CALL FOR PAPERS

FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON URBAN HISTORY, VENICE, SEPTEMBER 3-5, 1998

Please find below a call for papers concerning the session

ASSOCIATIONS AND THE FORMATION OF THE URBAN MIDDLE CLASS, 1780-1914

Identifying social groups is one of the core themes of urban history. Whereas in the 1970's and early 1980's quantitative aspects were emphasized, historical research has now shifted to the way in which social groups perceive their own social and cultural role and social identity. Objective criteria like income, housing, tax assessment, fortune, occupation etc. can help us to reconstruct the social stratification of an urban society. However, to what extent are the social classes we can establish according to this method, historical categories? Did groups with the same income, occupation etc. experience the same social status? Did they have the same patterns of norms and values? This is the more pressing for the middle class, traditionally a mix of groups from a vastly different background, covering a wide occupational spectrum.

Research into the history of associations can help us to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of the urban middle class during the nineteenth century. At the end of the eighteenth century the urban bourgeoisie expressed its new position within the social framework by the formation of many new clubs, societies and associations, sometimes copying the example of elite clubs or learned societies. Some of these socially exclusive associations aimed not only at offering an opportunity to spend an evening outside the home in a pleasant atmosphere, but also at self improvement, according to the Enlightenment ideal of the well educated citizen whose useful knowledge made him a valuable member of society. Other associations focused at the improvement of the public welfare, but in both types we can find the expression of middle class norms and values. Research into the history of these societies and their membership can clarify questions as: Who established the urban middle class? How was the internal cohesion of this class enhanced by associational life? How did middle class members perceive their own social and cultural role?

At the end of the nineteenth century, the popularity of these middle class associations declined swiftly. This can partly be explained by the growing responsibility of the state for the public welfare, by a greater stress on domesticity, and by the rise of other forms of social entertainment like sports and later on the cinema. However, it might also be discussed in how far the decline of middle class associational life was related to more general changes in the social structure. As middle class values and norms pervaded society, middle class groups perhaps did not 'need' any more these kind of clubs to stress their social position.

In our session we would like to draw international comparisons and enhance discussion about the differences of the role of the middle class in urban life in various social settings. Preferably, papers should deal with different kind of associations, the way in which they expressed middle class values, and with the social composition of their membership.

As for practical reasons, those intending to present papers should send a single page (about 500 words) to one of the two workshop organizers before November 1, 1997 (see adresses below). Responses will be given at the beginning of January. Those chosen to present should have their papers ready around May 1, 1998. Papers should be 15 pages long, 420 words per page including notes. Papers will be distributed in advance to workshop participants. To maximize the time allocated to discussion, we presume that the participants will have read all papers in advance. Consequently, each author will be allocated 8 to 10 minutes to review the important points of his or her paper.

Boudien de Vries and Thimo de Nijs
Rijksuniversiteit Leiden
Vakgroep Geschiedenis,
P.O. Box 9515,
2300 RA Leiden,
The Netherlands
tel.: +31 71 527 27 35
fax: +31 71 527 26 52
email:
bmadevries@rullet.leidenuniv.nl
denijs@rullet.leidenuniv.nl


Quelle = Email <H-Soz-u-Kult>

From: Thimo de Nijs <DENIJS@rullet.LeidenUniv.nl>
Subject: 'CFP - IVth Int. Conference on Urban History (Venedig 3.-5.9.98)'
Date: 21.10.1997


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