Deadline: 15 January 2012
Open to: Postgraduate and early career researchers in history and related disciplines
Costs: The conference has no registration fee
Description
The 6th GRACEH conference intends to explore a historical approach to transformation. A very broad working definition of the term would characterize transformation as a “period of especially intense and accelerated structural changes on a political, social, economic, and cultural level” that were caused by major political and social upheavals such as the breakdown of the continental empires in 1918, the French Revolution in the late 18th century, or the Reformation. Unlike the social sciences, they wish to broaden the application as far back as to the beginning of modern age. In what way can this concept of transformation be applied to contemporary, modern and early modern contexts? What kind of adjustments of the concept are required for the historicization of transformation?
The following three key aspects will serve as guiding questions throughout the conference:
- Which preconditions lead to periods of transformation? Which triggers, causes and turning points can be identified?
- On which levels does transformation occur? How can the complexity of transformation processes be analyzed without being trapped in teleological assumptions?
- How is transformation perceived and interpreted by internal and external observers? How do transformation discourses influence the process itself?
Submissions should be made on topics including, but not limited to the following research areas:
- Continuity and discontinuity in transformation periods
- Agents of transformation
- Transfers and transnational dimensions of transformation
- Synchronic and diachronic comparative approaches for a history of transformation(s)
- Historical source material of transformation research
- Macro- and microhistorical approaches to transformation
- Legitimizations of transformation such as nation building, independence, liberty, and economical welfare, social movements, social network analysis, gender issues
The main conference language is English.
Eligibility
The conference is open to postgraduate and early career researchers in history and related disciplines.
Costs
The conference has no registration fee. The organizers offer logistic help to find good and low budget accommodation near the University of Vienna. A limited part of the travel cost for external participants can be covered on the basis of individual request (if you like to apply for a stipend, please provide documentation about your economic situation).
Application
You can submit your proposal of max. 300 words and your CV by using the application form and send it to graceh2012@univie.ac.at. Before you submit your proposal, take a look at the checklist on the congress website!
The deadline for submission is January 15, 2012.
If your proposal is accepted by the program committee, you are expected to submit a paper (5-10 pages) no later than April 1, 2012.
