Histories of Activism Postgraduate Conference
Date: Saturday 26th November 2011
Event Location: Bishopsgate Institute, London
Call for Papers Deadline: 28th June 2011
Northumbria University's Histories of Activism group is proud to presentits first postgraduate conference, in association with the Society forthe Study of Labour History. Activism can take many forms, from extrememilitancy to peaceful lobbying, and provides a unique insight into howsocieties are shaped. This conference aims to explore forms of politicalactivism across Europe in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.Political activism is not simply confined to extreme politicalmovements, or beliefs, but can apply to many issues, such as suffragerights, racial equality and economic issues. This conference aims toplace political activism within its historical context and to explorehow such activism shaped and defined modern European politics, bothwithin the confines of individual states as well as throughtransnational studies. We welcome papers on any form of politicalactivism - some potential themes and ideas for papers may include, butare not limited to:
- The activism of political pressure groups
- The emergence of peripheral political movements
- Top-down approaches to activism
- Activism within governments
- Grass-roots activism and its impact on socialist policies
- Political activism and gender issues
- Political activism and race
- The impact of pressure groups on various levels of government
- The role of pressure groups in the wider scheme of politics
- The role of activism in politics, is it effective?
- Historical theories of activism
- How does activism travel?
- How do governments use politically active groups to theiradvantage?
Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be submitted by 28th June2011. All abstracts should be emailed to Vanessa Sherriffs atVanessa.sherriffs [at] northumbria.ac.uk and should include atitle, contact details and institutional information. Please alsoinclude areas of research interest, as it may be possible to set upparallel panels during the morning session. Bursaries for travel withinthe UK are available from the Society for the Study of Labour History.All other enquires should be directed to Vanessa Sherriffs atvanessa.sherriffs [at] northumbria.ac.uk
Those interested in attending the conference as a delegate are alsowelcome, please register interest by email.