Conference dates: 22–23 April 2027 (Thursday and Friday)
The aim of the conference is to explore visible and hidden forms of influence, legitimation, and power in historical, sociocultural, and political contexts.
Thematic areas:
- Traditional Authorities, Charisma, and Institutionalization – Traditional, patriarchal, and charismatic authority (Max Weber); prophets, sages, and religious leaders; the transformation of charisma into an institution. Authority and authoritarianism.
- Gender, Age, and Authority – Authority, power, and age. The role of women as often “invisible authorities”; masculinity, male power, elders, chiefs, revolutionaries, and heroes. Expertise, Technology, and New Media Authorities –
- The power of the professionals: Craftspeople, experts, teachers, doctors and other professionals;
- bloggers, influencers, and the challenges and limits of artificial intelligence.
- Secret Societies and Languages, Behind-the-Scenes Power, and Myths – Conspiracy theories, clandestine circles, secret societies, the “behind-the-scenes” as a myth; fortune-tellers and diviners.
- Crisis of Authority and Marginal Power – Crisis, rebellion, anarchy, nihilism, and “fallen idols”; marginal and “underground” authorities (mafia bosses, oligarchs).
- Madness, Holiness, and Ambivalence – The phenomenon of the “man of God” in religion (“holy man” in Islam; the “holy fool” in Christianity).
Please submit an abstract in English of up to 300 words by 1 February 2027. You will receive a response by 1 March 2027.
Peer-reviewed papers will be published in the journal Balkanistic Worlds.