CfP: European Social Science History Conference 2020

Chairs: Tim Soens (University of Antwerp, Belgium), Dulce Freire (Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal),

18–21 March 2020, Leiden, The Netherlands

Deadline for abstract submission: 15 April 2019


Call for Papers:
Rural History Network of the ESSHC 2020

Session and paper proposals can be submitted through the conference website. Deadline for session and paper proposals is 15 April 2019. Please note that the network chairs are especially eager to see complete session proposals, as we find that this is conducive to intellectual coherence in sessions. However, promising single paper submissions will be given every consideration, and each edition the Rural History Network manages to merge single paper submissions into coherent and innovative panels.
Why not use the ESSHC 2020 conference as the follow-up for successful sessions organized at the 2018 World Economic History Conference in Boston; the 2019 Rural History Conference (Paris) or the 2019 Environmental History Conference (Talinn)? With about 100 participants in Rural History sessions during the last edition in Belfast, ESSHC, and many more in adjacent fields (such as Economic History, Social Inequality, Labour…), ESSHC is an ideal venue to meet international colleagues in the field, to strengthen existing international collaborations between rural historians and establish new ones. This conference gives us the chance to demonstrate the importance of rural history for the historical process in general, but also to encourage discussions between (sub-)disciplines. For this purpose, we accept that sessions can be proposed on more than one network. In this case, session organizers should refer what is the partner network of the RHN.
When you have suggestions for recent books that would merit a “Meet the author”-session, we would very much appreciate it that you send these suggestions to us. We can also have “Round tables” sessions.  The Round table-format is suitable when you want to stimulate discussion on a general topic or when you embark on a new theme and want to raise some first reactions.
Possible themes for sessions in Leiden (this list provided by the network chairs is just meant to stimulate your thoughts. We are open for other themes and proposals):
  • Climate Change, Climate Shocks & Agriculture
  • European integration (& Disintegration) & Agriculture.
  • Urban Agriculture and Urban Husbandry
  • Horticulture & Botanical Gardens
  • Peasant farming
  • Wealth inequalities and economic development in rural societies
  • Regional divergences in agro-systems.
  • Biological standards of living (food, health, disease, length)
  • Feeding the City: agriculture and urban food supplies
  • European farming in non-European contexts.
  • Agritourism and Ecotourism.
  • Collective Action: from Commons over Confraternities to Cooperatives.
  • Modernizing the countryside
  • Agriculture and biodiversity in historical perspective
  • Land improvement and Land Grabbing
  • World food needs and agriculture changes
  • Governing the rural: institutions and policies
  • Migrations and rural society
  • (Re)Construction of regional identities
  • Authoritarian regimes and the countryside
  • ….
How to propose a paper: Fill out the pre-registration form on the Internet: http://esshc.socialhistory.org. Include an abstract of your paper (100-500 words).
How to organise a panel session: Gather four speakers who each will present a paper on a related topic, a commentator who will introduce the discussion with a prepared comment on the papers and a chair. The roles of the session organizer, chair and commentator can be fulfilled by the same or by different persons. Confirm participation and arrange with these individuals the (date of) exchange of papers and the way the session will be conducted. Submit the proposal for a session with a pre-registration form for each individual speaker (http://esshc.socialhistory.org). The deadline for this is April 15, 2019. Contact the speakers regularly; to make sure that the preparation of the session is progressing, as you would want it to be.
If you want to organise a panel session and you are looking for contributors, you may think of using H-Rural for asking other scholars to join you in a session.
When you have any additional question about how to participate in the Rural History Network, please do not hesitate to contact Tim Soens: tim.soens@uantwerpen.be
Conference fee: Payment in advance (before 1 January 2020) full fee: Euro 200; one day attendance: Euro 100; Student Fee 90.
Conference website: Additional information regarding the conference can be found at https://esshc.socialhistory.org/node/116