This international conference in historical sciences analyses the political, cultural, intellectual and societal influences of the First World War in Europe, focusing especially on the emergence of new nation states. The Finnish process of declaring independence in 1917 is related to the international developments of the time, paying particular attention to transnational interaction. In Finland, the Russian Revolution of February/March 1917 started a period of constitutional ferment which led to widespread political mobilisation, constitutional controversies, a declaration of independence in the aftermath of the October/November Revolution in December 1917, a civil war in spring 1918, and finally to adoption of a republican constitution as a compromise in July 1919. In all of these phases the Finnish process of becoming an independent state was linked to and dependent on inter- and transnational developments.
The purpose of this conference is to better understand the formation of new independent states and the reforms and revolutions of established polities in international, comparative and transnational contexts. Comparative and transnational perspectives help us to rethink and relativize national histories, reinforcing some national exceptional features and demonstrating the entangled nature of many national experiences.
Call for papers
We invite proposals by 15 April 2016 for papers and sessions focusing on the general theme of the conference.
Call for papers (pdf) in English | suomeksi | på svenska.
Keynote speakers
The invited keynote speakers and their preliminary titles include:
- Prof. Richard Bessel (York), A transnational revolution: The challenges of the First World War and the crises of the legitimacy of the established political order.
- Prof. Krassimira Daskalova (Sofia), Reform, revolution and transformations of gender orders: A European comparison.
- Dr. Bill Kissane (LSE), Civil wars in a comparative perspective.
- Prof. Jörn Leonhard (Freiburg), Comparative studies of polities and societies transformed by war.
- Prof. Henrik Meinander (Helsinki), Forces of democracy in Scandinavian societies.
Organisers
The conference is organised by the Finnish Historical Society, University of Tampere and the Finnish Centre of Excellence in the History of Society. The conference is part of the Centennial Anniversary of the Republic of Finland.
The organising committee:
Dr. Juhana Aunesluoma (Helsinki)
Prof. Pertti Haapala (Tampere)
Prof. Pasi Ihalainen (Jyväskylä)
Prof. Petri Karonen (Jyväskylä)
Prof. Tiina Kinnunen (Oulu), chair
Prof. Taina Syrjämaa (Turku)
Prof. Kari Teräs (Tampere)
Information
For further information on the conference programme, contact 1917conference-organisers[at]uta.fi.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.uta.fi/yky/en/his/conference/1917/index.html