Call for Papers

The Institute for Social Movements of Ruhr University-Bochum intends to host an international conference entitled “New Reflections on Historiographical Interactions and Networks between British and German Historians from the Early Nineteenth Century to the Present” from 10 to 12 July 2024.

This conference aims to bring together scholars to exchange ideas on British-German historiographical interactions and networks since the early nineteenth century when history started to become an academic discipline. From the beginning, the new discipline was characterized by strong tensions between methodological nationalism on the one hand and cosmopolitanism on the other. Our conference builds on previous conferences and publications such as: British and German Historiography 1750-1950: Traditions, Perceptions and Transfers (eds. Benedikt Stuchtey and Peter Wende, Oxford, 2000), and Historikerdialoge Geschichte, Mythos und Gedächtnis im deutsch-britischen kulturellen Austausch 1750–2000 (eds. Peter Schumann, Stefan Berger and Peter Lambert, Göttingen, 2003).

We are looking to build on the existing literature by exploring the perceptions of both academic communities about each other, the means and ways of interaction beyond the limits of national contexts, the factors that foster communication, and the barriers to interaction. In addition, we would like to put a special emphasis on the dialogue between non-English British (i.e. Irish, Scottish, and Welsh) and German historians. Overall, we are particularly keen to investigate methodological and theoretical receptions, adaptations and rejections between the two historiographies.

Possible topics include but are not limited to:

- The early examples of interactions, transfers and mutual perceptions between British and German historians just before and after the professionalization of history.

- The reception of German historicism in Britain in the nineteenth century.

- The influence of specific institutions, organisations and individual historians on historiographical transfers and the establishment of common perspectives.

- Reinterpretations and misinterpretations in the process of historiographical transfers caused particularly by confronting national agendas and interests.

- The barriers to interaction because of well-entrenched national prejudices and stereotypes.

- The effects of the challenges levelled against Whig historiography and historicism on mutual transfers.

- New directions in historiography and the current state of interaction.

Applicants should submit a title and a 300-word proposal along with a two-page C.V. by January 15, 2024 to Prof. Dr. Stefan Berger (stefan.berger@rub.de) or Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Durgun (fatih.durgun@medeniyet.edu.tr).