Histories of the Red Cross Movement: Continuity & Change

This conference acknowledges the growing number of historians and researchers working in the rapidly expanding area of the history of the international Red Cross Movement. With its origins in the mid-nineteenth century, this global humanitarian organisation includes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) originally formed in Geneva in 1863, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) created in 1919, as well as the 189 (at last count) national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.
The conference convenors are four historians (two of whom reside in Australia and two in Britain) who share a passionate interest in the broad history of the Red Cross Movement. We decided to convene this conference because we felt that there were sufficient historians (especially early career and post-graduate students) across the world today working in the space to warrant a dedicated venue to explore a range of historical ideas and contexts across time and space. We have confirmed three exciting keynote speakers (Professor Michael Barnett, Professor Davide Rodogno and Emeritus Professor Margaret Tennant).

We look forward to welcoming you to Flinders University (in Adelaide, South Australia) in September 2016. We acknowledge that for many people it is a long way to travel to be a part of such an event. We are sure you will not be disappointed.

Call For Papers

The convenors seek to bring together scholars and those interested in the Red Cross Movement from around the world to explore a number of themes that related to the historical development of this large, multifaceted, complex organisation. We invite abstracts for papers from academics, post-graduate students, archivists and others interested in exploring the global historical dimensions of the Red Cross Movement across time and place and into the 21st century. Panels are especially welcome.
Topics could include:
  • Relations between the different national Red Cross societies
  • An examination of the role of the Federation (formerly the League) and its connections with both national societies and the ICRC
  • Challenges to the structure and ideals of the Red Cross Movement
  • Gender and Race
  • Contested themes of conflict and neutrality
  • Featured papers from specific national society histories
  • War and the militarisation of charity
  • Historicising the internationalism and humanitarianism of the Red Cross Movement
Deadline for abstracts is 20 December 2015. Email to: redcross.conference@flinders.edu.au
Abstracts are to be 200-250 words in length. Please include a brief 50-word biog that has full contact details and email address.
Successful participants will be notified by late January 2016.