Call for papers: British Participation in International Conferences, 1914-1991
This workshop intends to start meaningful conversations about British involvement in international conferences in the short twentieth century.
Workshop kindly funded by the Birmingham Research Institute for History and Cultures (BRIHC)
This workshop will examine histories of British involvement in international conferences in the short twentieth century (1914-91). From the emergence of liberal internationalism in the post-Great War period to the end of the Cold War, organisations such as the League of Nations and United Nations emblematised the ideal of internationalism, but also very significant were the conferences organised by interest groups, regional unions, and activists. International conferences seemingly emerged as the modus operandi of political, social, and cultural movements in this period; from the most powerful institutions to burgeoning grassroots movements, international conferences punctuated the timeline of so many historical narratives of the short twentieth century. Nevertheless, surprisingly little historiographical attention has been paid to this charged mode of organising. We welcome papers which interrogate British involvement in those conferences, exploring how internationalism was brought about through face-to-face interactions on a global scale. Within this broader scope, we welcome papers which deal with a wide range of topics, organisations, and themes. Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:
- Intimate relationships between activists
- Affective spaces of internationalism
- Women’s political organising
- Transnational engagements and entanglements
- Local, regional, and national participation in internationalism
- Emotional, embodied, sensory, and interpersonal experiences of conferences
- Barriers to and exclusion from participation in international conferences
- The utility of international and transnational histories
- Britain’s role on the international stage
- Legacies of international conferences
Abstract proposals should be under 200 words. Successful applicants will be asked to deliver 15-minute papers and participate in a question-and-answer session. Please also include a 100-word biography. We encourage abstracts from postgraduate students, early career academics, and those outside of academia. Please send this to britintconferences2026@outlook.com by Friday 29 May 2026.
A limited fund is available to provide travel bursaries to the University of Birmingham. If you would like to apply, please email britintconferences2026@outlook.com with no more than 150 words explaining why you would like to be considered.