The Ludovika University of Public Service (NKE) and the Jewish Theological Seminary &ndash\; University of Jewish Studies (OR-ZSE) are pleased to announce a joint academic conference on \;&ldquo\;Chosen Nation(s): Historical and Cultural Interpretations of Exceptionalism&rdquo\;\, to be held in Budapest\, Hungary.
\nKeynote speaker: \;DR. CHRISTINA LITTLEFIELD\, Associate Professor of Communication and Religion at Pepperdine University\, author of "Chosen Nations: Pursuit of the Kingdom of God and its Influence on Democratic Values in Late-Nineteenth Century Britain and the United States" (Fortress Press\, 2013)\, and \;"Christian America and the Kingdom of God" (University of Illinois Press\, 2025\, with \;Richard T. Hughes).
\nThe aim of this interdisciplinary conference is to present the elements of various religious\, group\, national\, and imperial identities that refer to chosenness\, historical vocation\, and uniqueness in world history. This includes everything from the religious formulation of the chosen people\, through the sense of civilizational mission\, to the martyrdom concepts of individual groups and nations. We are particularly interested in examining how claims of chosenness function as instruments of legitimacy\, exclusion\, and moral hierarchy\, and how they are contested\, transformed\, or inverted in different historical and cultural contexts.
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\nConference Themes
\nWe invite proposals for papers that engage with the following topics\, among others:
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; the concept of the chosen people in Jewish religious tradition and in modern Jewish secular thought
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; the concept of chosenness in Christian and Muslim religious understanding
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; secularized chosenness and political theology
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; victimhood\, sacrifice\, and negative exceptionalism
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; the Christian empire as the embodiment of universalism
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; the civilizing mission of modern empires
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; the religious foundations of the American republics
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; the Russian World and Eurasianism
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; American exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; the German Sonderweg and tragedy
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; the vanguards of Communism and liberal democracy in the 20th century
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; aesthetics of chosenness
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; canon formation and cultural chosenness
\nThere is no conference participation fee\, and accommodation is provided for speakers.
\nKey Details
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; Date: \;10-11 June 2026
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; Location: \;Nemzeti Kö\;zszolgá\;lati Egyetem\, Orszá\;gos Rabbiké\;pző &ndash\; Zsidó\; Egyetem\, Budapest\, Hungary
\n·\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; Language: \;English
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\nSubmission Guidelines
\nWe welcome abstracts of no more than 300 words\, accompanied by a brief biography (100 words)\, including current institutional affiliation. Individual presentations will be 20 minutes\, followed by discussion. Proposals for individual papers and thematic panels are both encouraged.
\nSubmissions should be sent to \;chosennations2026@gmail.com by \;1 May 2025. Notification of acceptance will be sent on a rolling basis\, at the latest by \;10 May 2025.
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\nPublication Opportunities
\nSelected papers from the conference may be considered for publication in a peer-reviewed volume.
\nContact
\nFor further information\, please contact \;chosennations2026@gmail.com.
\nWe look forward to your contributions and to welcoming you to a stimulating dialogue on chosenness and exceptionalism in religion\, history\, and culture.
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