STEP - Science and Technology in the European Periphery

Centre for the History of Sciences and Humanities, Institute for
Contemporary History of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic;
National Technical Museum in Prague; Masaryk Institute and Archives of
the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Praha

Issues concerning scientists in exile have attracted attention
especially in relation to the large emigration wave that hit Europe
facing the Nazi regime. This wave has been already well documented by
numerous encyclopaedic projects, treated in synthetic works, and also
analyzed from the methodological point of view. Still, other émigré and
exile waves in 20th century Europe have so far escaped more detailed
attention, like those that were evoked by European and non-European
authoritarian regimes and dictatorships or other malignant political
developments.

Insufficiently explored as yet is the effect of the Communist regimes
that came into power in first in the Soviet Union and later in several
European countries on escapes of scholars (both the average and top
ones) to outside their spheres of influence. This process retained in
all these countries its significant specific features and took its
particular time course depending on the acuteness of the local political
pressure. Attention seeking are also the problems concerning
intellectuals and scholars expelled from their home countries by several
other authoritarian regimes, some of which have been active up to the
present day. The announced Conference approaches these questions from
two angles - partly from the all- European perspective and partly
considering the Czech developments.

Thus from the all-European perspective the Conference will deal in
particular with three large and partially overlapping migration waves:
a) Escapes of scholars from the German Nazi rule and its allies in
Italy, Spain and other
countries (1933 - 1945)
b) Escapes of scholars from the Communist rule (1917 - 1989)
c) Immigration of scholars to European countries after World War II in
seeking escape from authoritarian regimes in their home countries (1945
until today).

The analysis of these migration waves enables to consider especially the
following questions:

- Of fundamental importance is first of all correlation of the
developments in the individual European countries, comparison of
temporal distribution of emigration, its internal dynamics and national
specific features
- Connection between emigration of scholars and malevolent ideologies
associated with the dictatorships (the influence of racial theories and
approaches, the role of the so called "stratum of intelligentsia" in the
periods of escalated class hatred, and others)
- Ways of formation of supranational or international networks
supporting émigré scholars (aid organized by the League of Nations or
later UNO, organizations like the British Society for the Protection of
Science and Learning or Council for Assisting Refugee Academics)
- Various concepts in approaches of individual countries towards
scholars leaving for exile, analogies and dissimilarities (for instance,
is there something like a "European concept" that would differentiate
the approach of European countries from the policies of the USA or other
non-European states towards the exile scholars?)
- How can be distinguished these politically motivated exile waves from
the so-called "brain drain" stimulated in the first place by existential
and economic aspects with the view of professional career?
- Were there other alternatives than emigration for open-minded scholars
with free way of thinking (conformity with the regime, the so-called
"internal emigration", gulags and similar establishments, and others)?

From the standpoint of the Czech developments, the Conference should
deal with the following migration waves:
- Russian, Ukrainian and Belorussian emigration in the years 1918 - 1948
and its survival during the Communist regime
- Emigration waves from Germany and Austria in the years 1933 - 1939 and
the position of intellectuals within
- Emigration of scholars from the former Czechoslovakia in the years
1939 - 1945, its tracks and forms
- Difficulties in the developments in the years 1945 - 1948
(inconsistencies in dealings with returning scholars, Czech and Slovak
opposition living abroad)
- The first major emigration wave from the Communist Czechoslovakia
after the Communist coup in February 1948 and the position of scholars
within
- Emigration of scholars from the Communist Czechoslovakia in the period
after the Warsaw Pact armies invasion in August 1968
- Inconsistent relationship of the Czechoslovak public to exile scholars
returning home after 1989
- Long-term departures of the Czech scholars for abroad after 1989; its
comparison with emigration from the Communists Czechoslovakia

The organizers welcome especially contributions related to particular
scientific institutions, specific situations and characteristics of
individual fields, both in sciences and humanities. In relation to
Czech exile, the Conference attempts to accomplish two tasks: determine
the present state of research and serve as a platform where the former
"émigrés" can share their personal experience and position. Therefore,
the scholarly part of the Conference will be supplemented by a round
table discussion and social gatherings.

The language of the Conference is English and the anticipated Conference
Fee is 40 Euros. Abstracts will be required. Submitted papers will be
published on the Internet. Some participants will be asked to contribute
to the collective monograph that will be published in 2012.

In case of your interest in participation or in getting further
materials about the Conference, please send us kindly the following
information before January 20 (after this date we will distribute the
1st Circular with more details):

First and last name / Title/s / Affiliation / E-mail: / Mailing address
or other contact

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Centre for the History of Sciences and Humanities
Institute for Contemporary History of the Academy of Sciences of the
Czech Republic
Puskinovo nám. 9
160 00 Praha 6
Czech Republic

Fax: +420221990612
e-mail: nytrovaz@vcdv.cas.cz