[Athena] Call for papers: The Weapon - Military Instrument & Symbol, Berlin 25-27 octobre 2007

[patrice.bret AT dga.defense.gouv.fr]

Call for Papers

The Weapon – Military Instrument and Symbol

2007 annual conference of the Arbeitskreis Militaergeschichte in co-operation with the Deutsche Historische Museum Berlin

Berlin, Deutsches Historisches Museum (October 25-27, 2007)

In the wake of the evolution of modern military history from a battlefield history to a social/cultural history of organized violence, the academic research on the tools of the art of war – weapons and military equipment – has fallen victim to the discipline’s changing paradigms.

The annual conference of the Germany-based Arbeitskreis Militaergeschichte (Military History Study Group) will attempt to re-define the position of the weapon in a modern military history. Building on recent research in military history, the sociology of technology and cultural studies, the conference will explore the interdependence of technology on the one hand and military organization and practice on the other hand “from Xbow to H-Bomb” (B. Brodie). Proposals that address one particular weapon or weapon system are invited in any area of historical or theoretical interest, including the following:
·       the concept of military innovation
·       weapons and social status
·       weapons and the laws of war
·       national security and armaments policies
·       the place of particular weapons in the literature or the collective memory
·       the representation of particular weapons in museums

Proposals should be submitted no later than May 1, 2007, and should include a CV and an abstract (1-2 pages). Conference languages are German and English. The conveners provide accommodation and reimburse necessary travel expenses within Germany (railways or cheaper air tickets). For further information on the Arbeitskreis Militaergeschichte please check the website:

http://www.akmilitaergeschichte.de/

Contacts and addresses for proposals:

Daniel Hohrath MA (surface mail)

Deutsches Historisches Museum

Unter den Linden 2

10117 Berlin

GERMANY

hohrath AT dhm.de

 

Dr. Markus Poehlmann

History Institute, University of Berne (Switzerland)

m.poehlmann AT akmilitaergeschichte.de