Call for Papers: Conference - Revolutions Beyond "The West": Historical Connections and Comparative Perspectives (6-7 October 2023)

On the occasion of the centenary of the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, Tarih Vakfı and the Institut Français d’Etudes Anatoliennes organize a conference on the connected history of revolutionary movements in the long nineteenth century. We invite contributions that will tackle the centrality given by historiography to Western revolutionary movement in the era of imperialism. We also wish to inquire into the place of Kemalism in that context.


Argument:

In commemoration of the Republic of Turkey's centenary, this conference aims to explore the interwoven history of revolutionary movements during the extended nineteenth century. The prevailing focus of historiography on Western revolutionary narratives during the age of imperialism has overshadowed significant global contributions. Notably, the influence of Western political philosophies, such as those of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and French revolutionaries, on Mustafa Kemal's ideologies, as well as the emulation of European institutions in the Turkish republic's formation, has been acknowledged. However, a comprehensive understanding necessitates an exploration of how diverse and lateral experiences of political transformation worldwide, either as sources of inspiration or countermodels, impacted Kemalist decisions.
Beyond the initial emulation of European frameworks, historical analyses have unveiled the relevance of non-Western political shifts in shaping the Kemalist trajectory. The one-hundred-year mark of the Turkish Republic provides an opportune moment to scrutinize the connections between non-Western episodes of regime change and their often underestimated significance for Turkey's establishment. This conference seeks to scrutinize these relationships, extending its purview to concurrent cases of regime change, including the Pahlavi state in Iran, the Guomindang's gradual ascendance in China, Egypt's formal independence in 1922, and various anti-colonial revolutionary movements of the 1920s.
Rather than adopt a teleological outlook, the conference aims to underscore the diverse possibilities, perceived alternatives, and legacies stemming from revolutionary endeavors within the context of colonial orders and enduring imperial powers. While acknowledging Europe's media prominence and its extensive press coverage on a global scale, this event aspires to present alternatives to the notion of "periphery revolution," encompassing a broader chronological span, reaching back at least to the Haitian revolution.
To reconceptualize revolution beyond Western paradigms, the conference emphasizes the exploration of geographies beyond the influential post-1776 Western revolutions. Amidst the global contestation of local power dynamics and Europe's burgeoning dominance, social movements such as the Taiping and the Righteous and Harmonious Fists not only encountered Western interventions but also intersected with Turkey's nascent republic, contesting the Western-defined perimeters. Geographical configurations articulated by revolutionary movements could also intersect with nationalistic constructs, challenging non-Western state empires and colonization. The very definitions of revolution and regime change were subjects of vigorous debate, as actors sought to foreground the indigenous and non-dominant characteristics of their experiences.
Commencing with the Saint-Domingue revolution of 1791-1794, both within and beyond Western state boundaries, this conference aspires to connect revolutionary movements through intellectual, organizational, cultural, religious, and philosophical dimensions. The intention is not merely to compare trajectories but also to reflect on how these trajectories influenced subsequent movements, both temporally and spatially.

Focus:

We invite paper proposals addressing the following themes:

  • Connections: To what extent did these social and political movements draw inspiration from preceding or concurrent similar movements? How did the burgeoning global awareness of imperialism interact with these inspirations?
  • Political Imagination and Experimentation: What forms of political innovation and experimentation were discerned in these movements by their contemporaries and followers? How were these innovations and experiments perceived and addressed by local societies, on-the-ground political structures, and regional or international powers?
  • Transnational/Anti-imperial Legacies: What immediate and enduring legacies can be traced from these movements? Who were the primary agents of these legacies, and with what motives? How does the concept of subalternity elucidate the actors within these movements, potentially contributing to a history of subaltern production? How do the trajectories of transnational actors shed light on these movements and their interrelationships?
  • Centrality and Analytical Boundaries: To what degree can we identify the performative nature of terms such as "Europe," "the West," "Modernity," or "Civilization," and their influence on the unfolding of these movements? Conversely, can we discern the performative nature of native political conceptualizations? Did these native conceptualizations circulate, and if so, within what contexts?

Organization and Submission:

  • Date: October 6-7, 2023.
  • Location: The conference will take place in Istanbul at Tarih Vakfı and the Institut Français d’Etudes Anatoliennes.
  • Submission Deadline: August 15, 2023.
  • Submission Details: Please send all proposals (including Title and Abstract of up to 150 words) to the following email addresses:

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We welcome scholarly contributions that illuminate the complex interplay of revolutionary movements, their multifaceted legacies, and their implications for global history beyond the Western narrative. Your insights and perspectives will enrich our collective exploration of the transformative forces that shaped the modern world.