The topic of this year’s conference aims to explore and problematize the concept of borders and boundaries. Even though the idea of borders is usually connected to separation, segregation and distance, its meaning can also take other forms. At the same time, they are never fixed. Throughout the time they can be shifted, erected or erased, reflecting the fluidity of society and culture. The idea of borders is usually understood in a geopolitical sense, but there is much more to it. They can mean the division between nations, cultures, individuals as well as ideas, and ideologies. To cross a border or a boundary can mean visiting your neighboring country, getting to know your neighbor, or accepting an idea that was previously alien to you.

The goal of social sciences is usually to understand, define but mostly overcome these boundaries which are confining us to restrictive behavior. When we talk about borders in a 

political and economic sense we often work with the ideas of nation, nationalism, warfare or humanitarian catastrophe. In the case of cultural borders we think of relations between religions, ethnicities or subcultures. With personal boundaries we think of ideologies, philosophies, or opinions. Varied and multidimensional topics of borders and boundaries can be perceived through the optics of different research disciplines.

We are looking forward to meet you in Budapest!