Deadline: September 5, 2025
The Small Nation(-States) Research Centre (SnS), Institute of International Studies, Charles University, invites abstract proposals for a hybrid workshop entitled Higher Education Policy in Non or Partly Recognized States and Entities: Negotiating Sovereignty and Seeking Epistemic Justice to be held on November 6th, 2025, in Prague (both in-person and online).
• Submission deadline for abstracts: September 5th, 2025
• Notification of acceptance: September 30th, 2025
Higher education has long been one of the most powerful instruments for legitimizing state claims and cultivating national consciousness. In non- or partly-recognized states (NPRS), universities and other higher education institutions (HEIs) not only shape local identity and historical narratives but also attempt to secure symbolic and material forms of recognition—whether through accreditation, partnerships, or student and faculty mobility. At the same time, crises of sovereignty, conflict, or political fragmentation often force HEIs into exile, split institutions, or compel them to operate under severe political constraints.
This workshop aims to bring together scholars who study the functions, policies, and historical trajectories of HEIs in NPRS. We specifically foreground questions of epistemic justice: How can HEIs in NPRS participate meaningfully in global knowledge exchanges when their very states lack universal recognition? How do those institutions negotiate political pressures—both internal and external—while attempting to maintain academic freedom and ethical standards? How do crises of statehood (e.g., forced displacement, university-in-exile scenarios) reshape scholarly communities, curricula, and research agendas?
By focusing on both historical and contemporary perspectives, we hope to foster a comparative understanding of how HEIs in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh (currently operating in exile), Northern Cyprus, Kosovo, Respublika Srpska, Somaliland, Palestine, Taiwan, South Tyrol, and similar entities confront these dilemmas.
We welcome proposals that adopt historical, sociological, political, or policy-oriented approaches. Possible themes include, but are not limited to:
1. Universities and Secession: Historical Roles
How did universities (or colleges) in NPRS participate in secessionist movements or political fragmentation? Were academics directly engaged as political leaders or advisors? What intellectual contributions (e.g., publications, conferences, curricula) shaped the secessionist narrative? How and why did independent universities or scientific institutes emerge alongside—or in competition with—preexisting state-affiliated institutions?
2. Nationalization of Higher Education
In what ways do HEI curricula incorporate national history, language, and identity to foster a sense of nationhood? How do new degree programs and research agendas reflect—or actively construct—a separate national consciousness? What are the implications for academic standards, comparative accreditation, and cross-border cooperation in education and science
3. State Intervention versus Academic Autonomy
How do local governments or de facto authorities exert control over HEIs (e.g., through funding, appointments, or ideological oversight)? Where do these controls collide with academic freedom, scholarly neutrality, or the ethics of teaching and research? In what cases have faculty or administra-tors resisted, reshaped, or leveraged state narratives to challenge or legitimize political authority?
4. Global Engagement and Internationalization
To what extent can degrees awarded by NPRS HEIs gain recognition abroad—either through bilateral agreements, partnerships, or international consortia? Is higher education in these contexts primarily a tool for advancing claims to statehood, or does it amount to “participation without recognition”? How do student mobility, joint programs, and online learning platforms mitigate—or magnify—barriers to global academic exchange?
5. Universities in Exile and Institutional Displacement
How have conflicts or crises (e.g., in Nagorno-Karabakh, Eastern Ukraine) forced universities to relocate, split, or reestablish themselves abroad? What are the historical precedents and contemporary analogues for university-in-exile models (e.g., the European Humanities University after 2004)? How do displaced HEIs rebuild communities of scholars and students, secure funding, and preserve institutional memory while operating under protracted exile?
We are looking forward to receiving your proposals (abstract of no more than 500 words, including a short bio and contact details) through Google Form (see the first comment) by September 5th, 2025. Notification of full paper acceptance will be communicated by September 30st, 2025.
We expect the participants to be able to cover their travel and accommodation expenses. There will be no conference fee. Depending on the focus of the contributions, the conveners plan to organise one or two special issues as a result of the workshop.
Organisers: Associate Professor Adrian Brisku & Dr. Dmitry Dubrovskiy (SnS Centre, Charles University Prague)
For further information or questions, please feel free to contact us: adrian.brisku@fsv.cuni.cz; dmitry.dubrovskiy@fsv.cuni.cz