A Century Later: New Approaches to French History, 1914-45

FRENCH HISTORY NETWORK CONFERENCE
21 June 2013

This conference is organised by the French History Network of early-career scholars. It will take place in Oxford, UK with the support of the Society for the Study of French History, the Royal Historical Society, the Maison Française d’Oxford, and the Institut Français.

As Tony Judt has said: 1914 marked the end of Old Europe, and 1945 the beginning of New Europe. And between 1914 and 1945, Europe experienced some of its most profound historical change, often with France at its centre. It is no surprise, therefore, that the years 1914-45 in French history have inspired a plethora of fascinating academic works: they saw two world wars, trenches and internment camps, the occupation or annexation of areas of France’s territories, political polarization, shifts in gender relations, economic depression, revolutionary working-class upheaval, and both the apogee and the beginning of decline in France’s overseas Empire. But has everything been said? From alcohol to trains, from boy scouts to dogs, from tourism to prostitution, the work of young scholars suggests that there is still much to be uncovered about France’s dark years.

This conference aims to bring together early career scholars to discuss new approaches to France’s history between 1914 and 1945. In a one-day workshop, we will present our most recent research and discuss it in relationship to the work of our peers. So not only will we engage with this critical period in the history of modern France, but we will think about our place within the broader field of French studies. We encourage particular engagement with the following themes:

- How are understandings of French history in the period 1914-1945 changing?
- What are the pressing concerns in modern French studies?
- To what extent do individual approaches to 1914-45 interconnect?
- What contributions are young scholars making to the field?
- Do non-French scholars make a unique contribution to French studies?
- How far should French history take account of the transnational turn?
- To what extent has this period become ‘public’ history, and what are its affects?
- What roles should scholars play as a series of centenaries are about to be celebrated?

We invite proposals for 20-minute papers that engage with the theme of the conference. The day will include panels of twenty-minute papers followed by a 30-minute discussion. It will conclude with a round-table discussion that will allow the participants to reflect upon the connections between the individual papers, and to actively engage with the question of what young scholars are contributing to understandings of the history of modern France. The French History Network of early research scholars has plans to publish the conference proceedings, and to establish a wider outreach programme including a website and film series.

Please submit proposals for 20-minute papers along with a 1-page CV to Dr Alison Carrol at alison.carrol@brunel.ac.uk, and CC Dr Ludivine Broch at l.broch@bbk.ac.uk.

The PROPOSAL DEADLINE is 1 February 2013. We will let you know the proposal selection by late Feb. 2013.