The Importance of Exploring Ethnicity in the 21st Century

15-16 May 2025
Ljubljana, Slovenia
International academic conference celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Institute for Ethnic Studies

To commemorate 100 years of our Institute’s commitment to the field of ethnic studies, our international academic conference seeks to address various topics related to ethnicity. Key issues relevant to many European countries and globally include the increasing ethnic diversity of contemporary societies, the surge in mass migration, the challenges faced by new and traditional minorities, and the growing importance of studying ethnicity, minority rights, and interethnic relations. The conference will feature three panels addressing the legal status of ethnic communities, ethnic diversity and identities in contemporary societies, and common research dilemmas in this field.

Deadline: 15 December 2024

Keynote Speakers

The conference programme includes keynote speakers and oral presentations followed by brief discussions. The invited keynote speakers are three internationally renowned professors with different research backgrounds:
Prof. Dr. Francesco Palermo
Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law at the University of Verona &
Director of the Institute for Comparative Federalism, Eurac Research
Prof. Dr. Maurice Crul
Professor of Sociology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Prof. Dr. Sonja Novak Lukanović

Director of the Institute for Ethnic Studies & Professor of Applied Linguistics at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana

Key dates and deadlines

About the Host Institution

Established in 1925, the Institute for Ethnic Studies (IES) was among the first public research institutions in Slovenia and is considered one of the first research institutions of its kind in the world. Initially focused on the status of Slovenian minorities in neighbouring countries and ethnic minorities in Slovenia, the Institute has since broadened its scope. Today, the IES team conducts research across all relevant areas of ethnic studies, thus contributing to the development of the protection of national and ethnic minorities, advising on policies concerning the situation of ethnic communities and migrants in Slovenia, and exploring topics related to ethnic minorities such as integration, nationalism, and other issues.

About the Host Institution

Established in 1925, the Institute for Ethnic Studies (IES) was among the first public research institutions in Slovenia and is considered one of the first research institutions of its kind in the world. Initially focused on the status of Slovenian minorities in neighbouring countries and ethnic minorities in Slovenia, the Institute has since broadened its scope. Today, the IES team conducts research across all relevant areas of ethnic studies, thus contributing to the development of the protection of national and ethnic minorities, advising on policies concerning the situation of ethnic communities and migrants in Slovenia, and exploring topics related to ethnic minorities such as integration, nationalism, and other issues.