Cultures of War and Violence

***The deadline for paper, panel and roundtable submissions is 30th June 2025***

The Society for the History of War invites proposals for a conference on the Cultures of War and Violence. The Conference is organised in collaboration with the University of Potsdam, the Bundeswehr Centre of Military History and Social Sciences (Zentrum für Militärgeschichte und Sozialwissenschaften der Bundeswehr, ZMSBw), and the Working Group Military History (Arbeitskreis Militärgeschichte). It will be held in Potsdam, Germany, close to Berlin, on 27-28 November 2024.

**** KEYNOTE SPEAKER: TBA ****

War and violence do not occur in isolation from their social, political, economic and cultural contexts. These contexts frame how we draw connections between armed forces and society, shaping what we understand by the objects of war and the practices of political violence. Martial cultures can reflect the societies they emerge out of. At the same time the military can also be a danger to and must be kept apart from broader society. The way armed actors and civil society relate to each other is shaped by how societies conceptualise war and peace. This frames how wars are conducted, what forms of violence get sanctioned and what is remembered, forgotten or actively misrepresented as part of the legacy of war.

This year, the SHoW annual conference will take place in Potsdam, Germany. Close to the German capital of Berlin, Potsdam was the seat of Prussian kings and German emperors. Its historic city centre and especially its monumental palace reflect in many ways the relationships between the Supreme Commander, their army, and the population under their rule.

In this conference, continuing the tradition of previous SHoW conferences held in Amsterdam (2022), Lisbon (2023), and Nicosia (2024), we aim to enhance discussions among historians of war and violence. Our goal is to intertwine scholarly and interdisciplinary inquiries, foster intellectual exchange and cross-cultural dialogue, and commit to addressing persisting (current and/or historical) issues. This approach will facilitate the exploration, discussion, and deconstruction of diverse empirical, methodological, and interdisciplinary perspectives in the study of war and violence. The event not only facilitates the dissemination of new research, but also cultivates a global network of experts dedicated to addressing the enduring challenges posed by the legacies of war and violence.

In this Call for Proposals, we welcome submissions for papers or panels that will encourage reflection and insight into how cultures of war and violence are represented and understood across time and space.

Conference topics include the following:

• Military cultures and cultures of war;
• Doctrine, training, and learning lessons;
• Military identities and value systems;
• Civil and military cultures;
• Militarism;
• Multicultural armed forces and groups;
• Culture, technology and knowledge;
• Cross-cultural communication and understanding;
• The Everyday in War and Violence;
• Ritual violence;
• War, violence and high/low culture: songs, plays, films;
• Emotions and senses;
• Cultures of imperial war and violence;
• Sporting culture;
• Academia, Professional Military Education, and the Military Organisation;
• Gendered understandings of war and violence;
• The Cultures of Violence in and outside of war;
• Recruiting patterns and martial identities.

 

We would particularly welcome early innovative and/or interdisciplinary methodological approaches that aim to highlight the range and complexity of challenges faced when studying violence and war, as well as contributions by scholars who, although interested in the past, would not call themselves historians.

SUBMISSION PROCESS

We welcome proposals for individual papers or for themed panels. Postgraduate students are explicitly encouraged to participate in panels or to submit their own panel proposals or individual papers. The conference is intended to offer a constructive environment in which to present work in progress to a specialist audience.

Panels will last for 90 minutes each and should have three speakers and a chair. Each paper should be no longer than 20 minutes to leave sufficient time for discussion.

Individual paper proposals must include a paper title, a 300-word abstract of the paper, and a one-page CV with current contact information / email address combined into a single file. If accepted, individual papers will be assigned by the program committee to an appropriate panel with a chair and commentator.

Panel proposals must include a panel title and 300-word abstract summarizing the theme of the panel; a paper title and a 300-word abstract for each proposed paper proposed; and a one-page CV for each panellist, ideally combined into a single file. Do note that every panel must be chaired.

Roundtable proposals must include a roundtable title, a 300-word abstract summarizing the roundtable’s themes and points of discussion, and a one-page CV for each participant, ideally combined into a single file. Do note that roundtable proposals must include either an independent chair and/or a moderator.

The deadline for proposals is 30 June 2025. Please send all the relevant paperwork to SHOWconferences@gmail.com making it clear that you are responding to this particular CfP. The conference organisers will make a decision on the final programme by 31st August 2024 at the latest.

We ask those organising panels and roundtables to take diversity and gender balance seriously when proposing their composition.

TRAVEL BURSARIES

SHoW is a small society of volunteers. We are committed to promoting and developing equality, diversity and inclusivity through our work and to ensuring that our events are accessible, welcoming and collegiate. To this end, for this year’s Conference we have secured funding for 3 travel bursaries of 450 EUR to support the participation of scholars from groups and institutions who are currently underrepresented in the field. We are particularly keen to support applications from scholars based in the global south and from others whose participation will help to ensure a plurality of voices. To apply for a travel bursary, applicants should, in addition to and alongside their proposal and as a separate file, submit a brief letter explaining how their participation will help to achieve our goals. Do note that the travel bursaries are for individuals only; for bursary holders, the attendance fee is still due.

ATTENDANCE FEES

The conference is organised on a not-for-profit basis. Attendance costs to participate in the conference are to cover daily refreshments and lunch. We hope to organise a conference dinner if there is enough interest. There are two conference fees: existing SHoW members pay a lower fee, and non-members a higher fee which includes a 12-month membership of the Society.

Conference fees:

• SHoW members: 75 EUR
• Non-members: 100 EUR

 

We will attempt to identify hotels with discounted rates and will advise on this once the programme is complete.

Contact Info: For more information, please contact the Society for the History of War via e-mail or visit the website.