Central European University, Budapest European University Institute, Florence and Berliner Kolleg für Vergleichende Geschichte Europas, Berlin

Time: 18.-20.05.2007
Venue: Budapest
Proposals by: 15.01.2007

This is the first of four annual conferences in the series Graduate Conferences in European History (GRACEH), organized by Central European University, Budapest (History Department; Department of Medieval Studies), the European University Institute, Florence (Department of History and Civilization) and the Berliner Kolleg für Vergleichende Geschichte Europas, Berlin. The event is co-sponsored by Collegium Budapest (Institute for Advanced Studies) and the European Review of History/Revue européenne d’histoire, a refereed journal published by Routledge, which has also expressed an interest in publishing some of the best papers to emerge from GRACEH.

The events in the GRACEH series are organized to build a new network of early stage researchers and enhance transnational and inter-generational dialogue among historians across Europe. Thus, the call is specifically addressed to PhD candidates interested in interacting with one another, the invited keynotes (see below) and the faculty of the host institution (this time that of CEU).

Papers will be 20 minutes.

Please send your abstract (max. 300 words) and your professional CV to
graceh2007@yahoo.com. Deadline for submission: 15th of January 2007.

Once accepted, you will be asked to submit a 3-5 pages long outline of your presentation that will then be circulated among participants of the conference. Deadline: 15th of April

Participation at GRACEH is free and funds are available to alleviate the travel and accommodation costs of some of the graduate student participants. When submitting your proposal, please indicate your interest in this opportunity. More information will be distributed after the acceptance of papers.

Suggested Topics (with Potential Panels):

Beyond the Politicization of the Concept of Culture: New, Integrated Histories of Politics and Culture

– Beyond the politicization of the concept of culture: New theories (models), methods and sources in the integrated study of politics and culture
– The culture and politics of representation: The self-representation and “representative culture” of various regimes and elites
– The politics of memory: Forms of remembrance and the past as a political tool
– Culture under dictatorships: Servant and/or political opposition?
– Artists and their political environment throughout the ages: Connections and influences
– Artists and reflection on their political environment: Taking on and/or neglecting the challenge of politics
– Medievalism and politics in 19th and 20th century

Historical Anthropology of Politics

– Manifesting power for a broader public: the effects of changes in political systems and high politics for the representation of power
– Changes in the channels of making power visible: changes in political message
– Symbolic geography and political action
– Creating images of the Other: changes in the function of various groups
– Politics and ritual

New Histories of Intellectuals and Politics

– Intellectuals between individualism and group membership
– Leading intellectuals: Intellectuals as individuals
– The “Critical Mass”?: Intellectuals as a social group
– Intellectuals and the spread of political ideologies
– Intellectuals as providers of political criticism and support
– Political philosophy old and new
– Intellectuals as specially trained professionals: the expert’s involvement and/or the specialist’s independence?

Politics and Religion

– The place of the religious factor in early modern politics (in relation to other factors)
– The disappearance of the “religious factor:” When and how
– Secularization: Depth and results
– Politicization of religion and sacralization of politics: Two consequences of secularization?
– Various connections between religion, myth and ideology throughout the early modern and modern era
– Christianity, Islam and Judaism: Their entangled histories and conflicted relations throughout the centuries

New Histories of Politics of Kingship

– Schramm, Kantorowicz and beyond
– Political philosophy old and new
– Sacral and secular kingship
– Iconography and representation of royalty

Masses, Popular Revolts and Marginals in Politics

– Civil disobedience from St. Martin to draft resistance
– Violence against minorities, antisemitism, racism
– Crowd action, scapegoats and violence in modern society

Invited Keynote Speakers:

Étienne François (Frankreichzentrum TU- Berlin)
Emilio Gentile (University La Sapienza, Rome)
Maciej Janowski (Central European University, Budapest)
Jan-Werner Mueller (Princeton University)
David Nirenberg (Johns Hopkins University)
Heinz Schilling (Humboldt Universitaet zu Berlin)
Maria Todorova (University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne)

For further details, including a detailed description of the conference
topics, please visit our website (available after the 10th of December):
www.hist.ceu.hu/conferences/graceh/

Advisory Board:

László Kontler (Acting Head, CEU History Department)
Gábor Klaniczay (Head, CEU Department of Medieval Studies)
Arnd Bauerkämper (Director, BKVGE)
Heinz-Gerhard Haupt (Head, Department of History and Civilization, EUI)

GRACEH Organizers:

Emese Bálint (Doctoral Student, CEU History Department)
Nils Berg (Doctoral Student, EUI Department of History and
Civilization)
Maria Falina (Doctoral Student, CEU History Department)
Benno Gammerl (Doctoral Student, BKVGE)
Gábor Kármán (Doctoral Student, CEU History Department)
Rudolf Kucera (Doctoral Student, BKVGE)
Ferenc Laczó (Doctoral Student, CEU History Department)