Research School for Economic and Social History

Category: Agenda

  • Call for sessions WEHC 2028 (Montevideo, Uruguay, 24-28 July 2028) – deadline 14 September 2026

    Call for sessions WEHC 2028 (Montevideo, Uruguay, 24-28 July 2028) – deadline 14 September 2026

    The 21st World Economic History Congress will convene from 24 to 28 July 2028 in Montevideo, Uruguay. The theme of the 2028 edition is ‘World Powers and Conflicts’, which highlights central issues facing humanity today and connects to a broad and diverse range of historical problems, particularly those concerned with resources, inequality, and sustainability.

    Sessions may be proposed by any member of the international economic history community, whatever their institutional affiliation or status, as well as by scholars in related disciplines. Strongly encouraged are pr0oposals from early-career researchers. Sessions can also be proposed by non-national IEHA member organizations. Submissions are welcome on the economic and social histories of all places and periods, and especially regarding the global South.

    Sessions proposals should be submitted ultimately 14 September 2026 via the call’s webpage.

    FULL CALL

  • Voorjaarsbijeenkomst Stichting Bedrijfsgeschiedenis

    Voorjaarsbijeenkomst Stichting Bedrijfsgeschiedenis

    ~ because of scope in Dutch only ~

    Op 29 mei 2026 organiseert de Stichting Bedrijfsgeschiedenis (SBG) de SBG Voorjaarsbijeenkomst. Deze bijeenkomst staat dit jaar helemaal in het teken van familiebedrijven.

    Sprekers zijn onder meer twee recent gepromoveerde onderzoekers: Heleen Louwerse (proefschrift ‘Het werk van bakkersvrouwen in de twintigste eeuw‘) laat zien welke belangrijke, vaak onzichtbare rol vrouwen hebben gespeeld in familiebedrijven. Posthumus alumnus Ewout Hasken (proefschrift ‘From rags to riches: Changing perceptions of family business in the Netherlands, 1945-2019’) vertelt hoe het beeld van familiebedrijven door de jaren heen is veranderd.

    Daarnaast zal Albert Jan Thomassen van FamilieBedrijven Nederland een actuele kijk bieden en de historische inzichten aan de praktijk van vandaag koppelen.

    Deelname is gratis, maar aanmelding vooraf is gewenst via een e-mail aan SBG-secretaris Christiaan van Bochove.

    MEER INFO (PDF)

  • Boekpresentatie Posthumus fellow Alberto Feenstra

    Boekpresentatie Posthumus fellow Alberto Feenstra

    ~ announcement only available in Dutch ~

    Op 28 mei 2026 zal de presentatie plaatsvinden van het onlangs verschenen boek Frontiers of Finance: The Political Economy of Public Debt in the Dutch Republic (Brill, 2025) van de hand van Alberto Feenstra, bestuurslid van de Stichting Geschiedenis van de Overheidsfinanciën (SGvdO) en tevens fellow van het N.W. Posthumus Instituut.

    Cover book Frontiers of FinanceDeze publicatie spitst zich toe op de schuldenproblematiek van Holland, Friesland, Groningen en Zeeland in de achttiende eeuw. Dit boek stelt de voordelen ter discussie die de Hollandse financiële revolutie had voor de rest van de Republiek en betoogt dat de federale structuur de verspreiding van mogelijk positieve effecten belemmerde en het belang van juist lokale omstandigheden in stand hield.

    Tijdens de bijeenkomst zullen Maarten Prak, Sabine Go, Yannis Skalli-Housseini, Victor Enthoven en Eduard Dormans het boek kort becommentariëren, gevolgd door een discussie.

    De bijeenkomst is gratis toegankelijk, maar vooraf reserveren per e-mail is gewenst.

  • Book launch Posthumus fellow Daniel Curtis

    Book launch Posthumus fellow Daniel Curtis

    On 28 May 2026, the Antwerp Centre for Urban History and the EPIBEL-project jointly host the book launch of the new open access-book Epidemic Disease and Society in the Premodern Low Countries. Inequality & Community, authored by Posthumus fellow Dr Daniel R. Curtis and published by Routledge.

    Book cover with title and grey background

    In this book, evidence from a long-run history of epidemic-society interaction in the Low Countries shows that most recurring outbreaks were accommodated by communities, and most reactions, responses, and changes seen were the product of frequent and incremental adaptations, sometimes in periods outside of epidemics.

    The program includes an introduction by Professor Tim Soens, a presentation by the author, and reflections on the book and its topic by Dr Claire Weeda, Dr Stef Espeel, and Dr Nicolò Zenaro.

    Attendance is free of charge, but prior reservation is requested via this link.

    FLYER BOOK LAUNCH (PDF)
     
    BOOK INFO PUBLISHER

  • Lancering initiatief voor vernieuwd Jaarboek voor de Geschiedenis van Arbeidersbewegingen en Socialisme in Nederland

    Lancering initiatief voor vernieuwd Jaarboek voor de Geschiedenis van Arbeidersbewegingen en Socialisme in Nederland

    ~ because of scope in Dutch only ~

    Op 29 mei vindt de lancering van een initiatief voor een vernieuwd Jaarboek voor de Geschiedenis van Arbeidersbewegingen en Socialisme in Nederland plaats onder de titel ‘‘Aan het werk!’ Nieuwe wegen voor de geschiedenis van arbeidersbewegingen en het socialisme!’

    De initiatiefnemers willen hiermee nieuw leven inblazen in een lange traditie van Nederlandse tijdschriften over arbeidsbewegingen en het socialisme, zoals het Jaarboek voor de geschiedenis van socialisme en arbeidersbeweging in Nederland (1977–1981) en Onvoltooid Verleden (1997–2008).

    Tijdens het evenement wordt het initiatief tot een vernieuwd jaarboek gepresenteerd. Een divers panel gaat in gesprek over de geschiedschrijving over socialisme en arbeid – en de toekomst daarvan. Welke nieuwe vragen dienen zich aan? Waar liggen kansen voor onderzoek en publieksgeschiedenis? En hoe kunnen verschillende perspectieven elkaar versterken? Onderzoekers en erfgoedexperts belichten de levens en acties van werkenden in Nederland en daarbuiten, ieder vanuit hun eigen vakgebied. Zo ontstaat een divers en gelaagd beeld van arbeidersbewegingen en socialisme, waarin uiteenlopende invalshoeken samenkomen. Het gesprek zal worden gemodereerd door Marieke Dwarswaard, onderzoeker bij de Rijksuniversiteit Groningen en redactielid van het jaarboek.

    Deelname is gratis, maar aanmelding vooraf is gewenst.

    MEER INFO

  • Posthumus Conference 2026 (Amsterdam, 21-22 May 2026) – registration has closed

    Posthumus Conference 2026 (Amsterdam, 21-22 May 2026) – registration has closed

    The N.W. Posthumus Institute is happy to welcome you at the Posthumus Conference 2026, to be held on 21 and 22 May 2026 at the International Institute of Social History (IISG/IISH) in Amsterdam.

    This year’s theme will be ‘Global Capitalism’. The conference will be hosted by the IISH team under the guidance of Professor Ulbe Bosma, in cooperation with the N.W. Posthumus Institute.

    Next to paper presentations by Posthumus PhDs and other scholars, we are proud to announce a keynote lecture by Professor Sven Beckert, Laird Bell Professor of History at Harvard University.

    The conference will include presentations by both PhD candidates and fellows; also, the PhDs of cohort 2025 will present of their research projects through a poster presentation on the first conference day.

    Please note that as of 18 May, the Posthumus Conference 2026 has reached its full capacity of participants. Registering for the conference is therefore no longer possible. Are you a presenter or designated reviewer and not yet registered? Send us an e-mail.
    CONFERENCE WEBSITE

  • Nobel laureate Paul Krugman in Conversation with the Next Gen on Global Challenges and Local Solutions

    Nobel laureate Paul Krugman in Conversation with the Next Gen on Global Challenges and Local Solutions

    The Dutch Central Bank (DNB), in collaboration with Universiteit van Nederland, SSH-raad, EHERO-EUR, and The Regional Science Academy invites university students from across the Netherlands to submit their innovative ideas on critical economic and political issues.

    This student competition forms part of a larger, high-key event on 3 June 2026, featuring a keynote speech by Paul Krugman (Nobel laureate and renowned economist), followed by an interactive roundtable, featuring, amongst others, Bas ter Weel (DNB Board Member). Three student finalists will be selected to present their ideas during this prestigious event and engage directly with esteemed speakers.

    The challenge is to develop a clear and original idea that addresses one current economic challenge and proposes a new strategic solution direction for the Netherlands and/or Europe. The proposal should start from a concrete pressing issue or challenge that is visible today, take a clear science-based position on what needs to change, propose a realistic way forward (policy, strategy/economy, or cooperation), and explain why this matters now, and for whom. This may be approached from an economic, political-economy, public policy or interdisciplinary perspective; originality, scientific orientation, clarity, and relevance are key.

    Proposals (max. 500 words in total) should be submitted ultimately by 25 May 2026 at 17:00 (Amsterdam Time) by e-mail to Maya Shamir, Programmamaker De Nieuwe Schatkamer at DNB.

    FULL INFO

  • Conference ‘Growing Humanities: Flourishing Futures in Challenging Times’ – Call for Papers (deadline 15 May 2026)

    Conference ‘Growing Humanities: Flourishing Futures in Challenging Times’ – Call for Papers (deadline 15 May 2026)

    On 29 June 2026, the Royal Historical Society organises the conference ‘Growing Humanities: Flourishing Futures in Challenging Times’, to be held at the University of Westminster (London, UK).

    Across the UK and internationally, Humanities disciplines are navigating a period of profound challenge. Declining enrolments, funding pressures, restructuring agendas, and persistent political and media narratives that question the value of Humanities study have created an uncertain landscape for students, educators, and researchers alike.

    The Humanities continue to generate transformative knowledge about culture, history, language, ethics, creativity, and human experience—knowledge that is indispensable for understanding complex global challenges and imagining more just and sustainable futures.This conference invites participants to explore the theme of Growing Humanities.

    The organisers welcome submissions multiple formats, including individual research papers, roundtables or panel discussions, interactive workshops, practice-based or creative interventions, and strategic or policy-focused sessions. Submissions may be conceptual, theoretical, empirical, or practice-oriented. Particularly encouraged are proposals that cross disciplinary boundaries or connect academic work with institutional strategy, policy development, or community engagement.

    Abstracts should be submitted ultimately 15 May 2026.

    FULL INFO

  • Research Workshop ‘Mortality, Morbidity, and Medicine: Historical Health and Demography across the Atlantic’ – deadline 30 April 2026

    Research Workshop ‘Mortality, Morbidity, and Medicine: Historical Health and Demography across the Atlantic’ – deadline 30 April 2026

    On 8 June 2026, preceding the PhD Defence by Posthumus alumnus Dinos Sevdalakis, Dinos will organise the Research Workshop ‘Research Workshop ‘Mortality, Morbidity, and Medicine: Historical Health and Demography across the Atlantic’ at the Academy Building of the University of Groningen. This workshop is supported by the Research Network ‘Life-Courses, Family, and Labour’ of the N.W. Posthumus Institute and the COST Action Greatleap Network.

    Content

    The historical roots of today’s health outcomes remain poorly understood, yet tracing them is essential to make sense of the world we inhabit. This workshop brings together scholars at the intersection of historical demography and the history of health to examine how mortality, morbidity, and medicine have evolved across Europe, Africa, and the Americas in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. By tracing these historical trajectories, the workshop aims to deepen our understanding of how the past continues to define health and healthcare in the present.

    Programme

    09:30-10:00 Opening and introduction
    10:00-11:30 Session 1: Morbidity and mortality, and medicine in historical Europe
    Mayra Murkens (University of Groningen) – Syphilis morbidity and institutionalisation in the Amsterdam hospital 1856-1896
    Adrien Remund (Population Research Centre, University of Groningen) – The young adult excess mortality: a historically universal trait
    Alice Reid (University of Cambridge) – Medical attention at death in nineteenth century rural Scotland
    11:45-13:00 Lunch (Eeterie De Globe, Akerkhof 22, Groningen); only for participants who have registered by 30 April
    13:15-14:45 Session 2: Health(care) and mortality across Africa and South America
    Hilde Bras (University of Groningen) – New African health histories: (E)merging lines
    Björn Quanjer (Radboud University) – The mortality transition in Suriname: Analysing cause-specific mortality, 1903–1949
    Jutta Bolt (University of Groningen) and Jeanne Cilliers (Lund University) – Legacies of colonial maternal health services in Africa

    Participation

    Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is requested. If you want to join the lunch, make sure to register ultimately by 30 April 2026.

  • RIAS-POSTHUMUS PhD Workshop: From Research to Publication (Middelburg, 8 May 2026) – deadline 1 May 2026

    RIAS-POSTHUMUS PhD Workshop: From Research to Publication (Middelburg, 8 May 2026) – deadline 1 May 2026

    The Roosevelt Institute for American Studies (RIAS) and the research network ‘Societies in Context’ of the Posthumus Institute (research network) invite PhD candidates to an afternoon workshop focused on a core question of doctoral life: how to build and use scholarly networks to strengthen your research and translate it into publishable work.

    This seminar is designed for researchers working on (or adjacent to) social, labor, and environmental history, and it will combine practical discussion, methodological reflection, and concrete publishing guidance. Featured speaker will be Professor Marc Rodriguez (Portland State University), editor of the Pacific Historical Review and a leading scholar of Mexican American/Chicanx history, social movements, migration, and US legal history.

    While the workshop is primarily aimed at PhD candidates, it is open to all interested students and scholars, subject to space availability. In case there will be more applications than places available, Posthumus PhDs will have priority.

    Applicants are asked to submit their application ultimately 1 May 2026.

    FULL INFO