CfP: Exit-Voice-Labour – Reassessing Central and Eastern European Migration in a Transnational and Historical Perspective

International conference at the University of Vienna, 16–18 November 2026. The conference will examine the connections between migration, political systems and labour markets in Central and Eastern Europe from a transnational and historical perspective. Submission deadline: 18 May 2026.

Building on (and critically updating) Albert O. Hirschman's classic exit–voice–loyalty framework, the conference invites contributions that explore how migration relates to political circumstances, labour, and agency—across contemporary as well as historical perspectives, and across multiple migration routes (not only "East–West").

The organisers welcome innovative and critical perspectives from a range of disciplines (including sociology, political science, economics, history, cultural studies, and social anthropology).

Submission & participation (practical info)

To apply, proposals should include: full name, affiliation, email, paper title, abstract (max 300 words), and a short academic bio (up to 200 words), sent to: exit_voice.recet@univie.ac.at

• Working language: English
• Participation fee: free of charge
• Support: meals and refreshments will be provided; limited accommodation and travel grants are available, prioritising early-career researchers without institutional funding.

Key dates

• Proposal submission deadline: 18 May 2026
• Notification of acceptance: 15 June 2026
• Conference dates: 16–18 November 2026

The conference is organised as a collaboration of the University of Vienna – Research Centre for the History of Transformations (UNIVIE RECET) as the host, Faculty of Political Sciences University of Banja Luka (FPN UNIBL), Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts – Institute of Culture and Memory Studies (ZRC SAZU) and Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS) in Regensburg, in the framework of the Horizon Europe project "Enhancing Capacities for Quality and Impactful Research on Transformations, Labour and Migration in Southeast-Europe (RETLAMI-SEE)" funded by the European Commission.