*Patterns of Integration of Old and New Minorities in a Europe of Complex Diversity
October 7-9, 2015, Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár, Klausenburg), Romania*

While numerous autochthonous ethnic, national and regional groups formulate

claims on power-sharing and minority rights, pushing their host states to
accommodate diversity, increased mobility has contributed to the further
proliferation of cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity in the
European Union and its south-eastern vicinity. Commentators label this as
“complex” diversity, as many classically more homogenous societies become
more and more multicultural, and various forms of transnational citizenship
become a widespread phenomenon.

This increasingly complex diversity of the European societies, together
with the global spread of supranational norms and values of human rights is
continuously undermining the Westphalian system of homogeneous nation
states. The question arises how these challenges can be reconciled, what
best practices can be identified for both “old” and “new” minorities, and
whether the arrangements for the former can be a model for the latter,
mobile minorities. In sum, the central question this conference aims to
address is how social cohesion can be achieved in diverse societies.

The organizers welcome theoretical analyses and empirical case studies on
the causes, consequences and possibilities of accommodation of complex
diversity against the backdrop of the multi-layered system of governance
within the European Union. The contributions should outline in what way
political and societal cultures, institutional arrangements or public
policies contribute to or hinder the accommodation of complex diversity.

The city of Cluj-Napoca (Kolozsvár/Klausenburg) holds the title of European
Youth Capital in 2015. This conference is part of the official program of
this project. Hence, the organizers welcome in particular papers that
reflect on the conference topics in connection with youth.

The organizers wish to express their satisfaction that the event will be
the third in a series of conferences that take place under the auspices of
the same institutional cooperation at Cluj, following the MINEUREG
and MIREMIR
conferences of 2010 and 2012.

The deadline for applying to the conference is July 1, 2015. Please
complete your abstract (250-300 words), together with a brief bio,
including your academic/institutional affiliation on the following link >>
.
Panel proposals including a chair, 4-5 speakers and a discussant are also
welcome. The selection of participants will be carried out no later than
July 20, 2015.

The conference will be held in Cluj-Napoca, at Sapientia University. The
city can be easily reached by a number of low budget airlines.
Accommodation is not covered, however, the organizers will offer assistance
for participants to find cheaper accommodation facilities.
Participants are kindly requested to pay a registration fee of 50 Euro that
includes the conference materials, the coffee-breaks and two receptions.

Participation in the Saturday (October 10) excursion, including a dinner
and a visit to a local wine cellar, will require a contribution of 30 Euro.

Conference organizers:
István Horváth, Romanian Institute for Research on National Minorities (ihorvath66@hotmail.com)
László Marácz, European Studies, University of Amsterdam (l.k.maracz@uva.nl)
Márton Tonk, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Faculty of Science and Arts (tonkmarci@sapientia.ro)

Further questions should be submitted to the e-mail address
minorityconference@gmail.com.