An invitation to a conference in Vienna

There is an open Call to apply for participation in the international conference „Exit–Voice–Labor: Reassessing Central and Eastern European Migration in a Transnational and Historical Perspective“, which is taking place at the University of Vienna from 16 to 18 November 2026.

The conference thematically leans on (and gets a critical update from) a classical Hirschmann framework “outcome-voice-loyalty”. Authors are invited to submit papers that research the relation of migrations towards political circumstances, work and driving force – through contemporary and historical perspectives, as well as through different migration routes (not just East-West).

Innovative and critical approaches from different disciplines are welcome, including sociology, political sciences, economics, history, cultural studies, and social anthropology.

Application and participation

A proposed paper should contain: name and last name, institution/affiliation, email address, paper title, summary (up to 300 words), and a short academic biography (up to 200 words). Applications to be sent to: exit_voice.recet@univie.ac.at.

• Working language: English

• Participation fee: none (free)

• Support: meals and refreshments will be provided; 

• available limited grants for board and travel expenses, with priority for researchers in the early stage of their career without institutional financial support.

Important dates:

• Deadline for submission of papers: 18 May 2026

• Note on acceptance: 15 June 2026

• Conference dates: 16-18 November 2026

The Conference is organized in cooperation with the University of Vienna – Research Center for the History of Transformations as a host, the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Banja Luka, Institute for Culture and Remembrance Studies, and Leibniz Institute of East and Southeast European Studies in Regensburg, within the Horizon Europe Project RETLAMI-SEE, financed by the European Commission.

More information about the event can be found here.