A one-day conference

Rooms 341/3 (third floor)
at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies of University College London


This conference on contemporary Slovakia is organised by the School of Slavonic and East European Studies and the British Czech & Slovak Association under the patronage of HE the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic.

15 years after emerging as an independent state, Slovakia continues to be a focus of considerable interest both for the vibrancy of its culture and the complexity of its political development. The conference brings together leading specialists on the country’s politics and culture to reflect on current trends in their fields.

The event will take place in the new building of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, 16 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW. Attendance is free and all those interested are welcome to attend.

The nearest tube stations to Taviton Street (two blocks east of the main University College building in Gower Street) are Euston Square, Goodge Street and Warren Street. Euston, Kings Cross and St Pancras mainline rail stations are also within easy walking distance.
A one-day conference
Saturday 10th May Rooms 341/3 (third floor)
at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies of University College London

Programme

10.00am Arrival: Tea and coffee in the Masaryk Room (4th floor) 

10.30am Welcome 

Keynote speech: HE Juraj Zervan, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic

11.00am Panel 1: Slovak Culture

Chair: Rajendra Chitnis (University of Bristol)

Tim Beasley-Murray (UCL/SSEES)

"The Sex-Appeal of the Inorganic: the Route from Genitalism to Neo-Fetishism in the Work of the novelist Michal Hvorecky" 

Geoffrey Chew (Royal Holloway College/Masaryk University, Brno)

"Reappraising the Songs of Eugen Sucho_ in his Centenary Year"

Peter Zusi (UCL/SSEES)

"What Lies beneath the Soil? The Case of the writer Samko Tále"

12.30pm Lunch: Sandwich lunch served in the Masaryk Room

2.00pm Panel 2: Slovak Politics

Chair: Seán Hanley (UCL/SSEES)

Karen Henderson (University of Leicester)

"The Anatomy of Failure: the Slovak Opposition Parties"

Kevin Deegan-Krause (Wayne State University, USA)

"Populist Appeals in Slovak Politics"

Tim Haughton (University of Birmingham)

"Cash Cow, Tool and the Accession Hangover: the EU and Slovakia"

Alena Sabelová (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)

Topic to be confirmed

3.30pm Wine reception