Submit a Proposal

Proposal Deadline: December 31, 2026

Welcome to the presenter submission portal for the Seventh Transatlantic Dialogue Conference, to be held in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg on May 26-27, 2027. The Program Committee (listed below) invites proposals for talks, papers, poster presentations, podcast discussions, performances/exhibitions, and artistic statements (or any other type of contribution in any other format that the organizing committee has not thought of) that explore the crucial role of culture and civil society in sustaining democratic institutions and norms.

We welcome proposals that address – but are not limited to – the following major themes:

• Civic engagement: Exploring innovative practices that empower individuals and communities and enhance democratic participation
• Arts and cultural practices: Examining the roles, functions and implications of creative arts and other forms of cultural expression in shaping public discourse and sustaining democratic values
• Policy and governance: Investigating how civil society and/or cultural actors seek to influence public policy and the promotion of democratic values
• Technology and innovation: Probing the impact and implications of technological transformation on socioeconomic life and culture
• Social opportunities: Addressing the sources, impacts and/or implications of social, economic, or political inequality
• Education: Reflecting on the roles and practices of formal and non-formal education in fostering a culture of civic participation
• History and geography: Exploring how history and geography differentially shape opportunities for meaningful democratic engagement

Questions? Please contact Program Committee co-chairs Wim Coudenys, University of Leuven (wim.coudenys@kuleuven.be) or John Forren, Miami University (forrenjp@miamioh.edu).

• Dilchoda Berdieva, Ph.D., Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Global and Intercultural Studies, Miami University (Ohio, USA)
• Flora Carrijn, Ph.D., Executive Director, Flanders Business School, KU Leuven (Belgium) & President, University Network of European Capitols of Culture
• Wim Coudenys, Ph.D., Professor of Russian and European History and Vice Dean for International Affairs, KU Leuven (Belgium)
• John Forren, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences and Education, and Executive Director, Menard Family Center for Democracy, Miami University (USA)
• Dennis Gregory, Ed.D., Associate Professor Emeritus of Higher Education, Old Dominion University (USA)
• Robert Harmsen, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg (Luxembourg)
• James Ketterer, Ph.D., Global Studies, Bard College (USA) and Director of Extension & Professor of Practice, American University of Armenia (Armenia)
• Judith McKimm, Intercultural Communication and Conflict Resolution specialist (Austria) and Member, European Cultural Parliament
• Jamie Trnka, Ph.D., Professor of German and Comparative Cultural Studies, Xavier University (USA)
• Bruno Von Lutz, Ph.D., Project Manager, Science4School and former Managing Director, German-American Institute (Germany)
• Michele Welkener, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Counselor Education and Human Services, University of Dayton (USA)