Where: Rethymnon Campus, University of Crete
When: 3-5 May 2016
Deadline: 15 January 2016
Keynote speakers: David Armitage (Harvard) and Etienne Balibar (Paris-Ouest Nanterre/Kingston University)
Link: http://isih.history.ox.ac.uk/?page_id=4692
In recent debates regarding the status of intellectual history, the emergence of new academic objects such as global justice and sub-disciplines like global intellectual history, are symptoms of post-cosmopolitan, global sensibilities. By the same token important questions are raised regarding the emergence of systemic inequalities, cultural hegemonies and, more broadly, about unprecedented forms of post-colonial mentality within the globalized world. In this context, Europe’s status seems problematic. Decadence or mutation, the transfer of economic power outside Europe, the erosion of the middle classes and the status of European citizenship are emblematic issues in academia and the public sphere. Yet there is consensus around the unprecedented changes regarding Europe’s status in the world. Rethinking Europe’s identity(ies) and re-writing its history seem to be urgent issues in light of the Eurozone’s current crisis.
Call for Papers:
Can we consider European studies a proper object of intellectual history? Is intellectual history a part of Europe’s foundational myths? What is the impact of European ideals and values in the mutations of global capitalism? Should we rethink Europe’s role in the history of global capitalism? Should we rethink the status of such traditions through the lens of intellectual history? Is the canonical conception of cultural, socio-economic or ethnic frontiers still valid today? Are we focusing closely enough on conceptions of cultural, socio-economic or political alterity within European studies? Is there enough research on infra-legal practices, such as manners or customs, in the shaping of Europe’s identities? To what extent is the emergence and subsequent erosion of Europe’s middle classes an object of intellectual history? Are there still understudied republican traditions in Europe? And, lastly, what is the status of ethnic enlightenments within European Enlightenment? “Rethinking Europe in Intellectual History” proposes to investigate the historical, contextual, and methodological issues that an intellectual history of Europe should raise, and to question the extent to which, as intellectual historians, our multiple perspectives can cohere in such a way as to enable us to address the problems now facing Europe and the world.
The range of potential subjects of investigation is extremely broad, and may include, but is not limited to:
- European Enlightenment(s)?;
- “Radical” and “pragmatic” Enlightenments;
- Enlightenment legacies in Europe;
- Classical and early modern republicanism in Europe;
- The status of intellectual biographies;
- Internal divisions of Europe: from North/South to East/West (and back);
- Does Europe have a center?
- EurAmerica: are Europe and America distinct entities?;
- The European heritage and the challenge of global intellectual history;
- Cross-cultural encounters between Europe and non-European societies;
- Perceptions of Europe;
- Russia and Europe
- Empire and the attempts to extend European civilisation globally
- The reception of the European legacy(ies) outside of Europe;
- Islam, Judaism, and the formation of a European identity;
- European centers and peripheries.
The first and principal form of contributions will be brief papers relating to the theme of “Rethinking Europe in Intellectual History” at large. Papers can concentrate on any period, region, tradition or discipline, including the arts, humanities, sciences, and various forms of professional learning. In addition to individual papers, we welcome proposals for panels of up to three papers and a commentator. Individual papers will be twenty minutes long, followed by ten minutes of discussion.
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