"Geography as history" is one of the Canadian War Museum’s overarching themes, reflected throughout its permanent galleries in discussions of topography and its influence on battle, and the gradual conquest of distance by technology, population movement, and communications. Wars are now fought on and over the surface of the earth; on and under its adjacent oceans; in space; in the electromagnetic spectrum; and across the Internet. Traditional boundaries are regularly transgressed, imperfectly administered, and unevenly acknowledged. Moreover, fighting forces can blend with civilians in asymmetric warfare, blurring the lines between combatants and non-combatants.

Borders and boundaries - geographic, political, or conceptual - remain important to the study of military history. For the 2016 SMH meeting, the program committee will consider paper and panel proposals on all aspects of military history, while especially encouraging submissions that reflect on this theme.

Panel proposals must include a panel title (along with the full names and institutional affiliations of each participant and the full title of each paper), a one-page abstract summarizing the theme of the panel, a one-page abstract for each paper proposed, and a one-page curriculum vitae for each panelist (including the chair and commentator), with email addresses and other contact information provided for all participants.) Submissions of pre-organized panels are strongly encouraged and will be given preference in the selection process. Individual paper proposals are also welcome and must include a one-page abstract of the paper, one-page vita, and contact information, including email. If accepted, individual papers will be assigned by the program committee to an appropriate panel with a chair and commentator.

All submissions should be sent in a single PDF document which includes all elements (abstracts, CVs, and contact information). Submissions sent in different formats will not be accepted.

Participants may present one paper, serve on a roundtable, or provide panel comments. They may not fill more than one of these roles during the conference, nor should they propose to do so to the Program Committee. Members who act as panel chairs for only one session may deliver a paper, serve on a roundtable, or offer comments in a different session. Members who serve as both the chair and commentator of a single session may not present in another session.

All proposals must be submitted electronically to the program committee via: SMH2016@warmuseum.ca.

Please note, that all presenters, chairs, and commentators must be members of the Society for Military History by December 31, 2015. 

The meeting will be held at the Ottawa Marriott Hotel in Ontario, Canada. It is located near the Canadian War Museum and Canada’s Parliament Hill.

-----------------------

Contact:

Dr. Andrew Burtch

Director, Research

Canadian War Museum

1 Vimy Place

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M8

(819) 776-8654

ABurtch@warmuseum.ca