• Ankesa

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

Transhumance and Pastoral Heritage: Culture, Identity, and Sustainable Futures

 

 

Date: March 30, 2026

Venue: University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”

Organizers: Faculty of Social Sciencies, University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”

 

With the support of: Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation and University of Shkodra “Luigj Gurakuqi”

 

Conference Theme

This conference invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners to examine transhumance and pastoral heritage as living traditions that embody cultural identity, social organization, linguistic repertoires, and ecological adaptation. Recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, transhumance offers a unique lens into the interplay between tradition and modernity, heritage and sustainability, and the role of pastoral lifeways in shaping community resilience and cultural continuity.

 

Suggested Topics

We welcome contributions from anthropology, ethnology, linguistics, history, sociology, geography, cultural studies, and related fields. The following themes are indicative rather than restrictive, aiming to open new horizons for scholarly debate and exchange.

  • Cultural Heritage & Identity
    • Rituals, narratives, oral traditions, and symbolic practices of shepherd communities
    • Transmission of pastoral knowledge across generations
  • Socio-Linguistics & Communication
    • Specialized lexicon of pastoral life
    • Proverbs, idioms, and communicative repertoires in shepherd communities
  • Material & Spiritual Culture
    • Tools, clothing, decorative symbols, and culinary practices
    • Music, songs, and artistic expressions tied to pastoral traditions
  • Social Structures & Organization
    • Hierarchies within shepherd groups (çoban, kryeçoban, plaku i stanit)
    • Conflict resolution, cooperation, and community building
  • Environmental & Economic Dimensions
    • Adaptation to climate change and ecological shifts
    • Economic benefits, challenges, and sustainability of pastoral practices
  • Modern Transformations
    • Impact of modernization, tourism, and policy frameworks
    • Future perspectives and strategies for safeguarding pastoral heritage

 

Submission Guidelines

  • Languages: Albanian and English
  • Abstract submission deadline: March 1, 2026
  • Abstracts: 250–300 words, outlining research question, methodology, and contribution
  • Notification of acceptance: March 15, 2026
  • Conference date: March 30, 2026
  • Full paper submission deadline: April 30, 2026
  • Full Papers: 5,000–7,000 words (optional for proceedings publication)
  • Submission Email: rrezarta.dracini@unishk.edu.al
  • Participation in the conference is free of charge.
  • Conference language: Albanian, English

 

Outcomes

Selected papers will be published in the Conference Proceedings and considered for inclusion in a special journal issue on transhumance and pastoral heritage as part of Buletin of Social Sciences. The event will foster dialogue between academics, practitioners, and local communities, ensuring that research contributes to both scholarship, local community and policy making empowerment.