Blog

  • Photo Exhibition: Romanian Diaspora in Serbia

    Annemarie Sorescu-Marinković, fellow of the fourth generation of ERSTE Foundation Fellowship for Social Research (2015/2016), organized the photo exhibition “Romanian Diaspora in Serbia”. The author of the photographs was Daniel Muraru, photo-reporter of “Ro-Press” (Romania). The exhibition was opened on December 7, 2015, in ŠTAB Gallery from Belgrade. By presenting portraits of Romanian citizens from different walks of life living in Serbia, the author of the project intended to draw attention to this almost invisible Romanian diaspora and, in the same time, to challenge the stereotypes and prejudices the majority population still has regarding the Romanians.


















  • And the winners of this year’s call for papers are…

    After a difficult interview session in Vienna with many outstanding candidates, the jury has selected 18 researchers from 8 countries who are going to be part of the 4th generation of fellows of the ERSTE Foundation Fellowship for Social Research 2014/2016 on the topic: Diasporas, nation states and mainstream societies in Central and Eastern Europe.
    The fellowship includes financial support for up to one year for researching on the proposed paper; invitation to scientific conferences; affiliation with a network of researchers and practitioners interested in socio-economic and demographic change, employment and unemployment, aging, migration and intergenerational transfers; participation in several internal workshops: kick-off meeting, Summer School, closing event and selected public events; publication and promotion of results.

    The selected fellows & topics are:
    1. Florin Faje, Romania: “Asphalt Connections: Road Infrastructure Developments and Diasporas in and arount Romania”

    2. Szabolcs Pogonyi, Hungary: “Engaging the Transnation. Bottom-up Perspectives on Hungarian Diaspora Politics”

    3. Svetluša Surova, Serbia: “Slovak diaspora politics and Slovak diaspora in Serbia and Hungary: in between state and nation”

    4. Daniela Ortner & Laura Hossu, Austria: “To invest or not? Cultural influences on entrepreneurial intentions of Hungarian, Polish and Romanian Diasporas from Austria”

    5. Irina Culic, Romania: “From national minority to diaspora: Hungarians in Romania, 2000-2015”

    6. Laszlo Kornel Janos & Marta Rado, Hungary: ” Bad neighbours?”

    7. Jakub Grygar & Karel Cada, Czech Republic: “Vietnamese Diaspora in Prague: food, consumption, and socio-material proximity in the making of”

    8. Annemarie Sorescu-Marinković, Serbia: “Contemporary Romanian labour migration to Serbia – towards a new paradigm of Diaspora”

    9. Oana Negru-Subtirica, Romania: “Identity development and positive adaptation in diasporas”

    10. Remus Gabriel Anghel, Romania: “Migration and Social inequality. Changing social relations and patterns of inequality in Romania’s Roma ghettoes”

    11. Sorin Gog, Romania: “European Union and the ethno-political construction of Roma Diaspora: human rights, citizenship and social inclusion”

    12. Nataliia Gladkova, Ukraine/Netherlands: “Mapping Political Mobilization of Ukrainian Diaspora Networks: A Case Study of the Czech Republic”

    13. Gabriela Goudenhooft, Romania: “Going back home trough one’s language? Romanian diaspora mediatic discourse in DACH”

    14. Boriša Mraović, Bosnia and Herzegovina: “The political economy of diaspora – the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina”

    15. Melinda Szabó, Hungary: “The Effects of Trading Diasporas on Urban Transformation in CEE: a case study of Chinese entrepreneurs in Budapest”

    16. Kateryna Ivaschenko-Stadnik, Ukraine: “Too close or too far: contemporary challenges and opportunities of the ‘Neighboring Diasporas'”

    17. Natalia Cojocaru & Olga Cojocaru, Moldova: “From clandestine migrants to European citizens, from “unofficial” Diaspora to “official” Diaspora: the evolution of the legal status of the Moldovan labourers in Italy.

    18. Timea Junghaus, Hungary: “The Epistemic Context of Roma Policy Making in Europe”

    Congratulations! Looking forward to the work ahead of us!

     

  • CALL FOR PAPERS 2014/2016

    Demographic and socio-economic changes affecting the development of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe are among the most significant challenges for the future of social cohesion and solidarity building in our societies.
    ERSTE Foundation invites researchers, scientists and practitioners from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe to research on topics related to economic and social demographic change. The fellowships are awarded based on a proposal for a research paper approaching the research topic listed below, in a theoretical, empirical or practical way.

    Research topic
    Diasporas, nation states and mainstream societies in Central and Eastern Europe

    The term Diaspora refers to geographically dispersed populations who relate themselves collectively to a (former) homeland outside their country of residence. This dispersion can either be traced back to earlier settlements, displacement, dissolution of Empires and multi-ethnic states; or it can be the result of more recent labour migration and refugee flows.

    Diasporas are characterised by their ability to connect or at least identify with a (former) homeland; they can play an eminent role in preserving and upholding language, culture, and religion. Diasporas can be instrumental in fostering ties between their country of residence and the former homeland they relate to. And they make substantial economic contributions by sending remittances or investing in their country of origin.

    Diasporas are often involved in politics both in the country they live in and in the country they relate to. This partly depends on issues like citizenship, voting rights and political mobilisation. For this reason diasporas can become an obstacle or a challenge for the relations of two countries. In the past diasporas have also played a crucial role in cases of regime change as they harboured alternative elites and made them ready to return.

    Most CEE countries have diasporas related to neighbouring countries living on their territories. And most CEE countries have a considerable number of co-ethnics or citizens living abroad. Therefore this region offers an ideal case for studying diasporas, their impact and the ways in which modern European nation states are dealing with the issue.

    Research questions
    We would like to initiate a discussion and analyse the relation between diasporas, their country of residence and their former homeland, the engagement of diasporas in economic development, political life, the link to governments and to civil society in general:
    • How are CEE countries dealing with diasporas established on their territories?
    • How do CEE countries relate to co-ethnic diasporas in neighbouring countries as well as to citizens who have immigrated to other countries?
    • How do diasporas/does a particular diaspora relate to governments?
    • What positive or negative roles are diasporas playing in the relations between their country of residence and the country they relate to?
    • To which extent can diasporas be seen as agents of change
    • Can the existing diaspora engagement strategies in CEE serve as “good practices” for others?
    • What is the interaction between diasporas and mainstream society?
    • Which role have diasporas played in the process of nation building in CEE?
    • What is the contribution of international migration and diasporas to economic and social transformation in CEE?
    • How can the private sector (including non-profit organisations) support the contributions diasporas make to their countries of origin?
    • What role does/can the EU play in harnessing the developmental potential of CEE diasporas?
    • What norms, beliefs and practices do CEE diasporas transport or transform?

    Target group
    Researchers, scientists and practitioners from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe studying or dealing with economic, political and cultural relations, engagement of diaspora and international migration and/or diaspora politics in this region in a theoretical, empirical or practical way. The research proposals should not only consider opportunities, but also tackle possible challenges created by diasporas and international migration. Wherever possible, research results should lead to policy recommendations.

    The Fellowship includes

    Financial support for up to one year for researching on the proposed paper;
    Invitation to scientific conferences;
    Affiliation with a network of researchers and practitioners interested in socio-economic and demographic change, employment and unemployment, aging, migration and intergenerational transfers;
    Participation in several internal workshops: kick-off meeting, Summer School, closing event and selected public events;
    Publication and promotion of results.

    Timeline and milestones
    The selection of the fellows is made on a competitive basis. A jury consisting of academics and professionals from different universities and institutions will review all applications and interview the shortlisted applicants for the fellowship programme 2014-2016:
    25 June – 24 August: Open call for papers
    24 August – 19 October: Pre-selection of potential papers
    End of October: Interviews the shortlisted applicants in Vienna, location tba
    16 November: Announcement of the selected fellows
    20 November – 15 December: Establishing the contractual agreements with the selected fellows
    January 2015: Beginning of the 12 month-cycle social research fellowship
    Spring 2015: Discussion of the research concept and first results among fellows,     3-days kick-off meeting location tba.
    28 June 2015: Deadline for delivering a first draft version of the research paper for the summer school
    August 2015: Summer School for one week, location tba.
    15 November 2015: Deadline for delivering a final draft version of the research paper for peer reviewing
    December 2015 – March 2016: peer reviewing and revision by the fellows of the final versions of the research paper
    15 March 2016: Deadline for delivering the final paper
    Spring 2016 – presentation of research results and closing event
    Publication of results in 2016.

    Working and publication language: English

    Financial support
    Subsidies for research activities, meetings, data purchase, expert-interviews, translation and travel expenses will be granted as a quarterly stipend in total of        € 12.000.

    The results will provide a timely, well-founded and practical basis for the planning and decision-making of policy-makers, civil society and business, but also for ERSTE Foundation’s work in the CEE region. The researchers’ specific recommendations will be promoted in the region by ERSTE Foundation and its partners to the relevant organisations and institutions active in the political sphere, civil society and the economic sphere.

    Please apply by 24 August 2014 using our online system: https://apply.erstestiftung.org/fellowship. For further questions, do not hesitate to contact us at: socialresearch@erstestiftung.org

    Download PDF

    Best regards,

    Rainer Münz / Research Advisor
    Alina Şerban / Project Manager

     

     

  • Call for Papers from London School of Economics

    “Post-crisis recovery in South Eastern Europe: policy challenges for social and economic inclusion”

    The London School of Economics European Institute (LSEE) invites you to send your research papers and participate in debates on economic inclusion and policy challenges focused on the Central and South-Eastern European region.  The event aims at reuniting researchers from all social science disciplines including social policy, political economy, economics, political science, public administration, sociology, and socio-legal studies.

    Important Dates:

    • 20 January 2014: Deadline for submissions of abstracts
    • 27 January 2014: Notification of acceptance
    • 24 March 2014: Delivery of full conference paper; circulation to discussants
    • 27-28 March 2014: Conference in London

    For more information, please download the info sheet here (260 kB).

  • Interesting events coming up!

    Here are some highlights you might consider 🙂

     

     

    8th International Interpretive Policy Analysis Conference

    “Societies in Conflict: Experts, Publics and Democracy”

    July 3-5, 2013 – University of Vienna, Austria

    More info on https://ipa2013.univie.ac.at/

     

    10th European Conference of the International Labour and Employment Relations Association

    Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    20 – 22 June 2013

    Imagining new Employment Relations and New Solidarities

    More info on http://www.ilera-europe2013.eu/articles/home

  • The fellows and their research projects

    What makes young people the marginalized labour market group? Evidence from Poland

    Anna Baranowska and Iga Magda (Poland)

    Barriers to inclusion of IT entrepreneurs-leaders into the formal sector of employment in Ukraine

    Svitlana Buko (Ukraine)

    Manufacturing on the Move: Employment Implications of Multinational Enterprise Restructurings in Central and Eastern Europe

    Timea Pal (Hungary)

     

    The impact of public sector employment on local labour markets in CEE countries: Evidence from Croatia, Hungary and Serbia

    Jelena Laušev (Serbia)

    Expectations against exclusion: Young educated Roma and labour markets in Serbia, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Tatjana Perić (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

    A ‘Road to Work’? – Public work and (un)employment in the Hungarian countryside

    Alexandra Szőke (Hungary)

     

    Public Policies and Female Labour Supply in the EU: Microeconomic Approach

    Klara Kališkova (Czech Republic)

    Rom Slavi, Rom Rumeni, Rom Ungheresi, Rom Bulgari. Four Case Studies of Roma from CEE Countries in Campania

    Kitti Baracsi (Hungary)

    Roma migrations and socio-economic mobilities of labour markets in Central Eastern Europe

    Jan Grill (Czech Republic)

     

    School-based vocational or work-based apprentice training? An assessment of the Hungarian vocational training system

    Daniel Horn (Hungary)

    The car that’s going downhill: Illegal work and its impact on economic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Elma Demir (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

    The socio-economic characteristics of female labour market participation in two Central and Eastern European countries. The role of part-time work in improving women’s access to paid work

    Réka Geambaşu (Romania)

     

    Lucky to live in the capital city? A space and relational approach to women’s social exclusion in Bucharest

    Alice Iancu (Romania)

    Addressing rising inactivity of older people in Serbia

    Jelena Žarković Rakić and Marko Vladisavljevic (Serbia)

    Inequality in Working Conditions: Ukrainian Experience

    Olena Nizalova (Ukraine)

     

    Costs and benefits of labour migration on migrants’ professional trajectories and their households’ well-being: Comparative case study of Ukrainian labour migration to Italy and Ireland

    Olena Fedyuk (Ukraine)

    Opening the black-box of labour market for women in Macedonia

    Viktorija Atanasovska and Tijana Angljekovska (Macedonia)

    Career flexibility between labour market precariousness and personal choice: The case of middle managers in Romania

    Anca Simionca (Romania)

     

    Ukrainian labour migrants in Poland: Part of society or unwanted visitors

    Oleksii Polegkyi (Ukraine)

    Does greater prevalence of high strain working conditions lead to greater rates of early retirement in Central and Eastern Europe?

    Lucie Kalousova (Czech Republic)

    The effects of separate schooling on employment possibilities of youth of Serbian national minority in Vukovar-Sirmium County in Croatia

    Asja Korbar (Croatia)

     

    Exploring education and labour policy mismatch and its influence on unemployment rate in Western Balkan countries

    Nina Brankovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

    Internationalisation and Human Resource Strategies of Austrian companies in South-Eastern Europe

    Almina Besic (Bosnia & Herzegovina)

    Child minders in Bucharest: A shadowed category between law, employment and social norms

    Anca Dohotariu and Ioana Baluta (Romania)

     

    Competitiveness of women victims of domestic violence on labour markets – Problems and perspectives

    Katarina Jirsa (Serbia) 

    Imagining the Economy and the Labour Market as an Unemployed

    Norbert Petrovici (Romania)

     

  • 50 shortlisted research propsals

    After a relatively short call for papers, and after having received 140 applications (!!!) almost three times more than our last generation of applications, we knew that the process of selection would be challenging:

    140 research proposals related to different aspects of employment, be it linked to  demographics, gender, migration, policy, minorities.

    140 researchers from 11 countries of the region: Croatia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Hungary, and Kosovo.

    Thanks to our great team of reviewers and their support we have selected our shortlist of 50 fellows!

    The process of selecting the 25 fellows will continue in Vienna, September 17-18, where the researchers will defend their proposals during two days of interviews.

    Looking forward to the finalists!