the political orientation of minority actors. Furthermore, the conference seeks to examine the nexus between origin and socioeconomic mobility. Historical ties to the German-speaking cultural sphere increasingly serve as a resource for transnational migration and contemporary labour market processes. This includes migration to German-speaking countries, as well as re-emigration or economic engagement by German citizens within historical settlement areas. The objective is to provide an interdisciplinary assessment of whether, eighty years after flight, deportation, and expulsion, German minority identity continues to function as a dynamic factor in a united Europe, or whether it is evolving into a purely cultural-historical frame of reference.
Potential Topics for Presentation
- Transformations of Memory: Musealization, narration, transmission, and material
legacies. - Trauma: Transgenerational transmission and psychological impacts.
- Identity and Language as Capital: Symbolic and economic value.
- Mobility and Markets: Re-emigration, tourism, and socioeconomic effects on the labour
market. - Discourse and Power: Political instrumentalization and public debate.
- Digital Memory: Social media and virtual spaces of remembrance.
Submission Guidelines: Please submit a short CV and paper abstract of no more than 500 words to beata.markus@idgl.bwl.de by April 15, 2026.
Abstract: Maximum 500 words.
Presentation Length: 30 minutes.
Biography: Short CV (max. 1 page).
Languages: German and English.
Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026.
Notification of Acceptance: By the End of April 2026.
Fees: There is no conference fee.
Costs: Travel and accommodation will be covered by the conference’s budget.
Publication: A conference proceedings volume is planned following the event.