A Long Way from Home - The Baltic People in the United Kingdom

Published: 7 February 2013

A Long Way from Home - The Baltic People in the United Kingdom, a two-day event will be held at the University of Glasgow on 7th and 8th February 2013.

A Long Way from Home - The Baltic People in the United Kingdom, a two-day event will be held at the University of Glasgow on 7th and 8th February 2013. The department of Central and East European Studies will run the event, supported by CRCEES.

Location: CEES, University of Glasgow
Date: 7-8 February 2013
Registration: 31 December 2012 (now closed)
Abstracts: Baltic Diaspora Abstracts [PDF]
Event Programme: A Long Way From Home Event Programme [PDF]

The Baltic diaspora has been, and continues to be, a significant community within the UK. The Baltic diaspora in the UK grew considerably as a result of a mass emigration in the form of a refugee exodus during WW2. After the restoration of independence and EU membership, a new wave of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians came to the UK. The exact size of the Baltic diaspora today is not known but is estimated to be over 100 000.

The main purpose of this academic event is to bring together researchers who are studying the Baltic diaspora with specialists from other related fields to promote this field of academic research.

In addition to facilitating the establishment of links between scholars and enabling contacts to be made with experts on migration and diaspora studies at universities and research institutions in the UK and abroad, the purpose is of the event is to lay down the foundations for a future network of Baltic Diaspora Studies in the UK.

In tandem with the two-day academic conference a cultural event and a reception is being organised. This will be open to the public, and is intended for all Balts and other interested parties living locally to establish closer contacts with local diaspora members for both academic and non-academic purposes.

Abstracts for papers (150 words) were invited in the following areas:

  • Historical contacts between the UK and the Baltic states
  • The history of Baltic migration in the UK
  • Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians in the UK after WW2
  • A8 migration from the three Baltic states
  • Diaspora life and famous members of the Baltic diaspora
  • Belonging, identity, social and cultural integration of Baltic people in the UK

The deadlines for abstracts, posters and registration have now passed. 


First published: 7 February 2013