I. Introduction
The events of 1968 in the societies of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe can only be understood against the background of destalinization. The conference will therefore begin with a lecture that presents an overview of the effects of destalinization on the political, social and economic situation of these countries from 1956 onward. The lecture will also raise questions about the setbacks for destalinization.
II. The year 1968 from the Perspective of the Societies of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe
In what follows, the terms „opposition“ and „resistance“ refer to forms of behavior that question the claim to all-encompassing control formulated by the political regime or the party. Such opposition and resistance may be of an organized nature, but it does not necessarily have to be. It can be spontaneous or planned, just as it can take shape both within and outside the party apparatus. It can take either an individual or an institutional form. (An example of the latter would be opposition organized from within the Church.) The range of behavior includes critical remarks on the regime, spontaneous revolts against specific political measures and conceptually articulate, conscious resistance that works to achieve regime change in a conspiratorial and planned way.
The papers discussing the political, social and economic situation in the various countries in 1968 should examine the following issues and problems:
* The specific political and economic situation of the country in question, understood as the basis for all further analysis
* Oppositional / dissident groups and currents, including their previous histories in the various countries (political ideas and demands; forms of protest; social agents / spread of protest)
* Political successes and setbacks; the immediate and long-term consequences of the protest movements
* What information (both official and unofficial) circulated on these protests in other countries? If such information circulated, what effects did it have? Were there cases of practical cooperation?
* Were these groups and movements aware of the protest movements of the New Left in the West? Was there awareness of the content of these protest movements, its demands and the ways in which they were advanced? Was there an identification with these movements or a partial appropriation of its ideas, demands and forms of protest? Were there direct contacts?
* Conversely, how where the political and social protest movements in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe perceived by the traditional left and the New Left in the West? Was there support for these movements or were they rejected? Were contacts established and discussions or other exchanges organized? How did the traditional left and the New Left in the West react to the oppression and repression of the political and social protest movements in the countries in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe? What conclusions were drawn by the traditional left and the New Left in the West in terms of self-understanding and practical choices?
* Were the intellectual and political debates in the East followed in the West and vice versa? If yes, which debates were followed?
Weitere Infos: http://www.ith.or.at/konf_e/call_ebbing_e.htm

Coordination and Contact:
Angelika Ebbinghaus
Foundation for the 20th Century Social History / Stiftung für Sozialgeschichte des 20. Jahrhunderts
Fritz-Gansberg-Straße 14
D-28213 Bremen, Germany
Tel +49 (0) 421-2235262
Fax +49 (0) 421-2235251
E-Mail: AEbbinghaus[at]t-online.de or aebbinghaus[at]stiftung-sozialgeschichte.de
Web: www.stiftung-sozialgeschichte.de