Location
Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland
Group Identity – Social Structures – Diversity in Premodern Europe
Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland (in association with Swansea University, UK)
In this year’s third edition of our biennial conference (est. 2021), we address a theme comprised of three elements (Group Identity – Social Structures – Diversity) that, on the one hand, have each been addressed in research, yet, on the other hand, continue to offer new and rich research opportunities, especially when considered in conjunction with one another.
Group identity is a relatively fluid element of social life. It can be variable and individual – different people may identify to varying degrees with different groups. Group identity is in constant evolution, and its boundaries can be unclear; they also can be regulated by external factors. Social structures, in contrast, evoke more stable, often imposed and organised elements of social life that were meant to define individuals’ places in society. They can be understood as systems regulating interactions between individuals, groups, and institutions especially within a given premodern society. In the context of studies on group identities and social structures, the concept of diversity has played a key role, posing both a challenge and an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how groups and individuals functioned within premodern societies. ‘Diversity’ reflects not only the number of different groups in a society, but also an element that required groups and structures to develop models of interaction. Diversity commonly became a driving force for continuous change, within both social structures and groups, creating space for new forms of identity and belonging. Diversity in studies of premodern history is often seen as a thread of research that may effectively challenge structuralist methods of analysis.
Current trends in social history research encourage a complex and dynamic perspective on the issues of group identity, social structures, and diversity, viewed separately or in conjunction with one another. Each of these elements of social reality can be approached as a continuous process of creation and negotiation in historical studies.
This conference comprises five panels over two days with two keynote speakers. Registered panellists including Professor Przemysław Wiszewski (University of Wrocław), Professor Roman Czaja (Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń) and keynote Professor Cordelia Heß (Aarhus University).
Registration as a conference delegate is FREE OF CHARGE. To register, contact either Dr Anna Maleszka (annam@umk.pl) or Dr Matthew Stevens (m.f.stevens@swansea.ac.uk).