When the First World War is described as the seminal catastrophe of the 20th century, this refers mainly to its effects on Europe. However, this perspective does not adequately capture the global dimensions of the War. The symposium aims to focus on the First World War as a global event and its far-reaching consequences. The closer look at incidents in Asia, Africa, and Latin America not only makes it possible to address the causes, courses, and consequences of the First World War in their global diversity, but it also allows the determining factors of time and space to be taken into account. During the symposium, new methodological approaches, and a "relativist chronology" in the sense of Koselleck’s "Layers of Time" will be discussed. The analysis of local social, economic, and political movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America before, during, and after the First World War will remove research patterns from the constraints of a narrow European approach.

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Program

Monday October 28th, 2013

9:00 a.m. PhD SESSION

The World During the First World War – research projects

Chair: Helmut Bley, University of Hanover

10:00 a.m. Exhibition and Guided Tour (Wilhelm-Busch Museum, Georgengarten, Hanover):

"Zwischen Kaiserwetter und Donnergrollen. Das Deutsche Reich auf dem Weg in den Ersten Weltkrieg" - German caricatures from 1900-1914

Conference Opening

2:00 p.m. Welcome Addresses:

Wilhelm Krull, Secretary General, Volkswagen Foundation, Germany

Ulrike Freitag, Centre for Modern Oriental Studies, Germany

Helmut Bley, University of Hanover, Germany

SESSION 1 The World Dimension of the First World War Rediscovered

Chair: Andreas Gestrich, German Historical Institute, London

2:25 p.m. Keynote: Not the End of the World – The Great War in a Global Perspective:

Stig Förster, University of Bern

4:00 p.m. The World Dimension of the First World War Rediscovered – The Regional Perspective A Drama of Humanity at Large: Latin America and the First World War:

Stefan Rinke, Free University of Berlin

The African Perspective: Toyin Falola,University of Austin, Texas

The Orient Perspective: Stefan Reichmuth, University of Bochum

China's Great War: Guoqi Xu, University of Hong Kong, China

Tuesday October 29th, 2013

SESSION 2: Impacts of the War on Political Movements

Chair: Michael Provence, University of California, San Diego

9:00 a.m. Keynotes: Losing the War and Fighting the Settlement: Post-Ottoman Activism and the Legacy of the Great War in the Middle East:

Michael Provence, University of California, San Diego

Touraj Atabaki, Leiden University and Head of the Middle East and Central Asia Desk, International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam

Jennifer Jenkins, University of Toronto, Canada

11:00 a.m. Three parallel sessions (Session 3, 4 & 5)

SESSION 3: Circulation of People and Ideas

Chairs: Katrin Bromber, Centre for Modern Oriental Studies

Stefan Rinke, Free University of Berlin

SESSION 4: Human Consequences of War in Non-European Societies

Chairs: Ravi Ahuja, University of Göttingen

Helmut Bley, University of Hanover

SESSION 5 New Social and Political Movements

Chairs: Susanne Kuß, University of Freiburg

Jan Schmidt, University of Bochum

2:30 p.m. Continuing three parallel sessions (Session 3, 4 & 5)

4:30 p.m. Continuing three parallel sessions (Session 3, 4 & 5)

SESSION 6 Keynote

Chair: Ulrike Freitag, Centre for Modern Oriental Studies

7 p.m. - 8 p.m. The War in Literature

Santanu Das, King’s College, London

Wednesday October 30th, 2013

SESSION 7: Open Research Questions and New Approaches to the First World War

Chair: Heike Liebau, Centre for Modern Oriental Studies

9:00 a.m.

Shinichi Yamamuro and Akeo Okada, University of Kyoto

Oliver Janz, Free University of Berlin

Robert Gerwarth, University College Dublin

Barbara Göbel, Ibero-American Institute

Britta Lange, Humboldt-University of Berlin

10:30 a.m. Coffee Break

SESSION 8: The World Dimension of the First World War: Breakup of the Periodization?

Chair: Brigitte Reinwald, University of Hanover, Germany

11:00 a.m.

Jürgen Kocka, Free University of Berlin

Susanne Kuß, University of Freiburg

Katrin Bromber, Centre for Modern Oriental Studies

Helmut Bley, University of Hanover

Andreas Gestrich, German Historical Institute, London

12:15 p.m. Closing Remarks

Wilhelm Krull, Secretary General, Volkswagen Foundation

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Program Committee:

Professor Ravi Ahuja, Centre for Modern Indian Studies, University of Göttingen

Professor Helmut Bley, Department of History, University of Hanover

Professor Katrin Bromber, Centre for Modern Oriental Studies, Berlin

Anorthe Kremers, Volkswagen Foundation, Hanover

Dr Susanne Kuß, Department of History, University of Freiburg

Dr Heike Liebau, Centre for Modern Oriental Studies, Berlin

Professor Stefan Rinke, Institute for Latin American Studies, Free University of Berlin

Jan Schmidt, MA, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Bochum

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Contact:

Anorthe Kremers

VolkswagenStiftung

Kastanienallee 35

30519 Hannover

T +49 (0)511 8381-260

F +49 (0)511 8381-4260

E-mail: kremers@volkswagenstiftung.de

Registration:

Please register online at ww1@volkswagenstiftung.de

There is no charge for attendance but booking is essential 

Conference venue:  Schloss Herrenhausen, Herrenhäuser Straße 4, 30419 Hannover 

See: http://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/nc/veranstaltungen/veranstdet/ttback/41...

for further information on program and registration details.