1956, a Pivotal Year.
The Crisis of the Soviet Bloc: Global Perspectives and Representations.
November 12, 2026.

The Center for Hungarian Studies at the Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (Argentina) invites researchers, students, and specialists in history and art history, sociology, political science, international relations, cultural and memory studies, and other related fields to submit abstracts to participate in the upcoming Academic Conference. The event will be organized into thematic panels featuring 15-minute oral presentations per speaker, designed to foster a dynamic and interdisciplinary debate.

Introduction
The year 1956 irreversibly altered the dynamics of the Cold War and the internal structure of the socialist bloc. The onset of de-Stalinization, spurred by Nikita Khrushchev’s “secret speech,” opened political and ideological fissures that manifested with dramatic force in the Hungarian Revolution, which was crushed by a Soviet military intervention. The popular uprising not only redefined the Kremlin’s control over Eastern Europe but also profoundly transformed global geopolitics, the history of the left, and the intellectual landscape. Thus, the impact of 1956 extended far beyond Hungary’s borders, sparking intense intellectual debates, partisan rifts, diverse media coverage, and a rich cultural output that reshaped the political imagination of the 20th century.

In the year marking the 70th anniversary of the uprising, this conference seeks to explore not only the historical events themselves, but also their global reception, the various theoretical perspectives, symbolic representations, and ways of remembering.

Thematic areas:
- The 20th Congress of the CPSU and its impact on the Soviet bloc: de-Stalinization, the “secret speech,” the limits of Khrushchev’s political reforms, and the official Soviet interpretation of the Hungarian uprising.
- The Hungarian Revolution: its background, course, and narratives: the history of protests (e.g., in the GDR and Poland); the internal dynamics of the uprising; the role of workers’ and students’ councils; the government of Imre Nagy; the formation of Kádár’s government; and the earliest local accounts and testimonies regarding civil resistance against the Red Army.
- Reception and Debates on the Global Stage: the impact and divisions within communist and left-wing parties in the West and Latin America; militant resignations, theoretical controversies, the emergence of the New Left, and the stance of the Global South.
- Exodus, migratory crisis, and diaspora: the impact of the wave of migration triggered by the repression of the revolution; the refugee crisis in Europe, international asylum policies, resettlement in the Americas, and the cultural and political reconfiguration of the Hungarian diaspora worldwide.
- Cultural and media representations of the Revolution: the coverage of the conflict in the international press of the time, radio broadcasts (such as Radio Free Europe), and the aesthetic and narrative construction of the event through literature, film, photography, the visual arts, and monuments—from the time of the event to the present day.
- Historical memory and politics of remembrance: ways of remembering and commemorating the 1956 revolution; from censorship, official silence, and the narrative of the “counterrevolutionary plot” during the communist regime, to the political appropriations and uses of its memory in democratic Hungary and in exile.
- Contemporary historiographical perspectives: the evolution of critical perspectives on 1956 following the opening of declassified archives in various countries and new analytical trends in global history.

Guidelines for Submitting Abstracts
We hereby invite those interested in presenting to submit their proposal in Word or PDF format, including:
- Title of the presentation.
- Speaker(s)’ information: full name, institutional affiliation, and email address.
- Abstract of the proposal, 250 to 300 words in length, detailing the presentation’s objectives, the hypothesis or central line of analysis, the main sources, and the thematic area to which it pertains.
- 3 to 5 keywords.
- Format of participation (in-person, virtual, or either)
- Brief biographical profile (maximum 150 words).

Note: Upon acceptance, presenters agree to adapt their content to adhere to the stipulated 15-minute presentation time per talk to ensure sufficient time for the subsequent discussion. After the conference, certificates will be issued to the presenters.

Dates to bear in mind
- Abstract submission deadline: October 12, 2026
- Notification of acceptance: October 14, 2026
- Conference date: November 12, 2026
- Conference venue: Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero (Argentina)
- Format: hybrid
- Language: Spanish or English
- Abstracts must be submitted via email to: cehuntref.edu.ar. Please specify in the subject line: “Abstract Conference 1956 - [Author’s Last Name].”