Individuals and groups respond to perceived injustices and grievances with protest. The forms
of expression are diverse and interact with the conditions defined by social and political
opportunity structures. Protest is a central instrument of social negotiation processes related to
participation and co-determination. It thrives on publicity and attention, yet it is – especially in
authoritarian contexts – often accompanied by less visible practices of resistance that take
place in everyday life or in subversive, hidden forms.
Protest manifests itself not only in rallies and marches but also in artistic forms of expression: in the visual arts, in literature, and in performance. Numerous narratives refer to the evaluation
and appropriation of rebellious behaviour.
The conference aims to focus on various forms of protest and resistance, their structural
conditions and consequences, as well as their (current and retrospective) legitimization vs.
condemnation. While protest is a global phenomenon, we are focusing on contributions that
explore its manifestations in Central and Eastern Europe across different historical periods (from the early modern era to the present). We will also accept papers addressing theoretical and methodological aspects of protest.

The event is interdisciplinary in nature, as is the topic itself, and encompasses the disciplines of
history, political science, cultural anthropology, sociology, literary studies, musicology, or art
history. Contributions may be historical or contemporary in nature.

Possible approaches and topics:
· Interpretations and evaluations (what can protest be?) – from peaceful participation
movements and emancipatory self-empowerment to violent or radicalized forms of
resistance
· Processes of negotiation and the role/effectiveness of protest initiators
· Political substructures as resistance to state structures
· Petitions and other forms of civic engagement
· Transnational protest and its cross-border diffusion
· Exclusionary and discriminatory protest movements
· Narratives and perspectives (e.g., emancipatory histories of the oppressed vs.
narratives of uprising)
· Forms and formats of protest (material, symbolic, performative)
· Visual and acoustic dimensions (symbols, sounds, images)
· Emotions and affect in protest
· The role of violence and repression in protest dynamics
· Appropriations and re-appropriations of protest (political and cultural)

Abstracts should not exceed 300 words and should be submitted by January 10th to:
https://conf.isgv.de/conftool/

We will endeavor to cover the costs for accommodation and travel for a limited number of
participants. Should you be interested in funding, please inform us in your application.

If you have any further questions, please contact: protest2026@isgv.de
The organizing team is looking forward to receiving your abstract.