CALL FOR PAPERS

International Congress on

“BLUE BLACK SEA”

 

New Dimensions of Security, Energy, Environment, Economy, Strategy and Education

Sakarya University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Department of International Relations
14-17 October, 2008

Sakarya / TURKEY

Deadline for Proposals: June 15, 2008




 

Congress Coordinator:  Dr. Giray Saynur BOZKURT, PhD, Assistant Professor,

Sakarya University.
e-mail: saynur@sakarya.edu.tr - gsaynur@gmail.com 

Contact Information: blueblacksea@sakarya.edu.tr
blueblacksea1@gmail.com
Web site: http://www.blueblacksea.sakarya.edu.tr

The International congress on “Blue Black Sea” will be organized by Sakarya University, Department of International Relations at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences. The full title of International Congress is “Blue Black Sea: New Dimensions of Security, Energy, Environment, Economy, Strategy and Education”. SAKARYA UNIVERSITY “BLUE BLACK SEA” CONGRESS will be held between 14 and 17 October, 2008 under the distinguished patronage of the Rector of Sakarya University, Professor Mehmet Durman.

The Main Aims and Contents of the Congress

The aim of the Congress is to bring together experts and researchers of (primarily but not exclusively) the Black Sea regional states in order to analyze political, economic, social and cultural relations among the states of the Black Sea region.

In addition to the standard coastal states, other states that belong to the corridor carrying Caspian Energy sources to the west through the connection between Asia Europe (Albania, Serbia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan) are all considered as Black Sea states. In the contemporary world politics, Black Sea is a pivotal region for the global powers. Color revolutions are a case in point for they herald a new power struggle in the line of Baltic-Black Sea-Caspian Sea regions. Not only the U.S. and Russia but also other global and regional powers and coastal states and institutions are struggling for influence over the strategic depth of the Black Sea region.

International Congress on Blue Black Sea will be convened with the following objectives: to describe various dimensions of ongoing relations and existing problem areas from both theoretical and conceptual perspectives; analyzing the existing and emerging institutions; to define areas of disagreements and and discuss peaceful resolutions of conflicts and hence to bring light to the international relations of the Black Sea region from scientific perspectives under different headings and sections. In this framework, Congress will provide grounds for scientific assessments of Black Sea Economic Cooperation. The latter is of importance also because it contributes to the integration of Turkey with a wider world in line with the ongoing liberal changes and globalization trends.

Turkey being another country playing for influence had in mind two objectives when it started the initiative of the Black Sea Project. The first was to transform the Black Sea into a sea of peace, stability and prosperity on the bases of friendly relations and good neighborhood policies. Second was to improve and diversify economic relations between the regional states by taking the full advantages from the existing historical ties and geographical proximity amongst the states. On the other hand, the congress has increased these aims by adding plans to approach and analyze from a scientific perspectives the ‘International Free Trade City’ that is to be constructed in Sakarya Turkey, which is designed for the Black Sea regional states.

The name Blue, symbolizes both a clean environment and peace. In view of above aims, the Congress plans to invite not only high level participants but also Presidents or Prime Ministers, Ministers and diplomats of the members states as keynote or guest speakers. Such a gathering will produce valuable academic assessments to a wider world community by sharing and disseminating findings about regional and global policies

The security of the Black Sea is not just a matter of regional interest; it has global importance, and it directly affects the political and economic security of the global powers such as the United States. The latter will encourage and support the new democracies around the Black Sea. Their success, stability and prosperity are all essential to the security and peace of the whole region.


THE MAIN SUBJECTS of Sakarya University’s “Blue Black Sea” Congress, will focus on different factors and actors striving to actively engage in the Black Sea region. Topics may be assessed under the following headings:

1) Global powers: the United States., the European Union, and Russia.

2) Regional powers: Turkey, Ukraine, Romania. These actors have difficulties in formulating policies independent of global actors thus they have to work in coordination with them.

3) International organizations: NATO, EU, OSCE, GUAM, Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC).

4) The history of 19th and 20th centuries as well as current political, social, economic, national and cultural issues related to the main subject.

5) Special attention will be given to the problems of the communist and post-communist world in the Black Sea region. Therefore, the Caucasus and Central Asian issues will be also relevant for the conference.

Below we present more specific topics of the 2008 Congress:

PROPOSED SECTIONS**

SECTION 1
The Place and Importance of The Black Sea for Global Peace and World Politics

SECTION 2
The Black Sea Oriented International Foundations: Their aims, organs, and functions: Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), NATO, OSCE, EU, UN

SECTION 3
Political and Historical Background:

a. Contemporary History and Political Developments in the Balkans
b. Contemporary History and Political Developments in the Caucasian
c. Commonwealth of Independent States and Turkey Relations
d. Contemporary History and International Relations of BSEC

SECTION 4
The US and Russian Regional Policies After 9/11:

a. Russian Strategy and Influence in the Black Sea Region after the 9/11
b. The US Strategy and Influence in the Black Sea Region after the 9/11
c. Regional Security Strategies

SECTION 5
a. The EU Policies in the Region after the Enlargement
b. The European Security and the Black Sea States
c. The Role of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation in Southeastern Europe

SECTION 6
The Black Sea Environmental Problems:

a. Nuclear Threat
b. Transporation Problems (TRACECA and other )
c. The Legal Status of the Black Sea and the Straits

SECTION 7
The "Action Plan for the Development of Cooperation in Eurasia" (Avrasya’da İşbirliği Eylem Plan)ı:, Black Sea Collaboration Task Group (Karadeniz İşbirliği Görev Grubu)

SECTION 8
a. Energy Politics in the Black Sea Region
b. Historical and Ethnic Bases of Conflict Areas of the Black Sea Region
c. Energy Sources, Transportation and Marketing Problems in the Black Sea Region
d. Economic Policies in the Black Sea Region

SECTION 9
Frozen Conflicts in the Black Sea Region: Partnership for Peace; The Initiative of the Union of Democratic States in the Baltics- Black Sea- Caspian Sea Region

SECTION 10
a. The Russian Attempts to Build a Military Sea Base on the Black Sea
b. The US Military Bases in Romenia and Bulgaria

SECTION 11
New Developments in the Field of Cooperation in Higher Education and University Research Areas

SECTION 12
The Place and Importance of Sakarya Free Trade Area and Silkroad Trade Route for the Black Sea Regional Trade

**If you would like your abstract to be considered for one of the featured sections or panels, please indicate clearly that on your submission.

Other sections will be formed in accordance with the proposals and papers by the participants.

Important Note: Those scholars who wish to be in the scientific board are welcome to submit their names. Selection will be based on academic experience in the topics above.

The programme structure, especially as regards workshops, is still quite flexible and can be reformed in accordance with the proposals from the participants. Especially it should “- this does imply that all papers should deal with Black Sea.

Conference language is English. Selected Papers will be published as an edited book.

APPLICATION: If interested in presenting a paper or organizing a panel/workshop in the 2008 Blue Black Sea Congress, please submit: e-forms

Please indicate willingness to serve as a session chair and/or discussant

The deadline for abstract submission is 30 th June 2008.

Important Deadlines and Dates

15 th July 2008
Decisions on acceptance/rejection of abstracts by Conveners

30 th September 2008
Final date for registration by presenters of papers (otherwise paper will be withdrawn from the conference programme)

14–17 October 2008
Blue Black Sea Congress in Sakarya


These are the topics, which are going to be discussed during the Blue Black Sea Conference , Nevertheless, we also want to accept other subjects of presentation that fall in or related to the main issue areas of the Congress.

CONGRES organizers invite submissions of recent documentaries or feature films available in video (VHS or DVD) format. The videos selected for the conference will be screened during regular panel slots and will be followed by a discussion moderated by academic experts.

LOCATION

CONGRESS will be held at the Sakarya University main campus in the centre of Sakarya,

SCHEDULE

CONGRESS will begin on Tuesday, October 14 at 4 PM, and end on Friday, October 17 at 6 PM, 2008.

PAPER PROPOSALS

APPLICATION FORM and paper proposal form are attached to the Call for Papers. Proposals must be e-mailed to Dr. Giray Saynur Bozkurt, director of the Congress, at with the subject “Form”. Please note that participants with individual papers will be brought together into panel groups.

ALL PROPOSALS must be written in English. However, in exceptional cases, the Congress organizers will allow some presentations to be delivered in Turkish, as long as a comprehensive written summary or the entire text in English is made available to the audience.

Web site: http://www.blueblacksea.sakarya.edu.tr

E-mail: blueblacksea@sakarya.edu.tr & blueblacksea1@gmail.com



CONGRESS ORGANIZATIONAL BOARD / Organizing Committee:

Alaeddin Yalçınkaya, Professor Dr. Sakarya University, Turkey
Emin Gürses, Associate Professor Dr. Sakarya University, Turkey
Giray Saynur Bozkurt, Assist. Professor, (Congress Coordinator), Sakarya University, Turkey
Tuncay Kardaş, Assistant Professor, Sakarya University, Turkey
Yıldırım Turan, Research Assistant, Sakarya University, Turkey
Murat Yeşiltaş, Research Assistant, Sakarya University, Turkey
Ali Balcı, Research Assistant, Sakarya University, Turkey


CONGRESS PROGRAMME BOARD / Scientific Board:

Mehmet Durman, Professor Dr. (Head of Sakarya University),Turkey
Engin Yıldırım, Professor Dr. (Dean of the Faculty), Turkey
Şükrü Hanioğlu, Professor Dr.(Princeton University), USA
Alaeddin Yalçınkaya, Professor Dr. (Sakarya University), Turkey
Giray Saynur Bozkurt, Assistant Professor Dr. (Congress Coordinator)
Sergei Konoplyov, Harvard Black Sea Security Program, (Harvard University),USA
Duygu Sezer Bazoğlu, Professor Dr.(Bilkent University), Turkey
Roy Allison, (The London School of Economics and Political Science), UK
Sergey N. Sylvesterov, Professor Dr.(Russian Academy of Sciences), RF
Güner Öztek, (Head of OBIV), Turkey
Alexandre Shaidatovich Kadyrbaev, Prof. Dr. Oriental Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences,RF
Gerald Schneider, Professor Dr. (Konstanz University), Germany
Sinan Ogan, (Head of TURKSAM), Turkey
Sergei Goncharenko, (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Federation, Moscow), RF
Dimitrios Triantaphyllou, (International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), Athens, Greece
Oleg Barabanov, Professor Dr. Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the MFA of Russia, RF
Tuncay Kardaş, Assistant Professor Dr. Turkey
Emin Gürses, Associate Professor Dr. Turkey
Burhanettin Duran, Associate Professor Dr.,Turkey
Nesrin Kenar, Assistant Professor Dr.Turkey
Kemal İnat, Associate Professor Dr.Turkey
İbrahim Kamil, Assistant Professor Dr.Turkey



REGISTRATION

ALL THE PARTICIPANTS of the congress are obliged to register either before coming or at the beginning of the Conference. Registration fee may be paid on the Sakarya University account or later after the arrival at the Conference.


ACCOMMODATION

OUR WEB SITE, beginning from June 15, 2008, will provide information concerning accommodation in Sakarya University student hostels.

PLEASE send all the requests concerning accommodation to

Web sitehttp://www.blueblacksea.sakarya.edu.tr

CONGRESS PAPERS

SOME of the Congress papers will be published later in a book, new academic

journal, presenting also results of 2008. All the participants, who presented papers during the previous conferences, are kindly asked to send us texts of their presentations (in case they are still not published elsewhere) as well as short abstracts (circa 2000 characters).

PLEASE FILL IN THE FORMS IN ENGLISH!

IF AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT (overhead projector, video projector, etc.) is required,

please indicate so in your application. Please understand that not ALL

video/technical requests can be accommodated.

PROPOSAL must be send by our e-forms

THE CONGRESS PROGRAM BOARD will be entrusted with the final selections.

For information and registration, contact:
Sakarya University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of International Relations, Sakarya, Adapazarı, Turkey

Web site: http://www.blueblacksea.sakarya.edu.tr
E-mail: blueblacksea1@gmail.com

Congress Administration:
E-mail: blueblacksea1@gmail.com
Tel: 00 90 264 295 63 75
Fax: 00 90 264 295 62 33

Congress Coordinator: Dr. Giray Saynur Bozkurt, Assistant Professor, Sakarya University
e-mail: saynur@sakarya.edu.tr; gsaynur@gmail.com

Congress Secreteria: Murat Yesiltas muratyesiltas@gmail.com, Yıldırım Turan yildirimturan@gmail.com, Ali Balcı alibalci@gmail.com

We welcome proposals reflecting various empirical, theoretical, and methodological approaches in the social sciences. We encourage all members to disseminate this message to those who might be interested in submitting a paper proposal in the conference. Please do not forget to indicate your section.
Send all paper proposals to blueblacksea@sakarya.edu.tr or blueblacksea1@gmail.com by June 15th.

THE CONGRESS HEADQUARTERS ARE LOCATED AT:

Sakarya University
Esentepe Campus
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Department of International Relations
Serdivan/SAKARYA

phone no: 00 90 264 295 63 75

Fax no: 00 90 264 295 62 33

Web site: http://www.blueblacksea.sakarya.edu.tr

www.uli.sakarya.edu.tr

E-mail: blueblacksea@sakarya.edu.tr & blueblacksea1@gmail.com