Chief Advisor to the REDETE Network

Prof. Vassilios Fouskas
University of East London, UK


Call for Papers:

University of Banja Luka & Marche Polytechnic University
The 11th REDETE Conference 2024

Title: “Researching Economic Development and Entrepreneurship in Transition Economies”

Ancona, Italy
September 17-18, 2024

Globalisation is a relatively new word that describes an old process, namely, the integration of the global economy that began with the onset of European colonialism some 500 years ago. Because it involves power arrangements of a hierarchical nature, globalisation historically advances through contestation, competition, and unevenness. It spreads across the world in a politically and economically asymmetrical manner and is driven by the most powerful global actors. Although it cannot 'cease' or 'die,' it undergoes turns and reroutings. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Britain led global free trade and dominated the high seas before there was a rerouting to the USA. Today, China has openly claimed leadership of globalisation, challenging the primacy of the USA. At the same time other powers try to affirm their primacy at continental level generating open conflicts and contributing to raise uncertainty at global level.

The uncertainty about the future directions of globalization is raised by the challenges posed by climate change and the need to rethink economic development to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The EU is willing to lead the green transition but not without problems: on the one hand there is the dependence from China and the USA in many digital and green technologies; on the other hand, there is the an increasing opposition by the sectors of the economy which are impacted by the green transition.

The Balkans serve as Eurasia's key platform where all contradictions and tensions are being played out. For this reason, Balkans it is a key area to better understand the present challenges and future directions of globalization.

The REDETE Conference aims to examine how globalisation and economic development are “rerouting” to allow for green, social and economic sustainability in an epoch characterised by climate change concerns. The purpose is to enable scholars, business professionals, and policy practitioners to reset and reframe the debate on globalisation and economic development taking into account the climate crisis and the disruption of global supply chains started with the pandemics and aggravated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

By bringing together scholars from different countries and diverse backgrounds, and combining theoretical approaches with the experience of professionals and government consultants, this network will enable applied research that shifts the boundaries of the debate on globalisation and sustainability, shaping new research identities and opening up new horizons.

We welcome the submission of papers that emphasize the elements laid out above.

Topics of interest include:

Economic development: public policy and welfare state regimes in the region; integration and social tolerance; sustainable economic development and public policy models.

Regional development: clustering and networking; interfirm relations; foreign direct investments; the role of banks and financial markets; the role of infrastructure.

Entrepreneurship and innovation: new firm formation; academic entrepreneurship; university-industry collaboration; entrepreneurial and SMEs financing; innovation ecosystems; entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Social development: population dynamics; social policies, poverty, and exclusion.

International trade: regional economic integrations, international trade institutions, the role of the GATT and the WTO, supply chains, protectionism.

Migration: migrant and refugee crises; migrant socio-economic integration; brain drain; remittances; return migration; migrant entrepreneurship; migration policies.

Political economy and governance: current trends and issues including corruption of different forms; the role of European Research Area and European Higher Education Area on integration.

Geopolitics of (in)stability: role of international actors, strategic infrastructures (energy, transport, technology etc.), asymmetric powers.

Papers presented at the REDETE conference will be considered for publication in:

  • Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies (Routledge-Taylor & Francis, 8 issues annually since 1998 https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cjsb20/current).
  • Economia Marche, Journal of Applied Economics (Fondazione Aristide Merloni & Univpm, 3 issues annually since 1975 (https://economiamarche.univpm.it/index.php/em)
  • Conference Proceedings issued by the Faculty of Economic of the University of Banja Luka.

Submission information:

Extended abstracts of about 300-700 words may be submitted up to the end of May 2024 to the address: redete@unibl.org.

Important dates:

May 31, 2024 - Abstracts submission close
June 15, 2024 - Notification of acceptance
August 31, 2024 - Full paper submission deadline

Conference advisor

Vassilis K. Fouskas, University of East London

Scientific committee

Andrew Burke, UK
Ana Mugoša, Montenegro
Bojan Ćudić, Slovenia
Dejan Jović, Croatia
Diego d’Adda, Italy
Donato Iacobucci, Italy
Dragan Gligorić, B&H
Dragan Milovanović, B&H
Francesca Spigarelli, Italy
Francesco Perugini, Italy
Georgios Panos, UK
Giulia Betin, Italy
Ilija Stojanović, U.A. Emirates
Jelena Budak, Croatia
Jelena Trivić, B&H
Joern Kleinert, Austria
Jovo Ateljević, B&H
Kivanc Ulusoy, Turkey
Ljiljana Eraković, New Zealand
Marco Cucculelli, Italy
Marijan Cingula, Croatia
Marjan Svetličić, Slovenia
Maja Đukić Ivanović, Serbia
Milenko Krajišnik, B&H
Nemanja Berber, Serbia
Nikša Alfirević, Croatia
Peter Rosa, UK
Predrag Bjelić, Serbia
Ron Boschma, Netherlands
Roy Thurik, Netherlands
Ruta Adis, USA
Saša Petković, B&H
Schampa Roy-Mukherjee, UK
Suzana Stefanović, Serbia
Valentina Giannini, Italy
Vassilis Fouskas, UK

Organizing committee

Università Politecnica delle Marche

Erblin Berisha
Marco Cucculelli
oemi Giampaoli
Valentina Giannini
Donato Iacobucci
Marco Ciro Liscio
Jasmine Mondolo
Andrea Perna
Francesco Perugini
Martina Orci
Matteo Renghini
Roberta Ruggeri
Paolo Sospiro

Faculty of Economics, University of Banja Luka

Milenko Krajišnik
Jovo Ateljević
Dragan Gligorić
Dragan Milovanović
Željana Jovičić
Saša Petković
Jadranka Petrović
Igor Mišić
Vladana Ritan

For all relevant information about the Conference please visit the website: http://www.redete.org/

We look forward to receiving your proposals and to welcoming you to the 11th REDETE Conference 2024