XI. Tensions of Europe Conference, 19 to 21 September 2024

Conference theme: Transformations. Fundamental Change and Technology
Deadline for proposals: 30.11.2023, confirmations 01.03.2024
PDF version

We live in a world of constant change. There are periods, however, of accelerated change in the political, economic, social or technological sphere. Usually, these spheres are closely interrelated and entangled. If this change is of fundamental character, scientists usually speak of ´transformations´. Common examples are the political and economic system changes, i.e. transformations, in Latin America, Southern Europe or Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) in the past decades.

The aim of the conference is to shed light on technological, but also political, societal and environmental sides of these transformations in Europe and other regions in past and present. Technology can be a major factor to enhance, slow down or ease such transformations. Processes of circulation and appropriation of knowledge, ideas and artefacts provide a broad field of research to better understand aspects of political, societal or environmental transformations in connection with technology. Special attention can be paid to the following themes: (1) technologies as a driver of political, societal or environmental changes or as an obstacle, (2) technological “revolutions”, transitions and “transformations” and their impact on politics, societies and environment, (3) discourses on (technological) changes, especially with regard to sustainability.

As a part of the conference, there will be held a summer school for early career scholars in the days before the conference. Besides of discussing texts relevant for the current topic, meetings with established researchers as well as an excursion is planned.

We welcome contributions on topics related to these themes as well as on general themes in the history of technology and neighbouring fields of interest to the Tensions of Europe network such as trans-border flows, common resources, conflicting interests, hidden integration and cultural practices. The format of proposals should be as follows:

• Proposals for whole panels in traditional or alternative formats (panel title, theme description with max. 300 words, abstracts of papers with max. 150 words each, name, affiliation, short biography of participants) (pdf-format)
• Proposals for individual papers (title, abstract, affiliation, short biography of applicant)
• Proposals for contributions to a “My PhD in 10 minutes” session (abstract, affiliation, short biography)

Please name your file with your surname. Beside of traditional panel-sessions with a number of papers and a commentator, we also encourage different formats and new ideas. The programme committee will not prioritize between formats if the suggestions promise constructive, stimulating and engaging discussion.

The organisers invite applicants to submit proposals by the end of November 2023 to toe24@europa-uni.de. We will inform applicants by 1 March 2024 whether their contribution has been accepted. There will be available a limited number of reduced participation fees.

The Tensions of Europe Conference is organised biennially by an interdisciplinary community of scholars who study the historical shaping of Europe through the lens of technology and material culture (https://www.tensionsofeurope.eu/). We encourage constructive interactions between historians of technology and scholars from all other fields of the humanities and social sciences.

The 11th Tensions of Europe Conference will be organized by the Center for Interdisciplinary Polish Studies (https://www.zip.europa-uni.de/en) and the European New School of Digital Studies (https://europeannewschool.eu/). Both are part of the European University Viadrina, which is located in Frankfurt/Oder – a town and region marked by fundamental political, economic and social changes in previous decades and centuries.

Welcome to Frankfurt (Oder) in September 2024!

The programme committee (Dagmara Jajeśniak-Quast, Jan-Hendrik Passoth, Susanne Orth, Falk Flade)

to be announced

to be announced

Prof. Dr. Helmuth Trischler (Deutsches Museum Munich)

Special conference rates are offered at the hotels below. The special rates are working on a first come, first served basis, and early booking is recommended (booking code: ToE24; booking deadline: 30. May 2024)

Available hotels:

• City Park Hotel; Lindenstraße 12, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
• Hotel am Kleistpark; Fürstenwalder Str. 47, 15234 Frankfurt (Oder)
• Hotel Kaliski; ul. Jedności Robotniczej 13, 69-100 Słubice
• City Residence Hotel; Bahnhofstraße 11, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
• Dormitories Collegium Polonicum; ul. Piłsudskiego 14, 69-100 Słubice

• Getting to Frankfurt (Oder)
• About the European University and the city of Frankfurt (Oder)
• Internet access via eduroam (if you need alternative access please contact us under toe24@europa-uni.de)

Anna Åberg
Alexander Gall
Falk Flade
Dagmara Jajeśniak-Quast
Karena Kalmbach
Sławomir Kamosiński
Claudia Kraft
Léonard Laborie
Darina Malová
Tirza Meyer
Jan-Hendrik Passoth
Michal Pullmann
Ginevra Sanvitale
Valérie Schafer
Katerina Vlantoni

Dagmara Jajeśniak-Quast

Jan-Hendrik Passoth

Falk Flade

Susanne Orth

Marek Kłodnicki